Klarinet Archive - Posting 000172.txt from 1997/08

From: AnneVacca@-----.com
Subj: Re: Kids Today
Date: Wed, 6 Aug 1997 11:30:17 -0400

In a message dated 8/6/97 2:19:47 AM, you wrote:

>Sarah,
>Speaking as a music ed student and soon to be teacher, the problem is that
>in college, one is required only to take a semester course in such things
>as brass, woodwind and percussion and spend only weeks on each flute,
>clarinet, etc. At my school, the woodwind tech class is one semester and
>only three instruments are studied, usually flute, clarinet and bassoon or
>oboe. None of the instruments are studied as in depth as they should be,
>only the basics of playing such as fingerings and embouchre. As future
>band directors, I have long felt that we should be required to thoroughly
>study every instrument in more detail such as cleaning, reed and
>mouthpiece choice on woodwinds and on brass.

<snip>

As for the length of the classes, it really depends on where you go to
school. At Ithaca College (NYS), I took semester classes on each instrument.
Also before I student taught I had to take proficiency exams on each
instrument (playing [to level IV- NYSSMA*] AND pedigodical). So I felt that
I was ready to teach the instruments. Now if we just had classes on all of
the other stuff that we do as educators .....(dealing with parents, public,
administrators, teachers, balancing a band (so that we don't have 15 flutes
and 1 trombone) music stores, organization, kids who bring in instruments
from the attic and want to play them (I had a clarinet come in from
Czechlovakia that was in terrible condition, not to mention it was stamped
LP)

Not all teachers are terrible people. Yes, I admit that there are some who
really don't know much about the instruments that they are teaching, but that
can be changed! When I graduated from college, I felt overwhelmed about all
of the stuff that I did not know. So here is what I did.... I read! I
asked questions! There is information out there today for the teacher to
use. You just have to look. Your professional orginazations are a great
help in gathering information. My subscription to _The Instrumentalist_ is a
godsend! There are also the magazines published by MENC & NYSSMA that have
great articles in them. But most importantly, when I had questions about
instruments or solos, or teaching techniques (on say mallets), I asked other
teachers in the district, or some of my friends from college.

If the teacher thinks that they are done learning once they have that degree
in their hand, they are sorely mistaken. To be a good teacher, one must
always continue to learn.

Anne
AnneVacca@-----.com

* For those of you outside NYS: NYSSMA Is the New York State School Music
Association and it also has this large compilation of graded solos (duets,
trios, mixed ensembles for all instruments, voice and large ensemble, band,
orchestra, etc.) from level I through VI. Level IV would be about 8th grade
playing ability (about 3 or 4 years of study).