Klarinet Archive - Posting 000859.txt from 1997/09

From: Neil Leupold <nleupold@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: Tabutea
Date: Thu, 18 Sep 1997 13:32:48 -0400

Mark Charette wrote:

> And taking the reed from the student, telling them
> to use a different reed, and then handing the good reed back
> at the end of a lesson would be counterproductive?
> Taking it away for the lesson - fine. Smashing it - why?
> Sounds a bit (a lot) like a selfish child.

In all likelihood, there was an element of the selfish
child in Tabuteau's personality, although when it occurs
in adults it is generally euphemized as "eccentricity". It's
not like this a**holistic attitude by teachers is outdated
or anything. Abusive teachers abound in the present day, and
I'm surprised to find that many students still cling to the
notion that this abuse will lead them to the glory of classical
music artistry. But then, it takes all kinds, so the prima
donna/nuomo approach might very well work for them. Tabuteau
seemed to take that approach, if the story is any indication.

Neil