Klarinet Archive - Posting 000492.txt from 1997/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: music ed questions
Date: Sun, 12 Oct 1997 18:35:19 -0400

On Sun, 12 Oct 1997, Bill Edinger,Anna Gilman, and Grace Edinger wrote:

> I have run into the old dogma
> that my daughter's previous school instructor embraced: the harder the
> reed, the better, and the sooner the student works up to a 3-1/2, the
> better. No mention of mouthpiece design or personal variances, just
> straight-out harder-is-better. Any suggestions on how to argue against
> this without jeopardizing a good relation with the teacher? Or should I
> just keep my mouth shut?

Give it a chance and see what happens. I frequently ask my younger
students to move up to harder reeds very quickly....as well as rotate
their reeds often. They adapt their air pressure/support and embouchure
to a soft reed - this really negatively impacts on their development in
all areas. If you notice that your daughter just struggles against the
heavier reed, perhaps you can then ask the teacher about it.

> 2) We just moved from a small middle-class town in Upstate New York to
> Fresno and a very affluent school system, supposedly one of the best in
> California. Here they don't begin music instruction until fifth grade,
> not fourth, and for the sixth grade, there are no group instrument
> lessons, only full band lessons twice a week. That's right, they teach
> them the rudiments in fifth grade, and just leave them hanging the next
> year and presumably pick them up in intermediate school the next year,
> assuming that they are still playing. Is this nuts or what? With the
> sports mania here, I can see absolutely no explanation for this bizarre
> attitude. Is this occurring elsewhere, or is California leading the
> nation in trashing music programs along with public education in
> general?

My first teaching job included beginning band....in 6th grade, on odd and
even days. It was a result of a 6-period day and a middle school concept.
There is nothing wrong with not offering group lessons....but it would be
nice if the students could meet frequently as a full ensemble.....as well
as have a study hall to spend time with the band teacher. California,
unfortunately, is not extremely supportive of the arts at the beginning
level. By the way, Oregon is worse off....and my first teaching job was
in Longview, WA.

Roger Garrett
Professor of Clarinet
Illinois Wesleyan University