Klarinet Archive - Posting 001033.txt from 1997/10

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: bad tone
Date: Sat, 25 Oct 1997 20:41:00 -0400

On Sat, 25 Oct 1997, Edwin V. Lacy wrote:

> This is a very broad and sweeping indictment of a particular music
> teacher, who did care enough about a student's problem to ask for help
> from those more familar with a particular instrument, and of music
> teachers in general. It seems obvious to me that the message was written
> by someone who is not a music teacher, and probably neither a teacher of
> anything nor a musician.

That the teacher cared....yes.....that the teacher was adequate...no. It
is not a negotiable item.....teaching music. If one is not educated to
teach brass, percussion, and woodwinds, one should not accept a job doing
so.

> But, to have a person in an elementary or secondary school who would be
> regarded as a "teacher of woodwinds" would be very rare.

Not true at all ......in many school districts specialists who are full
time teachers in music teach a specialty area.

> Most often, the
> teacher is a teacher of woodwinds, of brass, of percussion, and where I
> live, also a teacher of strings. Now, to be a "teacher" of any one of the
> above is in itself a sufficient challenge, and to try to do all of them is
> much more impractical.

Impratical....yes.....impossible or unreasonable, no. I taught brass
quite well as a beginning band teacher and as a middle school teacher. I
took lessons on trombone, even though I was well-taught in my curriculum
during my undergraduate years. Continued learning in these areas is
essential and reasonable...anyone who does not do it and takes May -
August off to boat or go to Hawaii is enjoying the position but not
fullfilling it.

> Now, multiply that effort by the dozens of instruments about which the
> teacher is supposed to be an expert. How realistic is that?

An expert???? To produce a good tone on a woodwind, brass, or percussion
instrument? Geez......study and practice for six months on each one and
you will have it. It isn't impossible....just time-consuming. We are
taling about producing a good tone.....not playing the Rossini Variations!

> Now, let's take a look at the clarinetists/teacher's colleague, whose
> major instrument might be trumpet, percussion or anything else. This
> teacher can teach the trumpet at a very high level, and had techniques
> classes in college about teaching the clarinet and all other instruments.
> He probably can be expected to be an effective teacher of the clarinet at
> certain levels. However, the finer points about alternate fingerings, the
> information required to know the specific characteristics of various types
> of mouthpieces, reeds, and instruments, and similar obscure information is
> sufficiently arcane that it is simply not realistic to expect that a
> single individual could ever accumulate all the information to be an
> effectiove teacher of any and every instrument at an advanced level. Some
> can get closer than others.

Many students become proficient at a minor instrument while in college.
No reason not to do so on an alternative instrument....eg....if one is an
"expert" in WW, pick a brass instrument to become proficient in.

> However, the process of "making musicians" consists of much more than
> amassing information about instrumental techniques. The teacher can do
> much for every student by being aware of such things as intonation,
> musical phrasing, the production of good tone quality, the techniques of
> ensemble performance, etc.

Just how does one teach these things without being proficient in playing
them? Knowlege is not enough....sorry......demonstrate the tone.....this
will help students. Anything less is not enough.

> Further, and even more importantly, probably
> the best thing a teacher can do for his/her students is to transmit to
> them an excitement and love for music itself. This will go much further
> toward their eventual success as musicians than any amount of technical
> information about instruments.

Who would disagree that this is important?

> I would suggest that we not be too quick to damn all music teachers until
> we have walked a few miles in their shoes.

Unless we have of course....and too many poor students become accredited
and go on to become even worse teachers. It is a fact....and a sad one.

Roger Garrett