Klarinet Archive - Posting 000898.txt from 1997/12

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: lessons
Date: Sat, 20 Dec 1997 16:56:01 -0500

On Sat, 20 Dec 1997, Edinger/Gilman wrote:
> My wife wants to call a
> local university clarinet instructor to "buy me" four lessons as a
> Christmas gift, which is a very nice idea but strikes me as being
> possibly inappropriate.
[SNIP]
> Won't an instructor want to interview
> me a little first, to get an idea what he'd be working with? And find
> out what my sense of commitment and personal development are like? I
> don't want to sound ungrateful to my wife, but I don't want to sound
> like a jerk to a potential teacher. This guy is supposed to be the best
> in the area, and takes only "serious" students.

Bill,

I am responding to your post only because of my experience this year.
I took on an adult student this past fall - she is 53 years old and was a
former non-music major during the Hindsley years at University of
Illinois. She was clear about wanting to get back into it, but she wanted
to go at her own pace. We spend a lot of time on duets and concepts, and
some weeks she practices hard and accomplishes a lot, and other weeks it
is status quo. The main thing is that we talked a lot about why she
wanted to study, what she wants to do with it, etc...... and to be honest,
the lessons are a real chore for me........I have a more serious
agenda.....however.....our community needs people to help those who want
to progress...and that's why I continue to teach beginners through adults.

The point I am trying to make here is that, if this guy is great but only
wants serious students, it sounds as though he is a "pusher"....that is,
one who really wants progress all the time (nothing wrong with that!).
But, it sounds like you want someone competent who can lay back and take
it easy - basically you at your pace. That doesn't mean the content of
the lesson is not worth the $30-60 per hour that you pay, but the
pushiness shouldn't be there.

Four lessons, pre-paid is ok as long as the guy knows what you want from
them. You should do it and then see how it goes.......if too stressful,
look for someone else. But...you might find the guy jump-starts you into
a great part time thing!!

Good luck.

Roger Garrett
IWU