Klarinet Archive - Posting 000295.txt from 1998/04

From: Roger Garrett <rgarrett@-----.edu>
Subj: Re: lesson motivation
Date: Tue, 7 Apr 1998 09:50:08 -0400

Shouryu makes some very good points.........especially with regard to
burnout, achieved by constant rehearsal and performance of mediocre music.
Some comments:

On Tue, 7 Apr 1998, Shouryu Nohe wrote:
> Hmm, but you gotta realize that many ed. majors take a different
> perspective on the situation - especially if they come from a program like
> mine, where their directors who they want to be like work twelve hour
> days, teaching, doing sectionals, staying up late writing marching drill,
> etc. A band director like that doesn't appear to have time to practice,
> and is most likely never seen performing. In fact, our (Josh and I) HS
> band directors did a lot of things - they ran ALL the musical events in
> the city: musicals, community band, taught elementary bands, gave private
> lessons, you name it. The only time we ever REALLY saw them perform was
> during the marching band banquets. They would perform while we ate.
> Otherwise, you never really saw them performing.

It is always sad to hear that a band director is so busy he doesn't have
time to play his horn.......or perform publicly. When I taught middle
school and high school band in the mid '80's, I played in the Oregon
Symphony.....and my principal and music supervisor arranged to have a
substitute take my classes.....my band worked really hard - usually
because they saw how much I loved performing.

> A student from such a program decides to go music ed., and thinks,
> "When am I ever REALLY going to need to play?" The result? They don't
> place a lot of emphasis on practice.

This is very common......how do you think this attitude can be changed?

> Even those of us who DO place a lot of emphasis on practice don't
> at times. Generally, I attempt to clock in two hours of strict clarinet
> every evening (after the 3-4 hours of various ensemble rehearsals I might
> have during the day). As a performance major, I have to have a practice
> mentality - if I don't get good, I don't eat after college! (Also, I got
> this recital coming up...Dr. Borchert likes to remind me of the
> motivational wonders of impending required performances ^_^;;;; )
> Nevertheless, there are occasional evenings where I finish my dinner, look
> over to my shoes so I can head down to the music building to get my two
> hours, and think..."Geez...do I?"

Just a bit of caution........two hours isn't really enough to achieve what
you need......it is more maitenence.......anything over 3 hours a day is a
good step.......closer to four and you will notice amazing, fast
changes.....believe me on this!

> I don't hate practicing (unless it's melodicless music, like Rolf
> Rudin or Webern...good music, but tedious, frustrating practice), but
> after so much rehearsing and all the practicing, you are SICK of it! You
> have to take a night off. Last spring, I was practicing about 4 hours a
> day, strict clarinet, for about a period of three weeks. There suddenly
> came a point where I couldn't touch my clarinet for about a week unless it
> was for required rehearsal (explains that one slump, huh, Dr. Borchert?).
> Sometimes it's not neccessarily a lack of motivation...just a
> simple case of overmotivation.

And - unless you have something to practice for, such as a major audition
or a job or something, it is difficult to remain focused for a long period
of time. You have touched on some of the biggest problems facing students
who aspire to perform (or teach).

Roger Garrett
IWU