Klarinet Archive - Posting 000719.txt from 1998/07

From: "Jay D. Webler" <webler@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: mozart...
Date: Tue, 21 Jul 1998 23:41:54 -0400

Cheddar99@-----.com wrote:
I've
> had teachers that scream at you for making a simple mistake, teachers that use
> learning theory as a form of punnishment (that's a great thing to get into
> kids heads...) from my graduating class from my middle school, I am the ONLY
> student who didn't quit band because of the bad experiences we had because of
> the teacher we had there.

I am afraid that you hit a nerve with me this time. As a father of 5
children there is
one thing I have always tried to get across to them. As long as it is
not
illegal, immoral or violates the Law of God than do what the teacher
requests.
We have become a society of people who only find worth in something if
it
happens to be presented to use in a manner which we like. I am glad to
hear
that you have stuck it out. You will go much further than those who
decided
to run from a bad experience. You will never find the perfect music
teacher
or situation. It won't be the last time you get yelled at for making a
small
mistake. Such is the way of life. If your teacher uses theory as a
punishment than
turn it around and use it as an opportunity. If your teacher is not
giving you all the
tools needed then seek private lessons. My teacher used to yell at me
and the band and I
still love and respect him. I know that he desired my best, even if he
had a funny way
of trying to achieve it.

I remember once when my daughters had a new chorus teacher in Middle
School. They came home
one night with nothing but complaints. "She's having us sing stupid
simple things that I did in
the fourth grade", they would tell me. "She treats us like children",
would be another complaint.
I told them to give her time and that she was probably just weeding out
the dead heads who took
chorus to have it easy. I also told them that she may see some real
problems and has decided
that there needs to be a crash course in fundementals. After six weeks
they came back telling me
how much they loved their chorus teacher. When I heard the first
concert I was amazed at the turn
around that had taken place in the chorus. I heard much better music,
sung with much better intonation by
a groups of children who had a far better attitude then existed before.
Four years later my daughters
are in a different school but they still keep in touch with that "mean
teacher who treated them like
children."

To all you young players out there, learn from the nice teacher and mean
teacher. Don't walk out
just because your precious feelings have been hurt. You will be a much
better for it and you will
be better prepared for the hard knocks that you are going to face in the
real world.

Jay Webler

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