Klarinet Archive - Posting 000910.txt from 1999/08

From: act_dumb@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Getting into a studio
Date: Sun, 29 Aug 1999 23:13:05 -0400

Mark Charette wrote:

> I would expect that you would need recommendations for private,
> intensive study with one of the highly-regarded and busy performers.

My experience is opposite to this statement. I studied with two
members of the San Francisco Symphony clarinet section over the
course of a number of years, on the basis of informal auditions
I played for each one at the time that I wanted to study with
him. I simply called up Dave Neuman and asked if he had any
room left in his private studio. We scheduled an initial les-
son at his house, at which he evaluated whether it was worth my
money and his time to take me on as a student. Same with Luis
Baez. In both cases, I was not a student, rather working full
time. I suspect that my experience is closer to the norm. A
teacher will certainly be more *open* to taking on a student who
receives a recommendation from a familiar teacher, but in the end
(just like auditioning for any music program), the playing abili-
ties are the heaviest factor in that decision making process.
Teachers will do a certain amount of weeding out when pondering
how to fill their private studio, but if a student is adamant
enough (as I was), the player will at least be given a hearing by
the teacher before being turned away. I would be willing to pay
the $65 lesson fee for that single opportunity, no matter what the
outcome.

-- Neil

LookSmart @-----.
http://www.looksmart.com

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