Klarinet Archive - Posting 000411.txt from 2000/04

From: LeliaLoban@-----.com
Subj: [kl] Student motivation (or lack thereof)/ Lame Excuses
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 15:20:31 -0400

Aaron Hayden wrote,
> I find that there is a lack of comittment in this generation. >

Have things changed all that much? It sounds as though you were an
exceptionally dedicated student of your own generation. I suspect that human
beings are genetically hard-wired to test and see what we can get away with.
It takes awhile for kids to learn the appropriate limits at both ends of the
bell curve between Slob and Stress Kitty.

I think that even kids who truly love music and want to learn it need a
gentle push now and then. It took me time to accept the facts that (a) some
nice Music Fairy wouldn't come wave a magic wand and <poof!> I'd know
everything and (b), yes, paying attention and putting in the effort would
lead to improved playing, though not overnight. While I figured out these
things, I was lucky that the adults in my life weren't gullible enough (or
exhausted enough) to accept "Martians ate my reeds" excuses. Practicing
turned out to be easier than dreaming up higher-quality lies and keeping my
stories straight. ;-)

Dee, I think your "just practice for five minutes" strategy is beautiful.
You daughter can satisfy your reasonable expectation so easily that there's
not much incentive for her to fight with you about it, but once she's
practiced for the five minutes, it's convenient for her to just go on
practicing. You've not only overcome the inertia of putting the clarinet
together and getting started; you've also handed her a fine opportunity to
show her growing independence, not by arguing but in a positive way, by
exceeding your requirements on her own initiative. She's learning more than
music from that. She's learning how to earn respect, including self-respect.

Walter Grabner wrote,
>There are times when I cancel my sones lesson so he can do something equally
>important. School play dress rehearsal for example, or a best friends
>birthday outing to the local theme park.

>To be fair to his teacher, I always give 24 hours notice, ALWAYS pay for the
>lesson, and try to schedule a make-up lesson.
<snip>
>What do others think of this approach??

I think you sound like a great dad. I also think that Walter, Dee, and many
other parents on this list do something else that may benefit your kids even
more than all the teaching strategies: You practice your music. Especially
when a child is very young, so much of the learning process is, "Monkey see,
monkey do, monkey act a lot like you."

Lelia
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Change is inevitable, except from a vending machine.

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