Klarinet Archive - Posting 000593.txt from 2000/04

From: klarANNette h satterfield <klarann@-----.com>
Subj: [kl] Re: motivation
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 00:16:44 -0400

On Thu, 13 Apr 2000 20:12:01 -0700 "Patricia Smith"
<pattiesmith@-----.net> writes:
>Every student has something that urges him/her on to get better. On the
>other hand, again, I want to emphasize the enjoyment of the process.
And a
>positive interaction between teacher and student. I smile and laugh a
lot
>in lessons, and the students do too.

> And almost always there is progress to
>point to: not phony praise, but the real thing at real accomplishment.

Amen to that!

This is where some of the 'lets encourage by praising' folks can go
astray. Most students don't like phoniness.
Or to put it another way, information is more useful than judgement.

Played the Andante of Mendelssohn Concertpiece No 2 tonight with a
student, part of a chamber music program. As we were packing up, "I was
awful," she cried.
I had to think, why is she so unhappy? My answer, "Flexibility of tone
and dynamics were less than your best, but the phrasing and ensemble were
excellent AND the audience enjoyed the piece. Get more reeds before we
play that again."

Or to a friend made a face when i said, 'I enjoyed what you played."
When i continued, "one unison passage wasn't, the rest was fine, " the
grimace turned to a smile.

While i am of the wierd personality type who would rather complement than
criticise, I can work so that comments are Useful Information.

; -) It is also a selfish attitude, because i copy what i focus on.
If i spend too much attention to what i do not like, i find myself doing
what i don't like.

annhall
````````````````````````````````
Ann Satterfield
clarinetist and teacher
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