Klarinet Archive - Posting 000963.txt from 2000/11

From: Tony@-----.uk (Tony Pay)
Subj: Re: [kl] David Weber
Date: Wed, 29 Nov 2000 18:29:43 -0500

On Wed, 29 Nov 2000 16:01:23 EST, Knaphet@-----.com said:

> I don't think Pay would like his teaching style, exactly. Weber is
> pretty strict, wants things done a certain way...his way is the only
> way. As I say that, I mean no disrespect to either. I have had
> enough experience as a student to know how to take advantage of that
> approach without getting "boxed in" by it. I basically went to him to
> show me how to use the Eugene Gay method, excerpts from the Labanchi
> method, and Didier scale stuff, for sound building. He thought I had
> a good sound but we found plenty to work on to understand the routines
> that he used with his students for building a big basic sound and
> control.

There are two styles, aren't there, the 'do it my way' style, and the
'find your own way under my guidance' style. In the end, a good student
will gain from either approach. You're right, on the whole I favour the
second way. But there's a good whack of the first in my teaching too,
particularly for classical music.

I think it's very important, though, to draw the distinction between
what is appropriate in one-to-one teaching, and what is appropriate on
the list. In one-to-one teaching, you have feedback, you know how what
you are doing with the student is working out. So if one approach
doesn't lead to the result, you can switch to another.

Here, you have to give something like the complete picture, because
what's a valid system for one person may actually, if taken seriously,
be not a good thing for someone else to do.

In fact, he first conversation I ever had with Neil Leupold, in November
98, addressed this problem. (Don't worry, this isn't intended to start
anything.) You can read it:

http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1998/11/000863.txt

http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1998/11/000868.txt

http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1998/11/000872.txt

http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1998/11/000883.txt

http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1998/11/000891.txt

http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1998/11/000892.txt

http://www.sneezy.org/Databases/Logs/1998/11/000893.txt

The exchange, though spirited, was nothing like rancorous, but the issue
is quite a real one, on which we fundamentally disagree. Neil thinks,
if I don't misrepresent him, 'caveat emptor', whereas I want to say,
'caveat magister'.

> I am intrigued by routines that might be tedious, "boring" exercises,
> but that bring out quick and empowering results in the playing that
> gives the player more expressive and technical ability. In that way,
> maybe Mr. Pay would appreciate Weber's approach. But in my time with
> him, the structure was more about "correct clarinet playing" than
> about music.

All I'd say about that is that there isn't any 'correct', except
relative to the music. But perhaps you were including that.

Tony
--
_________ Tony Pay
|ony:-) 79 Southmoor Rd Tony@-----.uk
| |ay Oxford OX2 6RE GMN family artist: www.gmn.com
tel/fax 01865 553339

... Star Trek XXVII - The Search for Shatner's Teeth.

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