Klarinet Archive - Posting 001034.txt from 2000/12

From: rgarrett@-----.edu
Subj: Re: [kl] Performance
Date: Tue, 19 Dec 2000 17:47:52 -0500

At 09:05 PM 12/19/2000 +0000, you wrote:
>I made a rule for myself not to reply to Roger's posts, but I'm breaking
>it again:

Well, you also announced it to the list only a few days ago - so it wasn't
just to yourself. The problem with saying you're very careful about not
saying things that are not true.........hmmmm, now, how did it go? Oh
yes......"I'm very careful not to say things that aren't
true........"...........is that sooner or later you will end up making a
mistake. And look - it only took you 6 hours and 45 minutes! And you've
broken your promise twice in one week. For Pete's sake Tony! You've got
to get yourself back into the saddle man. Perhaps a massage......or a
slightly cold glass of a dry, full-bodied french red wine would help
you. You've got to learn to chill buddy!

>You failed to understand that at the time, and you continue to fail to
>understand it now. Everything you write is based on that misunderstanding.

Are you saying that, because I disagree with you I don't understand what
you have written? Well, I'm no expert on human interaction, but just
because you say so doesn't make it so - at least I think I know me better
than you do. Now I KNOW you know lots of things Tony, but I'm pretty
certain you don't know what I think, feel, understand, recognize,
internalize, etc. etc. etc. Do you think you do? To at least respond -
no, I didn't fail to understand you at the time - what makes you think
that? Your false conclusion above is based on your limited information
about me and what I know or don't know - and to a certain extent a cultural
bias. Sadly Tony, you really DON'T know what I understand and do not
understand - and you certainly can't make any factual statements about what
what motivates me to write something! Why, we've never met, and you've
never heard me play, teach, lecture, or even watched me restore my '41
Chevy (by the way, you are invited to help anytime on that last one)! But
you are doing a nice job of saying that you understand me anyway. There
just has to be a better way to use your time man!

>The fact is, you know *nothing* about my teaching.

Now, exactly what that has to do with anything I've posted? Who said they
know anything about your teaching? Where did I say that? I'll accept an
exact quote please. Right now, I only know what you have written on this
list about teaching - what you agree with, disagree with, etc. At some
point, I might feel like responding to what you wrote - if I feel a
response is necessary. But when you say something that is so far removed
from the norm, it's just got to scream out to everyone that it can speak
for itself in terms of its authenticity! It's kind of like the jazz
discussion - you made some really interesting comments , but once someone
disagreed with your statements, you not only quit the conversation, you
stated that you just wouldn't talk about it any further. We can only
discuss an issue with you if you make it discussable - but when you state
things as though they are fact, you are really challenging anyone who may
disagree to argue it with you. Why state it to begin with if you aren't
sure? Or....if you are sure, why quit the conversation? Or could it be
that you enjoy arguing - even if it means taking it too far? Those were
all rhetorical by the way.

But since you opened Pandora's box, why don't you inform us about your
teaching and why we should know about it? Is there something special about
it you would like to share? Is there a teaching technique that you alone
have devised? Do you have some prize pupils that you started from scratch
and have nursed all the way to a job or who have won an award? Quite
seriously Tony - I would very much enjoy hearing you discuss what worked
and didn't work with your beginning students........and what they are doing
now. You HAVE taught beginning students and worked with them for more than
just a few years haven't you?

>By the way, most people would have recognised that Neil and I are engaging
>in a conversation, or an argument, that might have a positive outcome for
>both of us. One of the reasons for that is that we both
>understand what an argument *is*.

Well, I don't want to turn this into a nasty thing - so all I'll say just a
few things in response - first, very few "arguments" I've had the privilege
of watching you embark upon on this list have resulted in a positive
outcome for both parties. One need only read the archives to understand
this about you. Secondly, I know for a fact - undeniably - that your
statement directly above is not shared by some major players in the current
"conversation." But maybe it is you who is failing to understand things
here..........is that possible? If it is possible, then you have made
several mistakes here. And notice Tony, you just based an assumption on a
faulty assumption of me (you know, the part where you say I fail to
understand and then say that everything I write is based on that). Doesn't
that make you guilty of what you accuse me of?? By the way, that was also
rhetorical.

Maybe if you just took time to consider what you would feel like if someone
posted about you the kinds of things you post about them - you might
realize you there are other, more successful ways you might "engage in
conversation, or.....argue." I'm certainly not trying to tell you what you
should do - but you might actually have more fun discussing the
issues. Share a little electrical bandwidth or computer screen with your
other professional colleagues - you might even make a few really good
friends! You know, it won't make people disrespect you if you
occasionally make a mistake. Um.........you DON'T think you are infallible
do you? Heck, I would join Walter in sharing a beer with you - if I didn't
thing we would end up arguing about which beer was made in the most
creative way (that was meant to be a fun comment - not one to make fun of
you with by the way).

>You don't.

Now I feel just awful - you wrote another one-liner in an effort to tell me
off! Darn - you ruined my whole entire day! But you forgot to call me a
name or write "silly man" or just post one letter of my note to Neil
(above) to show your disdain for me! tsk tsk tsk - Tony - I wish I could
actually get upset about it, but, doggone it, I just can't get any other
emotion going other than that of being amused with your posting just now.

Me thinketh you should stick to your original idea of not responding to my
posts! That was a really great idea - and I'm proud to admit that it was
all creatively your's.

I wish you the very Merriest of Holiday Seasons to you Tony! And a Joyful
New Year to you! May you find all of the the happiness and warm blessings
you deserve during this time of celebration and good cheer!
As Tiny Tim was quoted to have said, "God Bless Us..........Every
One." And that means you too Tony.

Warmest wishes,
Roger Garrett

Roger Garrett
Assistant Professor of Clarinet
Director, Symphonic Winds
Advisor, IWU Recording Services
Illinois Wesleyan University
School of Music
Bloomington, IL 61702-2900
Phone: (309) 556-3268
Fax: (309) 556-3121

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