Klarinet Archive - Posting 000706.txt from 2001/01

From: Mark Charette <charette@-----.org>
Subj: Re: [kl] RE: playing along with students (was: mouthpieces)
Date: Mon, 22 Jan 2001 12:02:42 -0500

On Mon, 22 Jan 2001, Lacy, Edwin wrote:
> But, if the teacher is playing along with
> everything or nearly everything the student does, then a student with a good
> ear isn't really reading music, but is merely recreating what the teacher is
> doing. I have seen many examples of students who have been instructed in
> this manner who have very little idea of what music reading is all about.

For myself, I found playing duets with my teacher was very instructive; I had to read the music, get the rhythm right, get the dynamics in there, try to keep in tune, and blend. We could keep going if I stumbled just a bit, or work on a section if I just couldn't get through. He would also make allowances for my unintentional "varying tempo" for the first time through (so I could hear the music) and then go back and show me where I was wavering.

We had a period of prepared duet music, and then we'd spend some time just sight-reading through pieces. I learn a lot by listening, but playing in a duet I couldn't "fake it" by playing along with my teacher.

Mark C.

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