Klarinet Archive - Posting 000235.txt from 2002/07

From: w8wright@-----.net (William Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl]Teaching methods -- was it Nurture or Nature?
Date: Fri, 12 Jul 2002 13:13:37 -0400

<><> Lelia Loban wrote:
I keep imagining that Friesberg leans down from his hiding place in the
tree and accuses Hobb of "materializing" a fake Mozart for reasons as
yet unknown. Hobb's magic trick doesn't fool his old acquaintance for
five seconds, because even though the Mozart impression looks fairly
convincing, Friesberg immediately recognizes the other guy's Mahalia
Jackson impersonation, which he already saw twice at Don't Tell Mama in
New York.
Anyway....

<chuckle> As a sub-plot, Mozart studies the magic clarinet and blows a
few notes on it (not the best tone, but Mozart can hear the instrument's
potential) while Friesberg hums K.622 and demands to know where Mozart's
favorite pawn shop is.

It turns out that Mozart has never seen a clarinet before. Nor has he
conceived K.622 yet. Thus he gets the idea for both of them from....
his meeting with Hobb and Freisberg! So we have the time travel
paradox.

======================

<><> You don't mention the age of her students

3rd grade to 45 yrs

<><> but I hope she clears that candy bar with parents first, in case
any of the kids are diabetic

She's diabetic herself. Much of the candy is sugar-free.

=======================

<><> However, as a student, I would find the offer of a candy treat so
patronizing and insulting, and such overpowering evidence of a serious
mismatch between teacher and student, that I would walk out of that
lesson and never go back.

What's at issue, I suppose, is the manner of presentation.

Suppose a family was visiting in my living room, and I offered the child
a candy bar. If I said simply, "Elizabeth, would you like a candy
bar?", it would be unreasonable for the child to get angry. Perhaps
the child would say, "No thank you", but not get angry.

On the other hand, if I said to the child, "I know you don't want to be
here, but just to keep you quiet, I'm giving you this candy bar. Now go
sit in the corner and eat it and be quiet until your parents and I are
done", then stomping off might be a reasonable response from the child.

I think that the same distinction applies to a music lesson, especially
if (as in my daughter's case) lessons are given in the teacher's home.
But you are not alone in disliking the concept. So I guess it comes
down to "different strokes".

Cheers,
Bill

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