Klarinet Archive - Posting 000771.txt from 2002/11

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] teaching clarinet
Date: Mon, 25 Nov 2002 23:59:59 -0500

You need to start wherever she is. You need first to sit with her and figure
out for yourself just what she already knows and can do. If she already
reads music (from some other music activity, perhaps) then she's starting
ahead of the game, because then the only hurdle is manipulating the clarinet
itself. If she's really back at the beginning in all ways, any of the
standard method books should provide enough material to teach her the
basics. You don't need to worry about whether the book's format or style of
presentation are going to inspire her - if she really practices and is
motivated, she'll pass through the beginning book very quickly.

Don't try to do too many things at once. If she's really interested and at
all able, she'll pick up one or two things at a time very quickly. Then, add
something new. Get an embouchure established as simply as possible - try not
to get too involved in fine detail, but suggest ways to correct anything
that is interfering with producing a clear sound. Again, not too much at
once. Trying to do too much at a time leads to confusion. I am old fashioned
enough to feel that, once she's learned enough notes (or if she knows enough
already), scales are excellent technique builders - simple ones at first, 1
octave at the beginning if necessary. There are countless directions you can
take to try to help this girl, but you'll need to feel your way through the
whole situation to know what direction, what approach will work best in this
specific situation.

As you've suggested, a really neat thing about teaching, besides the sense
you get of helping someone else, is that you have to think differently about
everything you yourself do when you're playing. In order to help the other
girl, you'll need to think about how you do things to an extent that you may
never have before. Your playing may actually benefit as much as hers.

And, if you're really thinking about what you're doing (not all teachers
do), you'll also learn a great deal about putting yourself in someone else's
place, trying to understand their reactions. So many people go through their
lives thinking only of their own reactions and needs. A good teacher learns
to invest a great deal of importance in the student's needs.

You're right - you may indeed "learn something" as well.

Good luck with this.

Karl Krelove

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Rebecca Brennan [mailto:rjbrennan1221@-----.com]
> Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 7:54 PM
> To: klarinet@-----.org
> Subject: RE: [kl] teaching clarinet
>
>
> If only you knew these other girls. I believe that she wants to learn
> because she is the one who asked me for help. When I told the
> other girls I
> thought they were going to burst into happy bunnies or something
> crazy like
> that. By what they and she has told me, it isn't her fault. She says that
> they have confused her and they say that they don't want to teach her
> because they don't have time and they don't want to play more
> than they have
> to.
> They don't even practice. haha.
>
> I think it would be good to teach someone. I think I would learn
> something.
>
> -Rebecca
>
>
>
>
> >From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
> >Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> >To: klarinet@-----.org
> >Subject: RE: [kl] teaching clarinet
> >Date: Sat, 16 Nov 2002 14:26:58 -0500
> >
> >The more important question is, does she want to learn? If she
> does, lots
> >of
> >people on the list will offer ideas.
> >
> >Is this a school band and is it treated as a class (complete
> with a grade)?
> >
> >If she really never intended to play an instrument and doesn't
> want to put
> >in the effort now (the other three girls may just have given up), then it
> >should become the band director's problem, at least to the extent of
> >getting
> >her to decide the effort will be worthwhile or else finding a way out of
> >the
> >group for her. Teaching someone who doesn't want to learn to
> begin with is
> >an exercise in frustration.
> >
> >Is she a personal friend of yours - do you have a personal
> interest in her
> >success, or is this simply a project you've taken on for the good of the
> >band?
> >
> >Karl Krelove
> >
> > > -----Original Message-----
> > > From: Rebecca Brennan [mailto:rjbrennan1221@-----.com]
> > > Sent: Saturday, November 16, 2002 1:17 PM
> > > To: klarinet@-----.org
> > > Subject: [kl] teaching clarinet
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi all...
> > >
> > > We have a girl who joined the band last year to march with the guard.
> >Now
> > > that it is concert season she has nothing to do except sit
> and pretend
> >to
> > > play clarinet. The drum major was put in charge of teaching
> her nearly 6
> > > months ago and they have passed her back and fourth between
> her and two
> > > other girls. After all that time of tossing her back and fourth and
> > > confusing her, she has been passed to me and I plan to actually teach
> >her.
> > >
> > > I don;t know where to start!
> > >
> > > -Rebecca
> > >
> > >
> > > STOP MORE SPAM with the new MSN 8 and get 2 months FREE*
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