Klarinet Archive - Posting 000804.txt from 2002/11

From: JMarioneau@-----.com
Subj: Re: [kl] Introducing tongueing - was "teaching clarinet"
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 2002 00:00:32 -0500

For the cheek puffing and jaw moving, I always have students practice a lot
in front of a mirror. I have them get a small mirror and put on their stand
or practice where they can glance into a mirror. Another thing I tell them
is to have their parents watch them and tell them if their jaw is moving or
their cheeks are puffing. I also tell them to tell and show their parents
how their embouchure is supposed to look and have them watch as they pay. I
have found that the students parents want to help. I tell the student that
they have to show their parent how it is supposed to be because their parents
will not know unless they have played clarinet before. The kids get to
explain what they are learning to their parents and their parents feel like
they are able help their child. I have had excellent results with this.
Many times the parents come to me asking me to show them how the embouchure
is supposed to be and I can have their child demonstrate and I can
demonstrate. Then I tell them it's a process of the child learning to do it
all the time so that it becomes habit. When the parents get involved in this
way, they become part of the process of helping the child learn instead of
just buying the instrument. To most parents, playing a musical instrument is
like being in a foreign country. This helps them become more comfortable and
more supportive.
My $.02.
James Marioneaux

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