Klarinet Archive - Posting 000478.txt from 2002/12

From: b6w@-----.net (Bill Wright)
Subj: Re: [kl] problem
Date: Thu, 19 Dec 2002 23:48:21 -0500

Rebecca, obviously your mother is supportive and on your side.
Otherwise she wouldn't have bought you the new instrument. Perhaps
this is a good time to seek her counsel?

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

I agree with what others have said. Music is its own goal. If this
teacher isn't helping you to play the sort of music to which you aspire,
then you need to look elsewhere for both instruction and support.

Assigning blame isn't the appropriate issue right now. Clear your mind
and your heart, change your environment, and think about the music.

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

There is a difference between a "stubborn" student who refuses to
listen/work/learn and a student who is simply overpowered by a
particular situation. To me, you (truly) don't sound like someone who
refuses to work/listen/learn. Perhaps you are overloaded by your
emotional response to this particular situation. You certainly don't
sound like you are refusing to seek the best that you have inside you.

Perhaps some other day, you can look back with less emotion and decide
what went wrong in this particular situation. It may well be that the
*teacher* went wrong. If he doesn't play clarinet himself, then can he
have a true understanding of what is/isn't practical for a young
student? Has he crossed the break himself? Does he know what a
single reed feels like? Does he have sensory experience with the way
that breath support and embouchure must work together? Etc etc etc?

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

Obviously all of us are talking with you "long distance', and we have no
way of judging whether you are evaluating your teacher accurately. But
for the moment, it surely sounds as if you need to look elsewhere for
both musical and emotional support.

And as someone has already said, one competition will not (must not)
control your life, musical or otherwise. I don't remember how long
you've been on the list, but I have argued here many many times that
some of these music programs are destructive and insane when it comes to
competition. "Doing your best" does not require insane competition.

Cheers, and don't let the 'guilt game' make your decisions for you,

Bill

---------------------------------------------------------------------