Klarinet Archive - Posting 000482.txt from 2002/12

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <patricia@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] problem
Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 00:29:50 -0500

Karl Krelove wrote:

> Depending on how he words his comments, his frequent interruptions can
> indicate how much he thinks you're capable of. The real crux of the problem,
> **if you're hoping to establish a long-term relationship with a teacher**
> (which it seems you aren't), is whether you can hear *what* he's saying to
> you through whatever noise he generates by *how* he says it. If you can't
> hear valuable or useful content through the verbiage, then it doesn't matter
> much whether he's right or wrong. Your goal is to become a better player. If
> he can't help you toward that goal, whether the problem is lack of knowledge
> or inability to communicate with you, then your goal will not be met.
>

Karl, you have a true gift with words and it shows well here! IMO, one
of the greatest problems in any kind of teaching is communication
between student(s) and teacher(s), and the means by which we facilitate
it. All too often, way too many extraneous factors enter the arena and
fog up the process to the point that what needs to be understood between
the parties may as well have never been started at all!

In my experience as a student, one of the most difficult things to
overcome, not just in lessons, but also in auditions and performances,
is the emotional import of the communication. We assign value to what
we are doing - and then we judge the other person's - the teacher, the
judges, the conductor's - comments, according to our value judgments we
have made about what we are doing! Now, tell me, is there something a
bit lopsided in this system here? ;)

I would go on a bit further with this post, but as I've not even been
accepted to a Master's program in Music Therapy, or Performance or
Psychology yet - or even some sort of multidisciplinary thing I made up
myself (yes, I'm contemplating that possibility, these days), I think
that 12:30 AM is a good time to quit and go to bed. Besides, your words
answered the problem well, and I think you read Ms. Brennan's post quite
well - for the emotional content, as well as the rest. Well done, Mr. K!

Patricia A. Smith

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