Klarinet Archive - Posting 000276.txt from 2003/01

From: Gary Van Cott <gary@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] Poor Qlty. Instruments, Bigotry & Dreams
Date: Sun, 19 Jan 2003 10:53:14 -0500

I know a private music teacher who had a plaque in her studio that read:

"Music is a hard instrument"

I think that is true on several levels. What many kids don't realize is
that you have to put a significant amount of effort into music to achieve
satisfying results.

My daughter was concerned about telling me she wanted to stop playing the
clarinet. However, I thought she had given it a reasonable effort (2 years
and private lessons) so I was not upset. She switched to choir in 8th
grade and now as a 10th grader is appearing in her second musical this year
as Eponine in Les Mesirables. She spends much more time practicing her
singing than she did her clarinet and that is what leads to success.
Naturally, I am very proud of her.

Gary
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+ Gary Van Cott - Van Cott Information Services, Inc.
+ Clarinet, Saxophone, Flute, Double Reed Books and More
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At 08:05 AM 1/13/03, you wrote:
>Hello all:
>
>I have a brother who quit for a different reason: "It wasn't fun
>anymore"... I have a sister who is well on her way as well...Not only do the
>kids feel inadequate as the result of poor instruments and the constant
>expectations of the parents/music teachers at 9th grade or so, but the music
>gets more difficult and they realize that it is not elementary band anymore.
>My father is a musician, and they were both afraid to tell him that they
>wanted to quit for fear of him getting disappointed and angry.
>
>Has anyone else experienced this?
>
>My short-term goal is to be a music teacher, directing a band, and teaching
>kids that music can be fun with the proper instrument, the right attitude,
>and lots of fun. :)
>
>Jennifer
>
>Music is life, the rest is just details.

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