Klarinet Archive - Posting 000233.txt from 2003/03

From: "Trish Mendenhall" <trishm@-----.com>
Subj: RE: [kl] anger and jelousy of a southern west virginian musicstudent
Date: Wed, 5 Mar 2003 22:51:57 -0500

Kevin Fay said:

> I vociferously disagree with 6. No one should become a=20
> teacher unless they=20
> want to be a teacher. It's nowhere near the same skill set=20
> as a performer. =20
> Some of the best music educators I know can't play their way=20
> our of a paper=20
> bag with a chainsaw, but their kids sound terrific -=20
> conversely, I know=20
> several virtuoso performers who were miserable teaching=20
> becuase they just=20
> don't have the temperment for it.

A hearty "Hear, hear!" for this comment. A teacher who doesn't WANT to =
be a
teacher can actually be worse for a student than no teacher at all. =
It's
very difficult to motivate someone if your heart isn't in it. And, as =
Kevin
mentions, it's not really the same skill set. Don't believe that old =
saw
about "Them who can't do, teach." That attitude just produces bitter,
impatient, jealous teachers more often than not.

> I think you're making a mistake here by equating "continuing=20
> to play" with=20
> "making a living playing." There is tremendous opportunity=20
> for the first -=20
> lurk a bit on this list and you'll come across some fine=20
> musicians with day=20
> jobs. (You'll also find some very prominent performers with=20
> significant=20
> educational backgrounds outside music).

Again, I have to agree! I spent three years as a music major before
realizing that music as a career wasn't for me - I was talented enough, =
but
not driven enough. Now, I have a day job in the software industry that
provides satisfaction on one level, and I still play my beloved horns =
doing
musical theater, or the occasional gig with a jazz band, or even, now =
and
again, with a local orchestra. Music is a tremendous part of my life, =
with
plenty of opportunities. The added plus is that the only stress involved =
is
the good feeling of pushing my limits to play the best I can.

The bottom line is that it's not an "all or nothing" proposition. You =
won't
somehow lose the music if you can't make it as a professional, or choose =
to
not go that route. You can have a very fulfilling musical life and work =
with
great musicians without ever getting paid a dime to play. =20

However, I'm also not suggesting that you give up the dream! Go for it =
-
sometimes it's the only way to discover if it's really the way you want =
to
go. It didn't end up being right for me. You might find it IS right =
for
you - I hope you do if it's what you want!

Trish

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