Klarinet Archive - Posting 000177.txt from 2003/08

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <patricia@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Re: Speaking of Teaching Clarinet... (kinda long)
Date: Fri, 8 Aug 2003 08:41:31 -0400

Bryan Crumpler wrote:

> It's like finding a mate almost. What's more important... looks or a
> great personality? Of course you'll strike gold if you can find
> someone who has both good looks & great personality.
>
> Likewise, it's gold if you can find a well established or well known
> performer who also is a great teacher.

I have been fortunate to have struck gold three times in my life, at
least in my opinion, anyway.

I have had the wonderful fortune to have studied with David Niethamer
off and on over a lifetime of clarinet playing - certainly that is how I
would characterize it, since I first studied with him in the middle of
undergraduate school and my most recent lesson was, oh, I believe a
couple of years ago! ;-)

Another wonderful teacher I had was David Peck, who is now principal
with the Houston Symphony. Our time together was cut short since he
left the San Diego Symphony about a year after I began studying with him.

The third time, was with Mitchell Lurie. I will never forget studying
with him. Encouragement to last a lifetime. And validation. Something
that does not come one's way very often, certainly not in this business.

To all three of these incredible clarinetists, I feel thank you is
terribly inadequate, yet it is all I have at the moment.

Patricia Smith

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