Klarinet Archive - Posting 000347.txt from 2003/10

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] [clarinet] reeds for beginners?
Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 21:51:46 -0400

Randy, Thanks for explaining this further. I'm wondering how you keep =
them
from playing on the whole instrument while you are working with only
mouthpieces and barrels. I've had students come to the lesson who have
already tried to put the instrument together on their own. You =
mentioned
you take breaks to teach them to put the instrument together but how do =
you
know what they do when they go home? Do you keep the instruments until =
you
are done with the mouthpiece/barrel instruction?
When I used to do band camps, we only had a week to teach them how =
to
assemble the clarinet, produce a tone, breathe, learn rhythms, and also
learn to play a few simple songs.(sixth graders). At the end of the =
week,
the entire beginning band played a concert. It was amazing how well they =
did
in a week's time! Band camp did last for most of a day so we had lots =
of
time but it was still amazing how well they did.
I still have trouble with the "everyone must play on a number 3 reed
rule," since strength varies so much from brand to brand and even among =
10
reeds of the same brand. I hope you're letting the kids know that they
might want to try a softer or harder reed strength if that's not working =
for
them. As Bill mentioned, if you are using a mouthpiece with a close =
facing,
you are having the kids use a reed strength that "matches" that =
mouthpiece
and you really had nothing to worry about when I made the comment about =
the
"insane" band directors. Now, the guy James mentioned who was forcing =
all
his students to play on number 4's has something to think about and take =
my
comment to heart. This was exactly the type of situation I was =
referring to
and I couldn't understand your defensiveness over this. The private =
"nasty
note" sent to me did not help either.
Another thing to mention is that in a school situation where the =
kids
are receiving a grade and are under threat of punishment if they don't
behave "correctly" or meet expectations, you're not likely to have them
honestly tell you if they are not enjoying themselves. I know instantly =
if
a student is having trouble or not enjoying themselves. If I don't =
discover
this immediately, the parents will talk to me or I will call them to ask =
if
I feel there is a problem somewhere. If I don't respond well, I lose a
student, although this has almost never happened. As Nancy said, when =
you
give private lessons you make every effort to please the customer, since =
you
want them to look forward to the next lesson. I certainly don't mean I
don't have rules and expectations for them but I do think those of use =
who
do private teaching are forced to work a little harder to help the kids
enjoy what they are doing-especially if they are doing it only because =
Mom
and Dad say they must. For that reason, I think school teachers have
something to learn from us. Students who are not going to receive a =
grade
from me, as well as their parents, are more likely to complain or speak =
up
when they don't understand or things are a little too difficult for
them-that's why I get so concerned about kids in some of the band =
programs.
Often, there is a simple problem they're having that could be very =
easily
solved but they are afraid to let anyone know or ask for help if there =
is a
problem. This can be especially true if they are sitting in a group of
peers or if the band director simply says, "this is what you must do, =
and
doesn't let them know there are other options, much less allow other
options."=20
When I was learning to play the clarinet, I never had anyone tell me =
much
about reeds. I had to discover most of what I learned through high =
school
age on my own, even though I took private lessons. I was one of those =
kids
using the nail clippers when my reeds were too soft. How nice it would =
have
been for someone to have taught me some basic reed adjustment skills.
I'm also one of those people who needs to be told why I need to do
something so I understand the need to do it. If an order is given with =
no
explanation, I'm not likely to follow through and I find that this =
happens
far too often in schools. The kids need to be given options, as well as =
the
pros and cons of each option, and then be allowed to make a choice for
themselves. I suppose this type of thing was what I had in mind when I =
used
the term "military style." In the military, you do what you're told and =
ask
questions later. Our schools here in the U.S. tend to use the same
principles and the kids don't learn to think for themselves or make =
their
own decisions often enough. If they make a mistake or complain, they =
are
likely to receive a less than desirable grade.
I can honestly say, I have NEVER had a clarinet student come to me =
who
started learning to play in school, who had any idea there were so many
choices available in reeds/mouthpieces/ligatures. They and their =
parents
have always been amazed at what is available and how much difference a =
new
reed or mouthpiece makes in the tone. I had a student start this summer =
who
is my most recent example. Poor kid had been playing first chair all =
year.
She had almost no sound and we fixed that up immediately with some new
reeds, having her open up the throat when she played and eventually =
adding a
new mouthpiece, along with some other minor details, including listening =
to
some good recordings. The mother was very grateful to me for giving her
daughter the information and the extra time that I did. This child made =
it
into the state honors band also. I wonder all the time why these kids =
don't
get that type of instruction at school-even a few photocopied handouts
containing info would be better than nothing. Could it be that the band
directors get paid the same salary whether they are really teaching =
their
subject thoroughly or not? Or perhaps they get a commission from the =
music
store for sending kids in to purchase a certain brand of equipment? =
Again,
Randy, please don't take that comment personally or I'll have to install =
a
better firewall. =20

Christy=20

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