Klarinet Archive - Posting 001251.txt from 2004/03

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] not just the music department
Date: Sun, 21 Mar 2004 22:17:09 -0500

Bill, Now what if the student does not have the ability to use their =
ears
to adjust to the rest of the group? Might an assistive device not be
helpful in a case like this so the student can still play along? I went =
to
college with a young man who simply could not use his ears to adjust his
tuning or to sight sing or learn ear training. This was not discovered
until he was already a sophomore music major and he had to be counseled =
out
of the program. Had someone done some more extensive testing with this =
kid
prior to encouraging him to be a music major, a lot of disappointment =
and
heartache could have been avoided. I guess someone simply expected him =
to
develop his ear on his own. Rather than assuming he was "lazy" and =
didn't
want to, wouldn't it have been better to determine the cause of his
difficulties and steer him into another major? He could still play =
music
for enjoyment and keep his instrument in tune with the use of an =
electronic
device.=20
It is dangerous to take the attitude that a kid is simply lazy or =
not
trying hard enough if he or she is not meeting your standards. What's =
wrong
with using a tuner if the student really cannot use their ears? =20

Not at all. But many WILL opt to become dependent upon the machines,=20
simply because they CAN. Just like many will opt to tune to the =
electronic=20
tuner and disregard using their own ears to adjust to the rest of the =
group.

Bill Hausmann

If you have to mic a saxophone, the rest of the band is TOO LOUD!

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