Klarinet Archive - Posting 001254.txt from 2004/03

From: Bill Hausmann <bhausmann1@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] not just the music department
Date: Mon, 22 Mar 2004 06:13:52 -0500

At 09:15 PM 3/21/2004 -0600, Christy Erickson wrote:
>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.
> 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?

In this case, the use of the "crutch" (electronic tuner) caused people to
MISS the underlying problem entirely! Frankly, I don't see how one could
get that far in music with so basic a pitch problem, but clearly he will
get no better than mediocre unless he CAN eventually pick up the
skill. Which tends to prove my point. Relying on the electronic help will
get you only so far. I'm not accusing him of being lazy, but intensive
training MIGHT still work. Who knows?

>
>
>
>
>Not at all. But many WILL opt to become dependent upon the machines,
>simply because they CAN. Just like many will opt to tune to the electronic
>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!
>
>
>
>
>
>---------------------------------------------------------------------
>For help: email klarinet-owner@-----.org
>Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org

Bill Hausmann

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

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For help: email klarinet-owner@-----.org
Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org