Klarinet Archive - Posting 000215.txt from 2004/04

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <arlyss1@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Cincinnati Clarinet Professor
Date: Thu, 15 Apr 2004 16:48:37 -0400

Benjamin Maas wrote:

>Also, things to look at include "what does the school do to encourage the students in their performance?"
>
>
<snipped but read in its entirety>

No wonder Eastman has been a top school of music for years. It is just
this sort of thing which is needed so many other places - rotation of
prinicpal positions so that as many fine players as possible get an
opportunity to shine; availability of decent/outstanding facilities
without a huge cost attached; availability of accompanists without a
yearlong bounty hunt (believe me, I was ready to offer a bounty for
anyone who COULD find someone for me!) It sounds as if even had you had
Darth Vader for your private teacher at Eastman, you could not have gone
wrong there!

You are, of course, right about this, Ben. And, unfortunately, too many
places do not offer these other benefits. Something I've overlooked
when answering before, was, "What is most important to this young man?"
Is it the one-to-one relationship with his teacher? Or is it
availability of a variety of learning opportunities in music? Or is it
yet something else, such as, availability of opportunities for obtaining
a license to teach music, or become a registered music therapist? All
too often, and I admit to being TERRIBLY guilty of this, we have too
narrow of a focus when we ask ourselves questions! *embarrassed grin*
I will say, for me personally, at that time, it was very important to me
to have a teacher I felt challenged me, and pushed me to the utmost of
my ability, and realized the things I was capable of doing. (It still
is, in just about every endeavor!) At the same time, I've also found a
need for broader opportunities, and I'm realizing that the choices I
would make today are quite different than those I made at age 18 and 22.

Patricia Smith

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