Klarinet Archive - Posting 000445.txt from 2004/04

From: "Patricia A. Smith" <arlyss1@-----.net>
Subj: [kl] general teaching of music basics; was, Music exams in U.S.
Date: Wed, 28 Apr 2004 09:55:35 -0400

Walter Grabner wrote:

>I was really shocked however, by how little they understand the "building blocks" of music. None of them really knew what a melodic minor scale was, how it evolved, or how it is used. None of them understand intervals enough to see what a diminished seventh cord is and recognize it at a glance.
>
>None of them understand simple harmonic structures, of even more scary, actually realize what KEY they are playing in.
>
>...The biggest lack I find in their collective playing is that they have no idea how to phrase. They don't know which notes are important, they don't see or understand where a phrase is going. Sometimes they are baffled, or even angry,
>with accidentals. The attitude is sometimes "Why or HOW CAN there be Eb and an F# in the same measure?"
>
>In the "American" system, promising instrumentalists finally get their theory when they get to college. I'd say that's about ten years late.
>
>
Walter,

You bring up several things, to my mind, here, I think it best, at least
for me, to list some of the things I noticed as problematic, not only
with these students, but in private instrumental training, in general:

1) Lack of theoretical background, especially for advanced students, can
impede musical development, especially on the university level of
study. Certainly, if students expect to pursue any sort of musical
career, not just performing, but education, church music, history or
therapy, they truly need a solid background in basic theory. I cannot
see how anyone could garner any enjoyment out of simply learning pieces
by rote, and not having a basic understanding of how keys are derived,
and how they relate to one another. I was quite fortunate to have my
background be so strong, since my performing background in other areas,
such as orchestral performance and repetoire, was horrendously weak when
I entered freshman year. (Not to mention, I was horridly immature, but
that's a discussion for another time! *Embarrassed grin*)

2) Many younger players need a visual reference. I find that, even if
my clarinet students do NOT study piano, I still use the piano as a
reference for teaching theory and ear training, as well as
improvisation. It is easier to "see" relationships between the keys
right there on the keyboard in front of them. Perhaps I am fortunate
that the majority of my students come from wealthier backgrounds than I
do (though that, at this time, isn't difficult to do! ) and nearly all
have a piano or small keyboard at home. Even if they do not have that
available, they still benefit from being able to "see" what we are
discussing, in a way that shows the relationship.

3) For ANY student who says they wish to pursue a career in music, I
STRONGLY suggest they begin learning piano while they are still in
secondary school, if they have not begun already. Certainly, not all of
us are going to grow up to be Horowitz or Van Cliburn, but at the same
time, not only will learning rudimentary piano skills enhance musical
learning and theory learning, it also (at the hands of a good teacher,
of course) will make a music teacher MUCH more employable, once s/he is
out of school. I cannot begin to tell you how many more job offers I've
had because I play piano. In fact, to be honest - I have had more than
half of my side jobs because I played piano, and I was able to do quite
well in university theory (certainly NOT conservatory level, but nothing
to sneer at nonetheless) because I had studied piano seriously since the
age of six. I understand not everyone has THAT advantage; but studying
piano just one or two years before one enters university will make a
world of difference for a non-piano major.

4) If there are high school students here who have questions on how to
find a good piano teacher to help them out before they head to audition
for university, they are welcome to contact me offlist. I have no
desire to clog up the list with my natterings on playing piano. Some
folks may feel I'm a bit too intense about this, but I found this to be
a huge advantage for me.

HTH someone,
Patricia Smith

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