Klarinet Archive - Posting 000962.txt from 2004/07

From: "Christy Erickson" <perickso@-----.net>
Subj: RE: [kl] Big Talent
Date: Wed, 28 Jul 2004 10:11:16 -0400


> Christy, I'm glad you've decided to go ahead with your student on both =
sax
> and clarinet. Another way to look at things is that, since the =
student
> already *has* that saxophone, you can bet she'll play it, whether you
> agree
> to teach her on it or not.

Lelia, Although this child does not strike me as the rebellious type at
all, I really think the Mom has very high expectations in some ways.
However, I'm going to let her start on that saxophone with me for sure. =

One thing I didn't mention is that our piano teachers' association =
has a
Monster Concert coming up this January. (large piano ensemble) I think =
this
girl wanted to start taking piano so she could participate in that =
concert
and I really want to focus on that a bit more at the moment so I don't =
have
to put her on an elementary number for that concert. No matter which =
way
you look at it, it is always more difficult to learn the piano, since =
you're
reading more than one line and clef simultaneously. It's been my =
experience
when I've had student taking both piano and another instrument, they =
like to
play the easier one more and sometimes the piano progress suffers a bit. =
I
tried to get this kid to start piano first but she and her Mom insisted =
on
clarinet so that's what we did. I now think that even the Mom is =
beginning
to realize why I recommended this. I always tell them that if you can =
learn
to play the piano, you can learn to play any instrument-provided you =
have an
ear for it.
I have a 17 year old taking piano and clarinet. Believe it or not, =
he
just started both instruments in March and wants to become a music =
major. I
have my doubts, since he really shies away from working on his piano =
skills.
I've given him our state university's piano competency requirements but =
he
still focuses more on that clarinet than anything else. He has been
involved in lots of vocal music through the years so he has a fairly =
good
music background but he really does have a LONG way to go if he wants to
learn to play his clarinet well and meet the piano competency =
requirements.
His family just purchased a Selmer Signet for him from E-Bay and I've
haven't seen him since he got it, so it will be interesting to see how =
he's
doing. Christy=20
=20

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