Klarinet Archive - Posting 000163.txt from 2005/06

From: Karl Krelove <karlkrelove@-----.net>
Subj: Re: [kl] Need Lesson Teaching Advice
Date: Tue, 07 Jun 2005 22:47:30 -0400

If you're already familiar with a beginning method book and feel
comfortable with it, use it for starters. Most of the series currently
on the market have supplemental books with appropriately leveled solo
material. No doubt many list members will have perfectly serviceable
books to suggest - it isn't really a life-or-death (or
success-or-failure) issue so long as the book provides a reasonable
sequence of notes and rhythms and at least appears to you to be logical
and unconfusing. Experience will help you make decisions in the future -
right now just go for basic and comfortable.

The list of things to do and not to do is one you have probably been
compiling since you began to study clarinet yourself. All of your
teachers have been modeling styles and techniques since your first
lesson. You've no doubt noticed and can now still remember things a
teacher has done that worked really well with you and you have equally
certainly weathered actions, approaches or words from teachers that you
made a mental note never to inflict on anyone else even if you had the
chance. That's your start. The rest is thinking always of what you hear
in the student's playing that's good (and reinforcing it) and what you
hear that interferes with a good musical result (and offering corrective
help). In any case a positive approach is always important, especially
with young, inexperienced players, because the opposite approach stands
an excellent chance of shutting the student down and nearly always turns
out to be counterproductive.

You're much better off as a teacher if you start off with a good basic
approach and general attitude toward your students than if you begin
with a fistful of specific technical and pedagogical tactics that may
well not fit every child and in fact may fit none of your students well.
The tactics will be much more useful as you gradually learn them if they
fit into a strong, positive and flexible overall strategy. Good luck.

Karl Krelove

pmika@-----.edu wrote:

>Hello all,
>
> I just got my BM clarinet degree in performance and have been looking
>to teach privately for the summer to supplement my income until I head
>off for grad school in the fall to get my masters in clarinet
>performance, and would appreciate any advice because, embarassing as it
>is to say, I haven't done any teaching before and need help! The age
>group I will be teaching this summer will be mainly beginning clarinet
>around 6th grade or so. Please include what materials to start off with, what
>not to do, what you would charge, as well ways to encourage and motivate the
>student to practice etc.Thanks
>
>Peter
>
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