Klarinet Archive - Posting 000102.txt from 2007/01

From: "Christy Erickson" <woodshome7@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] music students
Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 09:11:55 -0500

Hi Nicholas, Welcome to the world of music teaching! I don't know if these
suggestions will help, but I'll give it a try. I think others have already
said some of the same things I thought about when you posed your questions
but here are a few more thoughts to add.

1) Remember that learning to interpret, perform and compose music is a
process. The process is often a very lengthy one with many bumps in the
road. As a teacher, it helps if I remember that I can only FACILITATE that
process but I can't do it for them.

2) Each student will have a different learning style and it helps to give
them some problems to solve in a lesson so you can observe how they go about
solving the problem you've challenged them to solve. Observe how they
process the information. If they seem unable to find a way to process the
information, give them some suggestions and see which method they prefer to
use to process the information. They don't want to learn things YOUR way,
they NEED to learn it THEIR way.

3) Students who have a "right-brained" approach and learning style will
definitely prefer hands on activities and they will also respond far more
readily to inspiration and role modeling so don't become too frustrated if
they aren't reading and following your every suggestion. I just happen to
be that type-I NEVER practiced the things my piano teacher gave me to work
on unless I was preparing for a competition or some other performance. I
contented myself playing lots of different music that wasn't at all
connected with what I was doing in my lessons and I'll have to say I never
would have learned to sight-read the way I do if I had stuck to the
"program" the piano teacher had laid out for me. I used to spend hours
playing music that was not specifically assigned for me to practice and I
really learned to read notes that way-mostly because I was playing music I
WANTED to play so you might also check with your students to see if they
really like the things they have been assigned to play and practice. If you
don't already do this, let them choose their performance pieces.

4) I also happen to be a person who loves ensemble playing and solitary
practice simply doesn't appeal to me. Some may find the following statement
offensive, but I think this is the very reason that some of the best
performers are truly not the best teachers, since they have spent SO many
solitary hours practicing that they often don't have the social skills
necessary to develop solid working relationships with their students. I
myself took a 15 year "leave of absence" from music. I have a social work
degree and worked in that field for 15 years before returning to my music
and I think I'm a much better teacher today than I would have been under
different circumstances. I just spent almost 10 hours preparing several
piano accompaniments for a vocalist but have so far only spent about 30
minutes with the vocalist. That amount of time spent alone practicing
doesn't leave much time to interact with other people. So, whenever
possible provide opportunities for your students to practice in ensemble or
small group situations. Most kids prefer to be with other kids. Keep
giving them opportunities and places to perform music so they always have a
goal and they are continuously engaged in that process in order to prepare
for the next performance. I'm convinced that the secret is to simply keep
them playing notes, notes and more notes until their skills become more
advanced and that's when the fun really begins. Do whatever it takes to
keep them involved in the interim. Christy Erickson

----- Original Message -----
From: "Nicholas Yip" <clarinets21@-----.com>
To: <klarinet@-----.org>
Sent: Friday, January 12, 2007 3:11 AM
Subject: Re: [kl] music students

> Hi, Thanks,
>
> I do teach them practice skills in a very detailed manner. In fact I
> suggest
> to them a practice schedule on how to spend their time practicing.
>
> What I get frustrated with sometimes is when students come back with the
> 'I
> don't get it' syndrome. In some cases they really don't try. When they ask
> me this question I will ask them, what don't they get? Some will stare at
> me
> for five minutes. It is as if they cannot give me a detailed question.
>
> As a previous poster said, "you can't change their behaviors". Well, he is
> right, I may be stuck with it.
>
> One more thing for everyone. I am not training all of them to be music
> majors, but just to play for fun.
>
>
>
> Nicholas Yip
> Clarinetist and Music Teacher
>
>
>
>
> >From: "avi rostov" <avi@-----.net>
> >Reply-To: klarinet@-----.org
> >To: <klarinet@-----.org>
> >Subject: Re: [kl] music students Date: Fri, 12 Jan 2007 00:53:25 -0800
> >
> >
> >>1) They come in unprepared for lessons.
> >Yes, some don't put in the time or effort to prepare, but others don't
> >know
> >how to isolate their problems and approach them in a constructive manner.
> >Do you teach practice skills?
> >>2) They look for the quick fix
> >Haven't we all at some point? Sometimes it helps to explain the
> >difference
> >between "getting through" a piece developing the skill set it will will
> >take to learn how to play most anything on their instrument.
> >>3) They often ask questions of things they can figure on their own.
> >It often seems that way, but be glad they are asking. That opens the
> >door
> >to learning.
> >I find playing duets very helpful. When possible, I schedule students
> >who
> >seem compatible so that they can spend the last 5 minutes of one lesson
> >and
> >the first 5 minutes of the next lesson playing duets together. This adds
> >an important social aspect that is missing from private lessons and
> >increases the accuracy in playing that is necessary to make duets work.
> >I
> >also play duets with students and emphasize in my part the student's
> >problem areas. They often pick up by example what is hard for them to
> >hear
> >when playing alone. A great side benefit it that duets are fun and can
> >improve the mood of a lesson.
> >
> >
> >-------------------------------------------------------------------
> >Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
> >
>
> From photos to predictions, The MSN Entertainment Guide to Golden Globes
> has
> it all. http://tv.msn.com/tv/globes2007/?icid=nctagline1
>
>
> -------------------------------------------------------------------
> Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org
>
>

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Klarinet is a service of Woodwind.Org, Inc. http://www.woodwind.org