 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: ginny
Date: 2004-03-04 23:32
I am getting a little tried of only playing a few notes back and forth and some easy scales for my lesson for going on two months. I am sure my emb. and tone are less than perfect, but I am starting to believe that my lessons will never consistent of anything else. I am not an advanced player but I can at least squawk through stuff.
Anyone else teaches this way? or has been sucessfully taught this way.
I am obviously thinking of moving on. The teacher has some excellent students, but may still be inappropriate for me.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-05 02:18
First I'd talk it over with your teacher. Ask why you have to repeat these and ask if he/she thinks you can move on. Get the 'real scoop' from her/him on what's going on. Talk it over and see if you can agree on what can/should be done.
If for some reason you can't agree, take a lesson with someone else and see if they teach differently or more to your liking. As a beginner, a lot of things can be very frustrating, and sometimes as a beginner at something you don't understand WHY things are done. But sometimes they HAVE to be done, and you may not get to fully appreciate it until later.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: ginny
Date: 2004-03-05 05:05
I am more of an intermediate player. I have played for a few years, and can have done some Rose studies and have worked on all the scales. It is as if he expects me to play a simple C scale as well a Sabine Meyer could before moving on at all. I am sure I will never play that well even on the simplist things, so I suspect that I will be playing an A note alone for a year if I stay with this teacher. And then move on only if I quit.
He has inspired me to not bother practicing tonight, a real first.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2004-03-05 05:31
Well, it might be time for a new teacher. Some people might recommend switching teachers every few years anyway if even just for a different perspective. But I'd still first talk it over with the teacher. Find out why. There has to be a reason.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
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Author: bnanno
Date: 2004-03-05 09:04
Dear Ginny,
Do try to talk it over with your teacher to let him/her know how you feel. You might get a different answer or angle on what you think;
I think at the beginning any instrument is boring, but perhaps if you talk with your teacher/new teacher they might offer a more mixed mode? My daughter started with the Peter Walstall book as well as the notes; it was encouraging for her to play something "musical" rather than just exercises.
I have known cases of teachers changing their lesson contents after students have let them know how they feel (bored, unmotivated) so you might give your teacher a chance.
Unless of course, you find this really great new teacher!!!
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2004-03-05 10:02
My experience with clarinet teachers has been rather the opposite - making me play pieces that stretched my technique to and beyond its breaking point, and ignoring the basics.
But I've experienced the "just play a C major scale" approach when taking riding lessons, so I know how frustrating it is being made to walk in a circle when you just wanna get out and jump some fences.
I think you need to ask your teacher to explain the purpose of the exercises you are given. You play a C major scale, and it sounds OK to you. The teacher asks you to play it again. You need to ask why. What does the teacher want you to improve. Intonation? Tone? Rhythm? If you don't know what the teacher wants, and you can't hear for yourself what he is criticising, then just repeating the same thing again and again will do you no good at all.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2004-03-05 12:24
If your fundamentals are shaky, nothing else will matter.
Duets with my teacher are the 'reward' for playing the core material well.
My teacher has been playing professionally for nearly thirty years.
Bi-annual lessons with Larry Combs cover; you guessed it - long tones and whole step scales. He stresses support and beautiful tone color on every note - and she chafes at the bit every time but it works.
It's your money, do you want an instructor that pats you on the back, or one that brings you to task? In combat, we descend to the lowest level of basic training - are you prepared?
*******
On the flip side, it's the music that drives us to perform.
You're paying for the lessons - get what you want (as well as need) or find another teacher. If your instructor is not accustomed to training adults, ask for a referral.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2004-03-05 13:08
So...why wait for your teacher? Try playing some song you're familiar with "by ear" without written music. It is allowed, you know.
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Author: hans
Date: 2004-03-05 13:21
Ginny,
From your comment "He has inspired me to not bother practicing tonight", it is clear that your teacher doesn't understand, or try to determine, what motivates his students - a basic ingredient for learning. IMO it's time to look for a new teacher.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: Ken Shaw ★2017
Date: 2004-03-05 13:58
Ginny -
The purpose of plaing an instrument is to make music. The very first lesson has to introduce where your fingers go and how to form an embouchure, but it also has to include at least a simple tune. (The standard one for the first piano lesson is Hot Cross Buns.)
As you go forward, every teacher will introduce new technical material and assign scales and arpeggios. But I think its a dreadful mistake to do only that.
Take the initiative. Ask your teacher to teach you the cat solo from Peter and the Wolf, or to play Frere Jacques with you, and ask for some appropriate solos or duets.
You have to please yourself, and obviously you're not pleased. Still, give your teacher a chance. Make the suggestion in a non-confrontational way and see how he/she responds. (Teachers make mistakes, too. A good one will listen to a student and do what works best.)
Good luck.
Ken Shaw
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Author: William
Date: 2004-03-05 14:16
What are YOUR goals? If your dream is to play principal with the NYC Met (or be the best clarinetist in your own venue) then perhaps you should stick with the "basics" that your teacher is stressing. As an example, my goal, in high school, was to become the best clarinetist in the world--and I wanted "it all" NOW. When my provate teacher started me on finger excercises, I was quite disapointed because all I was thinking was, "faster, higher, louder", etc--not building basic technique for the future. Now, in retrospect (hindsight?) I realize the importance of developing and fine tuning finger muscle control as it relates to musical expression via technique. I stuck with what my first teacher was stressing, and while I did not achieve "Best in the World" status (or even close), I became a "pretty good" musician and play in lots of local groups--and even make a fair amount of $$.
However, if your only goal in studying the clarinet is to be a section member of you local community band and have loads of fun playing music with others (and not making too many mistakes), then have a serious talk with your teacher and make certain that he/she also understands your musical asperation. Remember, also, that you can play other fun "stuff" outside of your formal lessons that is more appropriate to your clarinetting goal. Good luck!!
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Author: Markus Wenninger
Date: 2004-03-05 17:52
There´s no such thing as 'learning to work the fundamentals and after that moving on to the artistic stuff' - that´s 19th century´s metaphysiscs. Music is music from the very beginning, when You flip open Your case and assemble the tool. A teacher ignoring this is confusing the end with the beginning of music: Adaequate didactics confront the pupil with a certain oiece, some the student wants honestly to be able to perform, and then works it out with him/her, and just then thos ominous 'basics' kick in, but they must not before that. A teacher´s job it is first, to evoke the desire and necessity to be able to perform a certain piece, and second, to provide the necessary technical advice. It is blase to the max to distinguish between 'hobby' and 'artsy', between 'fun' and 'serious' stuff as far as the arts are concerned - a work of art is not like building a house, in a very very fundamental way music is always there completely, as a whole, it´s petty to split it up in technical rumpus and inspiration. BUT - the handling worms its way in through the backdoor, and justly so, because nothing is more boring and arrogant than a highly passionate but technically poor performer. SO: Find out what the sound between Your own two ears sounds like, this is no esoteric nonsense, the prime aim is to get a grip on one´s own ears first; then, the rest is just learning how to handle a tool full stop. Distrust any teacher who wants to sell You that 'music starts up there after you passed those scale-studies' et al; do not ever believe such. As a pupil/studnet, You have the right to demand access to compositions/styles You think adorable, AND being taught how to do it.
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