 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Richard
Date: 2001-07-03 19:39
Hi. Some of this might make most sense to English people. I posted a thing here a while ago, and some people suggested I change my teacher - he's really nice but doesn't talk about technical stuff with me ever, etc. I don't really want to get a new teacher because we are kind of friends, but he's quite unreliable too - I sometimes go for 3 weeks without a lesson. He forgot to turn up to my last lesson(!). I don't think he'll want to lose me either, because I'm apparently his best student(!!) - he's the local peripatetic clari/sax teacher in school. He's army music corps trained. The thing is, I am working on grade 8 stuff at the moment, and I really want to play the clarinet professionally( how many times have we heard that, I know, but its an aim). I think I can sort out the technical stuff on my own - embouchre, tonguing etc., but its just that I hardly see him...maybe I'm really selfish wanting to get someone else to make me better - it should be me that makes the difference not my teacher. Should I leave him - I know of a couple of other good clarinet teachrs locally.
Thanks, anyway,
Richard
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Author: Kim
Date: 2001-07-03 20:32
I had a similar problem in college. I was the best student that my old teacher had only because I showed up at the lessons. When she wasn't there, which was most of the time, I would practice. I didn't really learn much under this teacher. Once the new teacher came, what a difference! I have improved so much in just the six months that I have had the new teacher. If I were you, I would change teachers because you want to get better and are interested. The teacher you have now seems to be holding you back.
Good luck,
Kim
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-07-03 20:43
I once had a teacher who spent all his time showing me what a great player he was--and by the way, he really was great. I always left feeling stupid and intimidated. He even brought his kid to my lessons a couple of times. Needless to say, the kid didn't add to the "learning environment" even though he was a fairly nice kid.
I was paying a fortune for the discouragement, so I left for my own mental health.
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Author: Suzanne
Date: 2001-07-03 22:00
If you go back and read your own post, you obviously want to change teachers. If you are good enough friends, your current teacher will understand.
If you really want to play professionally, you should have a high-quality teacher. No, it should not all depend on you, why else would we take lessons at all? Why don't you take a trial lesson with one of the other local teachers before you make your decision? You might find that you will learn much more from somebody else, and that might make the decision even easier.
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Author: Erika
Date: 2001-07-03 22:47
Hi Richard,
Sometimes when you are considering what you want to do in the future, it is okay to be a little bit selfish. If you are seriously considering a career in music, you should do everything you can in your power to play at your highest level.
You can try and work on technical stuff on your own, but it is a lot easier if you really have a teacher's guidance. A great clarinet embouchure is a hard thing to master. A good teacher can do a lot to help you develope your embouchure and tounging.
If your teacher and you get along really well but you aren't happy with his teaching, you can still keep in contact with him. If he has e-mail, you could e-mail him with questions you may still have, or just to communicate.
I know first hand what it's like to drop lessons from a teacher who has been a friend for years. It's a hard thing to do, but I felt that I wasn't getting what I needed out of the lessons. But changing teachers has a lot of good points to it. It is always great to hear another person's opinion on your playing.
But, ultimatly this is your decision. You need to weigh your teacher's feelings and friendship, and your desire to play at your absolute best.
Best of luck!
~Erika
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Author: ~jerry
Date: 2001-07-03 23:21
If you want to play professionally, tell your present teacher that, excuse yourself and look for the BEST teacher you can find. If not, you may flounder around and never accomplish your goal. Like the saying goes, "Be the best you can be". Successful people do not hesitate, that just go for it. That's what makes them successful.
Go for it. Times awast'in.
~ jerry
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