 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Sarah
Date: 1999-09-27 03:08
Hi, I am a senior in high school and I am looking at schools for next year. I was wondering if any of you have opinions or insights about any of the clarinet teachers at Curtis, Juilliard, and Manhattan. What are the success rates of the students? Who is well-known for their teaching ability? I especially know very little about Montanaro at Curtis- is he principal in Philly? And does the Juilliard studio really live up to its reputation? Thanks for any help on this matter!
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Author: bob
Date: 1999-09-28 22:08
Dear Sarah, I am sad to think that you would want to go to julliard or curtis. Montanaro is currently principal, but he is so old that he sounds bad, and his students hate him and his teaching. As for julliard, dont bother, its a joke. Neidich cant teach classical clarinet to save his life, let alone yours. As or morales, he too young to teach, and the school is at a poor level.
try to make other choices
bob
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-09-28 23:34
bob wrote:
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Dear Sarah, I am sad to think that you would want to go to julliard or curtis. Montanaro is currently principal, but he is so old that he sounds bad, and his students hate him and his teaching.
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Bob,
I know a couple of students of his, and they enjoy his teaching. I'm sure some hate him, too - my son found him a "cold fish" during an audition, but others didn't.
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Bob also wrote:
As for julliard, dont bother, its a joke. Neidich cant teach classical clarinet to save his life, let alone yours.
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Don't know any Neidich students.
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Bob was still writing:
As or morales, he too young to teach, and the school is at a poor level.
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That's poo-poo :^) Morales is _already_ earning a pretty good reputation as a teacher, age notwithstanding. Manhattan is on an upswing from previous years, and if you want to study jazz it's one of the place to really consider.
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Bob concluded:
try to make other choices
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Well, I think there's plenty of other schools to consider, especially as an undergrad, so I'll agree pretty much here.
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Author: David Blumberg
Date: 1999-09-29 01:49
A:
Montanaro is a very good teacher - I've taken some lessons with him, and found him to be very good as a teacher. He is not that old either.
B:
Neidich is a fine Classical teacher - I've studied with him.
(so Mark, you do know one of his students)
C:
I agree that there are other schools, but you can't beat the price of Curtis.
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Author: angella
Date: 1999-09-29 01:54
the big name conservatories listed but--- that's mostly it, a name. as there have been many successful grads from these schools (hense thier reputation) there are also people who have graduated with performance degrees that can't play worth a hoot. i know a handful personally. don't choose a school based on the name. the most imporgtant thing, in my HUMBLE opinion, is.... PICK A TEACHER YOU LIKE AND WHO CAN AND IS WILLING TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED, whatever that may be.
good luck.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 1999-09-29 02:44
angella wrote:
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the most imporgtant thing, in my HUMBLE opinion, is.... PICK A TEACHER YOU LIKE AND WHO CAN AND IS WILLING TO GIVE YOU WHAT YOU NEED, whatever that may be.
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Excellent advice, but in most cases not doable. You'll audition, possibly have a lesson, and that's it. Not much to go on, considering you'll be working with that teacher for the next few years. So, the reputations _do_ count. But ...
Talk to their current students to get an idea. There are some schools where the underclassmen are not taught by the faculty, at least not on a regular basis, but by grad students. This may or may not be what you expect. There are others where you rotate through different teachers on a semester or yearly basis. The students will give you the "straight skinny".
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Author: Ken Shaw
Date: 1999-09-29 17:49
Sarah -
The best way to evaluate a teacher is to listen to his/her students play. The best teachers turn out students who all play well, but no two of whom sound or phrase alike. The best tachers are the ones who bring out the best in you, rather than making everybody play a particular way, no matter how good.
Best regards.
Ken Shaw
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Author: Chris Hill
Date: 1999-09-30 01:08
I've taken lessons with Mr. Montanaro, and found him to be an excellent teacher who treated me very well. He's by no means an old man, maybe 60 or 65 at most. The job placement rate for Mr. Montanaro's Curtis students is excellent; almost all of them seem to be getting jobs. I also think that he's an excellent player. As a full-time performer, and part-time private teacher, I would like to send my best students to Curtis. It is extremely difficult to get in, as there is usually only one opening per year. I don't know much about the other teachers.
Chris
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Author: David Blumberg
Date: 1999-09-30 04:07
On the other hand - how can the talent at Curtis NOT get jobs? They already won a national audition by making it in there first place. The best talent in the business is there as students, so even a good teacher (if not great) would have high placement, as the students would get what they need, and move on.
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Author: Mark Weinstein
Date: 1999-10-01 04:03
I wonder, in picking a University, isn't it possible to hang one's hat on MORE than just one Teacher ? What if the Teacher leaves, could you wind up like a football player without a coach? College students shouldn't have to transfer, so it would ne nice to choose a school where there are say, at least, 2 "possibilities", right? If one prof doesn't work out, one can always say that destiny led them to the other Teacher(s). :>)
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Author: john
Date: 1999-10-01 21:48
Montanaro is a really fine teacher. Even the students of his who don't get warm and fuzzy with him reap the benefits of his teaching. He makes people listen to their own playing and teaches a sound that is hard to ignore in an audition. He works very well for students who already have a high level of competence. His forte is "polishing off" strong students and turning them into players of the highest musical standards. The job placement rate of his studio is almost 100%, with players in Philly, the Met, Cincinnati, Dallas, National, Minn., Tampa, Grand Rapids, Savannah, Charleston, and a host of others. Curtis---free, best conductors, highest power wind faculty in the country. If you can get in, it's always been the place to go.
John Warren, Curtis '86, principal, Savannah Symphony
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Author: Sarah
Date: 1999-10-02 23:47
John,
Do you happen to remember what you played for your Curtis audition? I know that it is required that I play the Mozart, but it also says to play 2 conrasting Rose Etudes. Which ones would you suggest? (Since you know Montanaro) Also, do you have any more advice on the audition?
Thanks,
Sarah
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