 The Clarinet BBoard
|
Author: Corey
Date: 2003-04-19 19:38
This may sound like a silly question but I am just curious......How often do you have your lessons? Like how many per month? I might be starting private lessons but at the moment I can only offord two lessons per month(1 the first and third week of each month). Is this a good idea? Thanks for all replies in adavane, Corey
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: EEBaum
Date: 2003-04-19 19:45
In my opinion, twice a month is the minimum to consistently make progress.
I usually have lessons once a week, but when things get busy they're often rescheduled, leading to periods of twice-a-month lessons. Any further apart, though, and I start to forget what happened in the previous lesson and end up backtracking.
-Alex
www.mostlydifferent.com
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Benni
Date: 2003-04-19 20:09
I have an hour lesson every week, and that's been working out well for me. Are the lessons you are considering a full hour or a half hour? Maybe if you're considering 2 full-hour lessons a month you could split it into 4 half-hour lessons and get one in every week. Still, once every 2 weeks shouldn't be bad as long as you make sure you practice a lot inbetween! 
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: sfalexi
Date: 2003-04-19 21:11
$$$$ does influence the time. I just started lessons (with my college since I decided to declare music as a major) and they schedule it once a week. Over the summer, due to funds, I think I'm going to be at the twice a month stage as well, but that's not really too nerveracking. I figure I'll make sure I spend plenty of time FINALLY learning my scales properly and plan to buy the Baermann III study book for this purpose. I'll work on self study stuff if I don't have a lesson coming up.
Alexi
US Army Japan Band
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Corey
Date: 2003-04-19 22:01
The lessons will be half-hour. I practice constantly but need the guidance and help that an instructor could give. I think I would do fine with lessons every other week. I think this would be good because I would have a lesson and then have a good week to prepare and practice for the next lesson.
Post Edited (2003-04-20 05:29)
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: moe
Date: 2003-04-19 22:19
I take a lesson every other week, that gives me a week to slack off right after the lesson and a week to hustle to be ready for the next one. Moe
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Brenda
Date: 2003-04-20 15:52
Moe's nailed the situation perfectly: If you know there's a lesson coming up you discipline yourself to prepare, it's a psychological game you play inside your brain. So why not have a shorter lesson every week instead of a longer lesson every second week? Your progress will be more steady and consistent. The cost will even itself out this way as well.
Teachers understand that some weeks are better than others. So one week you will have advanced further than the other week, but you'll never have to backtrack and review.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Ralph
Date: 2003-04-20 17:59
I take a one-hour lesson every other week. I started out with half-hour lessons, but finally decided the half-hour went too quickly and I didn't acccomplish as much as possible or was able to focus on a particular aspect. The one-hour lesson is more satisfying and productive for my needs. My instructor supported this and found time in his schedule to accomodate my needs.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: ginny
Date: 2003-04-20 18:27
In short, a well focused teacher can pack a half an hour with plenty of information and give you assignments. However, infrequent lessons will give you too much oportunity to mislearn technique or develop bad habits. I would be better if you could take weekly lessons, at least for the first few months. During this time the teacher will probably have many technical changes for you to master.
I am supporting several music teachers. Each of my kids has lessons on two instruments. I tend to spend on skills rather than things, so I have goodwill furniture and lots of lessons and decent instruments all round.
My clarinet son has a hour of piano and an hour of clarinet. He is quite serious and enters competitions and such on both instruments. The long lessons are at his request and he practices each instrument daily.
I have 1/2 hour lessons on clarinet (when I get any) and find that to be all I can ingest.
My bass clef son has 1/2 hour lessons, and I note the teacher is quick paced and well focused. He does not practice much, but plays well by practicing during band and on those days I nag him.
My bass clef son and I share voice lessons. We are switching teachers, since the first one was poorly focused, hard to comprehend and did not give specific assignments. We floundered. The new one seems clearer and has good concentration.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: johnh
Date: 2003-04-20 20:41
One hour lessons once a week. I found my current instructor through the community college here in N. Va. While, I am only required for course credit for half hour lessons, I also found that it was too short of a time to get anything accomplished.
John
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-04-20 20:49
What's missing in this question is an idea of your current ability.
If you're an absolute beginner, weekly lessons may help get you on the path to good habits.
If more experienced, and relatively disciplined, biweekly should be sufficient.
I think 1/2 hour is too brief... given warmup requirements.
Me? I think once a month for an hour is enough... if you're practicing for active performances and have regular rehearsals, more than monthly lessons will eat up valuable time for other pursuits.
You do have other things to do, don't you?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Jerry
Date: 2003-04-21 01:13
I feel I get more out of two, one-hour lessons a month than four, one-half hour lessons. Unless you have time before and after your lesson to assemble the instrument, warm up, and disassemble, or your teacher spends an extra 5 or 10 minutes with you before or after a half hour lesson, I can't imagine getting much out of 1/2 hour, especially if it is a tightly scheduled lesson location - sort of like a "bring 'em in - head 'em out" environment. That sounds like a boiler room. Focus by the instructor is one thing. Absorbing rapid fire instruction needed to learn fairly complex technique or music well by the student is quite another.
Besides, I wouldn't trade my duet time with the teacher for anything.
I would like to hear some feedback from students regarding the content of their 1/2 hour and 1 hour lessons. I know this is very "level-dependent", but, for example:
- Is your instrument already assembled and warmed up and material up on the music stand before your clock starts running or is part of your lesson time consumed by the setting up and breaking down ritual?
- How much lesson time is spent by your teacher talking or demonstrating, as opposed to you playing while she listens, critiques, and coaches "real time."
-How much time is spent on technique versus interpretation.
-How rigidly is the "play your assignment back for me" regimen maintained? Is the assignment merely "spot checked" or might you be the one relied upon to report difficulties if you didn't "nail it" during your previous week's practice.
-How much time is spent on playing stuff together - duets or otherwise.
Jerry
The Villages, FL
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Corey
Date: 2003-04-21 01:32
Helllo and thanks for all advice! Synonymous Botch, the answer to your question is: Advanced with alot of discipline. With my work habits, I think 2 lessons per month would suit me just fine. If I start the lessons, and find that I need hour lessons twice per month, or 4 half hour lessons then I will arrange this with the teacher. Thanks again for all advice, and more is surley welcome! Thanks, Corey
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: PJ
Date: 2003-04-21 02:21
As a student, I've taken 1/2 hour once per week, full hour once per week and full hour twice per month. Out of all those lessons and teachers, I found that an hour once per week (and the last person I studied with I had to drive an hour one way while I was trying to work a full-time job) was the best. If one takes an hour once per week, the teacher and the student both have time to address issues on a more slow paced scale. Taking twice a month, I found myself, like someone above, slacking off the first week after and then the week of practicing like mad trying to get it all in before my lesson that week (because there was MORE work to be done on a two week basis) and I drove mistakes in subconsiously. Half hour lessons were just too rushed and there was no time for conversation (Q&A, addressing equipment issues, the weather ![[tongue]](http://test.woodwind.org/clarinet/BBoard/smileys/smilie6.gif) , etc.). Everything that needed to be addressed was crammed in and then I was given an assigment on top of what I was already struggling with.
Now, in teaching, I feel that an hour once per week gives me time to address each particular issue by explaining, demonstrating, then explaining again before we move on to the next issue. I find my students moving forward by leaps and bounds since I don't have a river of student starting at my front door and running out the back. Sure, I don't teach as many in a day or week, but by a smaller group I'm able to focus more on individual needs.
Take an hour once a week even if you don't feel this is necessary. This way you will be able to enjoy your lessons and LEARN. Afterall, isn't that what you're going for?
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: cyso_clarinetist
Date: 2003-04-21 03:23
Corey-
I know you are somewhere in the Illinois area which is where I am from. Perhaps I could give you some names of good clarinet teachers who would be more affordable or someone who may give you a break. I really think that in an ideal situation to really improve as a clarinetist, you need consistent lessons week to week... I wish I was getting that at the moment.
- James
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: Corey
Date: 2003-04-21 03:31
Yes, I do live in IL. But I live at least 3-4 hours south (Jacksonville, IL) of Chicago. The private Teacher I would have ( if I start with him) sounds really nice ( I've talked to him on the phone) and has a lot of students from my area. Some of the students he had made state or placed high at districts (can't name any names, as I don't know them). I placed fairly high at districts as well but don't think I could place any higher without a private teacher for help and guidance. I would, although, aprecciate any teachers you could recommend me.
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: dfh
Date: 2003-04-21 04:24
Hello -
I have found this subject to be very interesting! Being a teacher as well as continuing my studies to *hopefully* one day win a job. After reading this whole thing, I just have to add one more thought -
- to me, it all depends on the student/teacher relationship: what do you want from them and what do they want from you and are you good at communicating that with eachother? You won't know that until you get started!
I've had long term student/teacher relationships with a number of people, and from each I learned something different in a totally different way. Some I wanted to see 2x a week, others once a month.... it all depends on the relationship, and of course, how much you practice! ;-) So for you, 2x a month may be great, but you may need at least 45 min.
Also, as a teacher I find this to be true, but I work in a shuffle 'em in and out kind of situation, so I havn't had the whole range of experience. I do have to say that anything more than a 1/2 hour for a 12 year old is a challenge for both of us!
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
Author: allencole
Date: 2003-04-21 06:53
Lessons, like practice, go better when done often as opposed to being done for long durations. You also need to minimize the interval between the times where you play supervised. This is the case, at least, for the average student. For this reason, you should have a weekly lesson. That is the norm, and for good reason.
Another reason to avoid 'alternative' arrangements is that many teachers won't enter into them. You may find yourself having to select from those who are most desperate for business.
Some adults do well with occasional lessons, but these are usually very serious players who can do a lot of preparation on their own.
I've often thought that I could pick up an extra buck or two by taking someone on that basis--but the results are generally something that I would not want associated with my name.
Allen Cole
|
|
Reply To Message
|
|
The Clarinet Pages
|
 |
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
.jpg){kind=small}
