 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Meri
Date: 2003-07-22 22:07
Hello, everyone.
I recently received an ad call from the mother of a potential new student.This new student goes to a private school, where students are required to take private lessons.
However, the student's mother told me that her son, who is 12, may be required to take their lessons through the school, but she does not like the way the clarinet instructor at her son's private school teaches, pace far too slow (1 1/2 years, hasn't even been taught the clarion register, sound quality well below what I'd expect from a student studying privately for that long, no alternate fingerings known, weak sense of articulation and tonguing, and only knows two scales) lack of focus towards RCM (Royal Conservatory of Music, Toronto) exams and competitions), which is why they contacted me. She doesn't really know what to do, she is asking for permission from the school to take lessons with a teacher who is not part of it, she is considering requesting the school to allow parents to choose their private teacher, or even pulling him out of the private school and finishing the rest of his schooling through the public system.
She has a few other grudges against the private school, they have the students do too many activities.
Any ideas on what she can do?
Mer
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Author: johng ★2017
Date: 2003-07-23 01:45
First, you should stay out of it, and don't let yourself be quoted by name as an expert who says the school's private teacher is doing a poor job. You must remain professional. All she can really do is go to the administration and voice her just criticisms. Personally, I would be a little leary of someone so negative.
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Author: sömeone
Date: 2003-07-23 10:19
I am sort of wondering......
Does the new student enjoy playing clarinet at all?
And anyway, what is the concept of forcing the student to take exams anyway? Is it really that important? 1 1/2 years firstly is not a very long period (as in to be ready for good results in an exam)
Secondly, if the student is really interested or should i say at least into it the instructor is no obstacle for the student to learn more scales, and so on.
It is ridiculous for such an excuse.
Sound quality, articulation etc. is well in fact most probaly for the instructor to be blamed. But.....
3rdly, if what i said was not true and the instructor is to be blamed (or as a matter of fact the musical borad of the school), maybe they are just trying to keep the paces slow so that they will create more quality students
instead of quantity.
But this all of course is just me assuming.
My main point is, we should understand the student's current situation before deciding what is best for him.
I study in an independent high school in Malaysia. Having the fact that i attend to school (normal study time) from 7am - 3 20pm (fridays till 1 10pm,
saturdays till 11 20am) add the sectional practises of the band, plus the normal band rehersals on friday and satruday which extends to normally a period of 3 hours or so , PLUS accounting lessons , PLUS rehersals for the local wind orchestra....
Despite all this i still manage to take the time and practise myself....i play both oboe and clarinet. Seriously......the possibilities are wide.......
I agree with you JohnNg....
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Author: Pam H.
Date: 2003-07-23 11:30
Maybe the student could take private lessons in addition to whatever the school is giving him. My guess is that his lessons at school are not a separate fee but part of his tuition as a whole. The school then really wouldn't have a say in it as long as he meets their requirements.
The rest of his life and his mother's problems with the school I would politely but firmly stay out of. You don't have to be an expert at everything.
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Author: BobD
Date: 2003-07-23 12:07
"What she can do?" So, you are acting as her advisor? Don't.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2003-07-23 12:32
There is a trend to these posts, Meri.
The ancient adage applies;
"The world will be a tidy place, when each Monk sweeps their doorway."
No mention is made of the trash heap in the middle of the road, however.
*****
Taking on established institutions as an early practitioner in your field is a sure way to end up in Moose Jaw, teaching Violin.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2003-07-24 03:57
I seriously doubt that most private schools are offering either a band class or private lessons with no additional fee. In my area, it's common for private schools to have abysmal music programs despite the fact that they are staffed by outstanding musicians. Numbers are very small, meetings often only once a week, and==let's face it--a band of only 6 kids can easily be derailed by just one or two poor performers.
If this private school is trying to improve things, I can see some rationale for wanting students to have the same private teacher. We can discuss those if you wish, but for right now, I'll leave it at face value. That said, I definitely share your dismay at the results.
I just started a kid who took lessons for three years, is still in her first band book, and only knew one scale. Something is wrong, but it may be as much the kid as the teacher. Only time will tell.
Depending on what the school will allow, the boy's mother could take supplemental lessons with you, and see what the results are. If the kid is practicing, and makes big strides, she can use that as a rationale for making a change. If what you really have is a lazy kid, you'll find that out, too.
Good luck. I can definitely sympathize.
Allen Cole
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2003-07-24 07:57
"She doesn't really know what to do, she is asking for permission from the school to take lessons with a teacher who is not part of it, she is considering requesting the school to allow parents to choose their private teacher, or even pulling him out of the private school and finishing the rest of his schooling through the public system. "
If she is paying extra for these lessons, she certainly has every right to choose her own teacher.
Our kids go to a private school too and it's true that once in a while the school has to be reminded who's paying the fees!
There are music teachers at our school who have to be paid separately for lessons and the advantages are that they have lessons at the school, but the children are not obliged to use the school's teachers. I think most parents would be outraged by such a suggestion.
However, if the lessons are included in the school fees, then, as someone pointed out earlier, she could think about extra private lessons out of school.
Steve
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Author: TBliss
Date: 2003-07-25 17:48
It's unlikely, regardless of the monetary situation, that taking lessons from two different private teachers will help the situation. Likely, it will just lead to more conflict. Each teacher has his/her own philosophies and will be trying to instill a particular approach to the instrument. The student will be caught in the middle, trying to satisfy both instructors. Under these circumsances, it may be difficult for the student to make good progress.
Tim
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