The Clarinet BBoard

Re: Funny sayings you've said to students

Author: ron b  Date:   2005-01-19 03:54 I'm not really a teacher, Alexi, but I have one friend-of-the-family "student" with whom I share tips and duets and stuff almost weekly. I told him last week, as he was having difficulty with a fast passage, "Slow it waaay down, man, like pouring cold syrup... ". His Mom, who is very good about being present during his "lessons", thought it was hilariouly descriptive... playing slow-syrup music. But, we did it that way, in s l o w m o t i o n a few times. His speed and fluency improved dramatically within ten minutes and his self confidence meter hummed with excitement. By the end of our session he was playing it like an old pro. Now, when he's struggling with fast notes his Mom just reminds him to "put a little syrup on it".... - rn b - Post Edited (2005-01-19 03:56)

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Re: Funny sayings you've said to students

Author: ohsuzan  Date:   2005-01-19 14:04 I can tell you a couple of things I've said that the folks I was directing thought were funny. At one church where I worked, I was developing a handbell group. These folks were very capable musicians, but were unsure of themselves when confronting a difficult piece, and tended to "underplay" for fear of making mistakes, so that the whole effect was halting and insecure. So, quoting our religious founder Martin Luther, I told them, "Sin boldly, that grace may abound!" That did the trick for them -- they became (and still are) an outstanding (and fearless!) group. Same group, at the dress rehearsal before a community performance: I asked them not to use any "soporifics" before the performance (by which I meant, no antihistamines or alcohol, etc.). They thought that was s-o-o-o-o funny, and they fed it back to me at every opportunity. Same church, different group -- they played a trick on me! The "serious" choir was rehearsing an anthem that began with the words, "Lord, you are our dwelling place." For a bunch of unreconstructed Texans, this line is a minefield of diction issues. We had drilled and drilled and drilled and drilled on not twanging the "r", with enough success that I was sure, come Sunday, they would render the passage beautifully. I came in for the warmup on Sunday morning. They were all there, in places (which should have been my first clue that something was up). Accompanist starts, and as one voice, the choir enters, "Lorrrrrrrrrrd, ewyooo rrrrrrrrr rrrrrrrrr dwaeylllen' plaaaassss." It's one of my most treasured moments in choir directing, actually. Susan

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Re: Funny sayings you've said to students

Author: Robert Moody  Date:   2005-01-19 22:21 Dr. Stephen Johnston is notorious at Shenandoah for humorous sayings and anecdotes. He uses the "Start at F, as in your grade" with regularity as mentioned earlier. He has a jolly round belly and skinny little legs and will walk around the room pretending to pound his belly like the Energizer Bunny saying, "Ooomgawa, Ooomgawa" rather loudly. "Ooomgawa", according to him is an African word for "breath support". When he was the director of the Shenandoah Conservatory Wind Ensemble, they had made a 5 page typed list of "Johnstonisms" that were simply hilarious to read, very easily picturing his personality as he would have remarked. If you don't know him, you'd think he was serious, but the only thing he is ever really serious about when he says these things is the lesson to be learned...not the odd saying. He's not eccentric in the least. He knows exactly what he's doing and that is what makes his scowering face and serious glare so funny when he delivers them. Most people absolutely love him or cannot stand him. And I believe most people are like me...the former. Keep in mind that I am in my 30s and completing my Doctorate in Clarinet Perfomance when you imagine this scene. This is classic Dr. Johnston: A generally good size office with high ceilings. The lights are off, but the room is well lit from the bright day outside shining through the window. You are playing some medodic section of, let's say, the Standford Concerto. Dr. Johnston is standing by the window looking out at the scenery, singing loudly along with you in a somewhat harsh, nasally, somewhat just off pitch tone. He is conducting and motioning to help bring you through the line. Sometimes, in an effort to suggest pushing through the musical line, he will get so loud in his singing that you cannot hear yourself. You kind of get distracted in the humor if it all and play a throat g# instead of the g-natural on the page. Immediately and with a sudden and intense laser stare and contemptuous scowl, he stops singing and turns from the window. Of course, you stop and just look...waiting. His body stiffens slightly and he leans forward into his walk. He hurridly walks over to the stand, pulls out his red pencil and circles the g. He stands up straight and looks at you and says in a stern and corrective voice, "THAT is a G! It is played with no fingers. Just blow in the instrument Robert. It will play the note for you!" He sighs and gives a stern look and walks back over to the window. With a scowl and folded arms, his body turned back toward the window, he looks at you and says, "THAT is why I get paid the big bucks and can put those letters after my name on my emails. Now start the phrase over. If you play the g correctly this time I will consider letting you put letters after your name too." This guy is great. He really is. I wish I had that sheet of "Johnstonisms". It's been fun just thinking about the lessons. Thanks for the thread. Take Care, Robert Moody http://www.musix4me.com Free Clarinet Lessons and Digital Library!

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Re: Funny sayings you've said to students

Author: DavidBlumberg  Date:   2005-01-20 10:52 Alexi - I just realized that I duplicated your thread! I had forgotten that you had made this, and the posting about the sunset inspired me to create the other thread. But you had already done it! (oops) Sorry

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Re: Funny sayings you've said to students

Author: JJAlbrecht  Date:   2008-02-29 13:29 My daughter was playing a solo at festival last month, and she had a 2-movement piece that would just fit into the performance time. Prior to playing, she had both a mountain dew and some candy, giving her a killer sugar/caffeine buzz. The slow movement went fine, but the following movement (Allegro Molto) really took off. Fortunately, the piano accompianist was able to adjust for her quick takeoff, and all went well. THe judge commented that she was a "touch fast" on the allegro. Afterwards, my wifer and I were speaking with our daughter, and I mentioned that it was supposed to be "Allegro Molto" NOT "Allegro Nutzo." She took in in the spirit which I had offered it. It's become a catchphrase in the family since then. Jeff “Everyone discovers their own way of destroying themselves, and some people choose the clarinet.” Kalman Opperman, 1919-2010 "A drummer is a musician's best friend."

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