 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Elizabeth
Date: 2005-05-18 20:34
I'm currently taking lessons (and have been for the past year) from a VERY respectable clarinet player-no names mentioned. I am very lucky to study with him at such a young age, extremely lucky! But, recently he has not been very concerned about my lessons and hasn't been returning my messages. He thought about taking the summer off with me, but I told him that I want to continue lessons through the summer. In a nutshell... he just hasn't given me the "attention" that is deserved from my hard work and skill, and what I expect from my teacher. My question is... is a change in teachers a good idea? He is an amazing clarinet player, but hasn't given me what I want from a teacher. This is a very hard decision for me. Very hard! Any suggestions would be helpful. Thanks.
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Author: stevensfo
Date: 2005-05-18 20:57
>>He thought about taking the summer off with me,
Elizabeth, don't you think he could be dropping a hint here?
Nobody knows exactly what's going on in his life just now. He could have major problems. Health, family, we don't know.
I suggest taking a break over the summer. You can survive quite easily without a teacher!
Then approach him in September and ask him what he want to do.
Steve
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Author: RosewoodClarinet
Date: 2005-05-18 21:12
It should be very fortunate that you have been studying with a good teacher. However, you might be able to have a new teacher if you would do so. You can talk to the teacher what he think about this.
Here is a story that happened to me past few months and still happening: I was trying to get into a new teacher's studio for the next school year. I took an audition. But, I could not pass the audition for the teacher, who is a very prominent clarinetist---no name mentioned like you do. What the clarinetist suggested me is two things, one is that I could take few lessons with him only during the summer, and another is that he would recommend me studying with another clarinetist in another place, who is also very prominent. So, I will do both two of them as advised, I am studying with the one during the summer and another one after the summer in different place.
You might want to change a teacher. It might not hard for you to do this depending on how your present teacher feels about your change.
Also, I really understand how hard you could make a decision. This is very hard and very frustrating. I have been very frustrated for few from the Spring semester.
If you are willing to change teacher, the first thing is to talk to your present teacher.
Good Luck!!
RosewoodClarinet
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Author: bflatclarinetist
Date: 2005-05-18 22:56
Well, if you've seen no improvement from the first lesson then you should probably get a new teacher. But a teacher is supposed to help answer your questions, stop you if you made a mistake and help you, give suggestions and advice. If your teacher doesn't demonstrate any of these then that's another sign that you should get a new teacher.
Maybe he doesn't need to be concerned about your lessons because you're doing fine. But like RoseWoodClarinet said, you can get a teacher for school months and 1 for summer. But it would probably be more convient have just 1 teacher because if you have 2 teachers then when summer's over you'll have a new teacher and she wouldn't know what you've been working on with the other teacher for the past 10 months. And Vice-versa.
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-05-18 23:03
Who works for whom?
If you're paying good money - get the most for it...
The best players are NOT necessarily the best instructors; it's the ones that can help you perform at your best that are worth their "salarium".
*******
To misquote the over-attributed Donald, "You're fired"
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Author: Anon
Date: 2005-05-18 23:44
My feeling is that you should take a break and find another respectable teacher with whom to study. I know there are several excellent teachers in your area and perhaps you could approach this person again in the fall if you even want to at that point. Sometimes some space can offer clarity to a situation!
Like someone else said, you don't know what is going on with his personal/professional life. His lack of interest might not be related to you!
That being said, I have always believed that a person should feel that the teacher believes in him/her and is behind them 100%. If not, move on. A student doesn't learn "everything" from one teacher anyway. You'll find over the course of your music career that you use bits and pieces from everyone you study with as you develop your own style.
Hang in there!
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Author: Brandon
Date: 2005-05-19 02:00
Not to be mean, but sometimes it is the student. Rather than drop a student, a teacher will let the student leave on his or her own. Sometimes that may take awhile. Sometimes while we think we may be working hard for a teacher, the teacher does not feel the same way. So letting the student fizzle out is one way to get rid of the student.
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Author: Anon
Date: 2005-05-19 02:14
Believe me, I've been teaching for 17 years so I understand that sometimes it can be the student! Bearing that in mind, teachers should learn to say "You know, I think you might do better with another teacher at this point" or "We just haven't developed the rapport that would be most beneficial to each of us." or whatever the person is comfortable with rather than letting the student wonder what's going on!
I've had this discussion with a student before and I really didn't want to have it...it was a hard one to bring up but I think in the end, we were both happier. She got a teacher who would let her do whatever she wanted and I didn't have to see her knowing that she hadn't done anything I had asked her to! haha
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2005-05-19 13:40
I agree that if he's suggesting taking the summer off from you, you need to go along gracefully with that. If you continue to ask him to teach you over the summer, it could be seen as "clingy" and "desperate." That's the kind of stuff teachers/mentors really want to avoid. He must have his reasons, whatever they may be, and you need to respect that. Ask him to suggest someone else for the summer and ask if he'll teach you again in the fall. Or--just take the summer off and spend some time practicing on your own and listening to excellent clarinet CDs.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-19 14:34
There are teachers which are good for some students and terrible for others. If it isn't clicking with you, then get another teacher. The summer is a great time to try another out and see how it goes.
Afterall, the teacher is giving you just that opp!
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-05-19 14:40
Subtlety and playing guessing games is the most unhealthy way to proceed. It would be entirely appropriate for you to politely express your concerns and your admiration and ask him directly if he believes it would be good for you to find another teacher. Don't walk away over a potential misunderstanding, and don't hang around because you are uncertain of the message.
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-05-19 16:34
Excellent advice by all. While we can't get inside your teacher's head, the vast majority of situations like this are ones where there is dissatisfaction on the part of the teacher.
Your teacher seems to have indicated that he may not continue teaching you. Asking him for recommendations for summer instruction is a professional and respectful way of indicating that you might not continue studying with him. Give him an opportunity to speak frankly about your situation. If he really wants to keep you, I'm sure he'll talk to you. If not, then at least you've done what you could. Besides, he might still give you a good reference to someone else.
The bottom line is that the fault could lie with either or both of you, but it doesn't really matter. You need a teacher who has faith in you and who is motivated to work with you. If this requires a fresh start, then take it with gusto. Practice hard and start motivating your new teacher. Best of luck in resolving this.
Allen Cole
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Author: Fred
Date: 2005-05-19 16:57
Thank you , msloss.
There is no substitute for unambiguous communication. Sure beats guessing, supposing, and mind reading.
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-19 19:45
"Synonymous Botch (---.nycap.res.rr.com)
Date: 2005-05-18 23:03
Who works for whom?"
----------------------
The student works for the teacher. Do you say to your Doctor "I'm paying you, I want you to treat my illness how I dictate it".
You wouldn't last very long with that Doctor.
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Author: Mark Charette
Date: 2005-05-19 19:57
DavidBlumberg wrote:
>
> The student works for the teacher. Do you say to your Doctor
> "I'm paying you, I want you to treat my illness how I dictate
> it".
I do that (not quite dictate - that's too strong a word I think) ... and my doctor and I get along just fine. I suggest alternatives to my personal treatments and I find that at least my doctor is receptive to my ideas and discussing them. If he didn't I'd find a new doctor. My doctor works with me, just like any good teacher does (after the elementary excursions).
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-05-19 21:06
Yes, there is interaction and the agreement of how to treat. It's the with part that's the most important - not just one way.
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Author: elmo lewis
Date: 2005-05-20 20:04
You say that he doesn't give you what you want from a teacher. ¿Are you giving him what he wants from a student? If he is famous, he'll have many students asking him for lessons-more than he can comfortably handle. ¿Why should he waste his time with someone who is not 100% committed to learning how to play the clarinet?
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-05-21 02:38
Have you considered the fact that your teacher deserves a vacation??? How long has it been since he/she has gotten away from the daily grind of everyday life??? My teacher went to Alaska last summer because his wife and he were celebrating there anniversary. They hadn't vacationed in 15 yrs.!!!!! Give him/her a chance and come Sept. or Aug. approach him about continuing lessons. If there isn't an improvement, discontinue lessons and find someone else. There are MANY qualified teachers out there who would love to work with you. Good Luck!!
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-05-21 05:51
"Who works for whom" can be pretty touchy in terms of semantics.
For example, my band works for various clients. But the client does not have the right to dictate the specific program or the setup of the stage or the sound console simply because he or she holds the purse strings.
By contract, the client issues a specification, but defers to the bandleader's expertise in maintaining variety and direction, keeping vocalists from being overtaxed, and maintaining comfortable listening conditions for the audience. Customers are encouraged to describe what songs they want (and when) and anything else that they wish to be done. But the bandleader must be free to deliver the product in a manner that does not harm the band's performers, equipment or reputation.
Obviously, teachers are compensated by students and can be said to work for them. However, the teacher demands certain working conditions to protect his/her schedule and reputation. I teach jazz improvisation, but on the condition that the student pass certain technical and theory competencies prior to the beginning of this specialty. I reserve this right because I know what is necessary for a successful beginner, and do not wish to risk the damage that incompetence would do to both the student's motivation and my reputation. I work for the student, but I am in charge. Just like a project head who takes the positioin on the condition that he be granted autonomy.
The person paying money is technically the boss, and ultimately the person being paid is obligated to work towards their benefit. But money is only one form of compensation. Authority, respect, and effort are part of most teachers consider a bottom-line compensation package.
Outside of a college curriculum, I think that most teachers would be glad to help students to pursue their own interests--as long as the student has the skills necessary to pursue the task.
Allen Cole
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-05-21 11:04
I don't consider the arrangement to be ambiguous...
if the student paying for the lessons cannot be satisfied, it's time for a change.
If the instructor doesn't consider the student to be exerting sufficient effort it's time for someone else to take up the spot.
I can't think of a more destructive relationship than an indifferent teacher.
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