 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2005-07-14 13:43
Following a Monday night concert I was asked by a band director to give clarinet/sax lessons to a young high school girl. I said I didn't feel I had the background/experience to give her lessons. Let me explain and ask you instructors out there what you think?
1. Many years ago I gave lessons to young, beginning clarinet players. Scales, embouchure, counting, touguing etc. were really not a problem when starting with no bad habits. When they needed more, there were more skilled instructors around to send them to.
2. This young lady is a fairly good mucisian, but has developed some bad habits which need to be fixed.
3. Recognizing exactly what those bad habits are and how to fix them concerns me. I'm not sure I have the ability to pick them out and then correct them. I'd hate to ruin or discourage a young player.
4. Short of reading this board, I haven't found any info on correcting bad habits (haven't looked hard either).
What do you think? Is a mediocre teacher who would work to improve student and self better than no teacher? Can I read to learn? Not sure how many clarinet/sax teachers are available in our area. Her band director doesn't seem to think many which is why he came to me. Any help out there? What should I do?
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2005-07-14 14:05
What's been of invaluable help to me is reading Keith Stein's and David Pino's books, along with Peter Hadcock's Master Classes. Those along with my own experience, remembering what my teachers drilled over the years, and reading this BB have helped in the music studio. These brought out difficulties that others have that I didn't have personally, something teachers need to be aware of.
Having read so much both here and in these books has helped me teach what I think is a more complete lesson, filling in the gaps that I wish I'd been taught. Also important in teaching is balancing hard work with humour, and knowing when to stop so the student doesn't get totally discouraged.
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Author: hans
Date: 2005-07-14 14:10
Buster Brown,
Re: can I read to learn....
If you will send me an email, I'll send you some notes that you might find helpful.
Regards,
Hans
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Author: ClariBone
Date: 2005-07-14 14:47
Discaimer: I am in no way involved with Tom Ridenour or Ridenour Clarinet Products. I'm just a VERY satisfied customer
Buster Brown,
You wrote "Can I read to learn?". Yes you can. Check out Tom Ridenour's book, "The Educators Guide to the Clarinet". This book goes in depth on stuff like tongue position, embouchure formation (gives pictures of falty embouchures and tells you how to spot bad embouchures), breathing correctly, and much more. It is meant for those who are teaching or learning the clarinet. You could e-mail Mr. Ridenour and see if he thinks his book would be right for you. Hope this Helps!!!!
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Author: msloss
Date: 2005-07-14 16:07
Your first instinct is a good one. Leave the teaching to professionals. While it is admirable and in fact a worthwhile pursuit to want to upgrade your own skills in this regard, a student's instruction rightfully should come from an expert in the field, particularly (and I'm making an assumption here) if she is paying for the instruction. The greatest service you could do this young lady is to help her find a good professional instructor in your area, or even a little beyond.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-07-14 23:15
Add Mazzeo's book to Brenda's list. It has a section on teaching based on his lifetime experience; its shocking.
Then, try it out. When you feel that you are no longer helping your student; THEN refer her to a different teacher.
There's more to teaching (anything) than just being comfortable with the subject matter. Be a coach, be helpful, lead, set an example; show her how to work out problems on her own. Teach her how to learn. Benefit her with your wider experience.
I've been able to push young people above my own competence. It took work each week to be enough ahead of them to make my points; and they came back better to the next lesson.]
You do have a personal reference; and you have a good starting understanding of some of the challenges the student faces.
Bob Phillips
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Author: diz
Date: 2005-07-14 23:31
Buster ... I would never put anyone off teaching (unless they were themselves complete novices). One has to start somewhere ... my introduction to teaching (many years ago now) was under the direct supervision of my then teacher ... I took on a couple of her young students and taught them in her studios with her present. She got nothing out of the arrangement financially, in fact she probably lost money as I was paid for the lessons. However, what she did get out of it was ensuring that I was teaching and taking care of the student's development from every angle (harmony, rhythm, musicianship and theory - plus the very obvious practical element).
My then teacher was inspirational to me in her approach. All of her students had to write a page or two about the composer of any new work studied. This included contemporary events in the arts and science at the time. As a result I learned a lot about not just music but also what was going on in painting, science etc. In those days the internet wasn't an option, so time was spent at the local library looking up Groves' Dictionary and Encyclopaedia Britannica. Fortunately I had copies of both at home thanks to a father (now dead since 1981) who was a prolific reader.
This approach didn't seem a burdon to me, but I know some of my fellow students used to grizzle about it ...
Without music, the world would be grey, very grey.
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-07-15 01:32
BB,
Concerning beginning to teach others, if one has a music degree (performance or education would probably work best) then usually sufficient knowledge and education in pedagogy for the respective instrument should probably exist. Or, someone with a lot of talent and playing experience (literature, technique, as well as similar tools) and no degree would probably do a creditable job. A person with credentials that contain any less of the above would really be taking on a significant challenge. A student should expect his or her teacher to be skilled in the technique of the instrument, be a terrific sight-reader with perfect rhythm, have excellent tone, and possess many other goodies.
You mention that your first impression was "I didn't feel I had the background/experience to give her lesson." And you say "Is a mediocre teacher who would work to improve student and self better than no teacher?" Your words do not seem to indicate you have a lot of confidence in your ability.
I don't want to seem elitist but would you go to a lawyer, dentist, physician, or similar professional that had only read about what to do? While you may find over time that you really have a gift for teaching, this does not sound like a good situation for you. Staying just one jump ahead of an above average student - even one with problems -by learing by reading can be a tough situation.
HRL
PS My father was a physician and I will never forget him saying "he got paid well for knowing what not to do." While this was, for him, an attempt at some humor, his words have always had a strong meaning for me.
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Author: Buster Brown
Date: 2005-07-15 13:26
Thanks for all the references and imputs. Not sure what I'll do yet. I would enjoy he teaching, but I'm not sure I'm willing to put in the effort necessary to do the job. I expect I'd have to work harder than the young lady.
For those of you interested, I do not have a music degree. I did play proffessionally (mostly sax; one regional symphony on clarinet) through high school and college. When deciding on what to major in in college, I passed up a music scholarship and decided on becoming an engineer. I guess I'm just a mercenary at heart (money won out over my true love, music). I put the clarinet/sax away for 40 years and began playing again 3 years ago. I love it! Currently playing in 3 groups (one for pay).
Still not sure what I'll do, but I'll let you know how it's going if I deceide to give the lessons a go. I'm sure I'll have lots of questions.
Thanks again, BB
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Author: Brenda
Date: 2005-07-15 13:49
Another thought to throw into the ring - I was told that when one teaches, that's when one's learning REALLY begins, that is if you're committed to doing a good job. Having been a student yourself you know the feelings of being in the other chair in the studio and can have some empathy. But more importantly teaching forces you to learn things so well that you can clearly explain them to others, either by demonstration or by words.
Having a mentor with whom to regularly discuss questions and puzzling situations is a great idea, and has been a big help to me in this process. They can help you decide if you're moving too fast or too slow, and even guide you in which method books or solos to use in the circumstances.
Just because one has a degree in music doesn't mean they're a good teacher! It just means they can play. Some great players are lousy teachers. So don't let that one concern hold you back. Do lots of reading in the books mentioned above and build your library so you can consult them for future reference - even show your student some of the references so they'll realize it's not just you saying that. Know when to pass the student along to a more experienced person.
There are some wise suggestions here by experienced teachers, use them and you should be OK.
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Author: Bob Phillips
Date: 2005-07-15 19:44
Next time, I'm going to major in music and do engineering on the side for fun!
Bob Phillips
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The Clarinet Pages
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