 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: rogerb40uk
Date: 2005-10-01 08:50
As an 'elderly beginner' I am in the process of searching for a teacher and think I may have to 'make do' with a 'player who can teach a bit'!
What I am seeking advice on is
"What is the minimum I should expect from him/her?"
As an experienced coach/trainer in other fields, I am thinking along the lines of:
Broad Aim should be to teach/coach me in what I cannot learn from books, CDs, DVDs, e.g. Posture, Embouchure, Breath Control (and what else?)
Specifically, if *I * were teaching, I'd have a 'lesson plan' for each lesson, plus specific practice tasks to be worked-thru between lessons.
I would also get a student to set realistic & measurable objectives for each part of his/her development.
Is it reasonable to expect the same ?
And, possibly above all, it needs to be someone I feel I can 'get along with'!!
Input, especially from experienced music teachers/coaches would be very welcome.
Thanks
Best regards
Roger
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Author: allencole
Date: 2005-10-01 15:21
Beware! Doctors make the worst patients and lawyers make the worst clients. Professionals do the best job when you state your perceived needs and then place yourself in their hands. But your needs may be different that what you thought--and finding that out is one reason why you consult an expert.
Take a couple of months and see what this person does or doesn't do for you. THIS is the bottom line of your instruction--whether you're learning or not.
Don't second-guess their strategy before it's applied. An experienced teacher has dealt with your situation many times. This is your first time.
The biggest obstacle to accomplishment may be your own preconceptions. Go in with an open mind.
Allen Cole
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Author: Gandalfe
Date: 2005-10-01 16:38
Performers and teacher both have interesting things that you can learn. Returning to sax after a 27 hiatus, I picked a retired high school band teacher, who has a PhD in music, and played with major big bands. Sometimes you get lucky. I took lessons from him for a year and now he is teaching my wife clarinet and sax and a buddy tenor sax. He and his wife are great people who are great to take out to a jazz dinner whenever we get a chance.
But I also have 'the guys' over once a week for practice. We work through Aebersold's, Real Books, and play against CDs. Every once in a while I'll take a late bloomer to sit in with a playing musician, one that gigs regularly. I usually bring the music and we have a blast.
The smartest thing I did was to join a community band because the networking opportunites abound. And since joining I know most of the instructors that the sax section uses (and abuses).
Enjoy
Jim and Suzy
Pacifica Big Band
Seattle, Washington
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Author: Synonymous Botch
Date: 2005-10-01 18:00
Even top players get 'adjustments' from their instructors, albeit less frequently than us beginners...
Concentration on fundamental skills, from which technique flows
Forced rigor in rhythmic study
Regular beatings
these are all strong recommendations for a coach.
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Author: sfalexi
Date: 2005-10-01 18:03
Regular beatings, huh?
Wow. SB, you have DEFINITELY helped me to look forward to taking lessons then . . . .
US Army Japan Band
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Author: rogerb40uk
Date: 2005-10-01 18:09
I'm a bit worried (or excited?) about the last recommendation, SB
What do you see as 'Fundamental Skills'?
I should be so lucky as to find both , Gandalfe!
My best chance may be to hang-out at all the bars where they play live and ask around (Yeah, good idea!)
Ah, sfalexi, Great Minds... ('simultaneous posting')
(And, remarkably, I typed that *before* I read your "Words of Wisdom" below your sig :-O )
Best regards
Roger
Post Edited (2005-10-01 18:14)
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Author: Hank Lehrer
Date: 2005-10-01 18:20
Roger,
Fundamental skills include but are not limited to being able to play the instrument's scales and arpeggios through the full range, know the correct as well as all the alternate fingerings, be able to produce an appropriate tone, etc. Playing beautiful music requires these skills.
I have been playing for over 50 years (teaching for over 40) and I still learn as well as hone additional fundamental skills each time I practice/play. It's like golf, you need to know all the shots and be able to hit them consistently, have a good short game, be able to putt, exercise good course management, etc. Playing a good game of golf requries these skills.
HRL
Post Edited (2005-10-01 18:21)
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-10-01 18:54
Alexi: Regular beatings, huh?
Wow. SB, you have DEFINITELY helped me to look forward to taking lessons then . . . .
You're afraid of strong women, aren't you? ;-)
But I believe there's a grain of truth in the words "no pain, no gain".
--
Ben
Post Edited (2005-10-01 18:56)
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Author: rogerb40uk
Date: 2005-10-01 20:22
OK, let me try a different question!
How would you, if you were just starting on the instrument, 'audition'/interview a clarinet teacher for yourself ?
[Would you just say to the first one "OK, we'll try it for a few weeks & see how it goes" ? ]
Best regards
Roger
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Author: DavidBlumberg
Date: 2005-10-01 20:54
Check on what product that teacher is producing. Speak with former students of the prospective teacher and ask them what their impression of the teacher was (could the player teach, or the teacher play). Band directors are a great source for names as they see their product all of the time.
And give progress time! Adults tend to almost always want to progress instantly. It takes time and hard work.
Both, not just one.
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Author: tictactux ★2017
Date: 2005-10-01 21:16
>>>>
How would you, if you were just starting on the instrument, audition'/interview a clarinet teacher for yourself ?
<<<<
Next year (if all goes well) I'll be in exactly that situation...so:
- for me it's mostly a "chemistry" thing - I simply must like teacher, like to go to the lessons. No matter how many degrees a teacher has - if you don't like him/her, it's pointless. But that's not "measurable" in exact terms. It's not about touchy-feely tree-hugging, I don't mind a pedantic teacher. But learning with a dislikable person - shudder. (I had, as a pupil, a recorder teacher whom I despised absolutely. I hated her, I hated praticing, I hated the lessons, I started to hate the instrument and the music)
- It's safe to assume the teacher plays better than you. Find out how much. Let the teacher play some stuff. Do you like the style of the music? Too jazzy? Too much baroque? Ask about musical preferences.
- Then demonstrate your skills and ask the teacher to criticise you, most important things to work on first. Where does he/she start? Tone? Embouchure? Posture? Can you agree with the order of "things to do"? How do you like how you were graded? Too cautious? Too harsh? Does he/she explain understandably?
- Ask how the teacher would proceed with you. Staff/Note drill? Mostly playing duets with increasing complexity? Music theory?
And what kind of homework? How many lessons per month? Too tight or too loose a schedule?
This is what's on my grocery list...once I'm "there", I bet I'll do it completely the other way round. ;-)
--
Ben
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Author: David Peacham
Date: 2005-10-01 21:36
I'm currently taking elementary lessons in a brass instrument. My teacher is a well-respected professional player with a good deal of teaching experience.
He does not have any lesson plan I can discern, not does he set specific objectives.
He listens to me play. He interrupts me - a lot. Some of the time he is correcting things that are obviously wrong, but often he is picking up faults that I don't notice in my efforts to play the correct notes - tonguing too hard, inappropriate phrasing and so on. Also, he will tell me not to worry about some of the problems I can hear - those are things that will sort themselves out in time, he says, don't worry about them.
I suspect, if I were an unmotivated 12-year-old, his approach would be rather different.
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If there are so many people on this board unwilling or unable to have a civil and balanced discussion about important issues, then I shan't bother to post here any more.
To the great relief of many of you, no doubt.
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Author: rogerb40uk
Date: 2005-10-02 07:49
Thanks, folks, that is *exactly* what I wanted
("Ask the right question(s), Roger !!)
It is, I am sure , mostly about finding someone you can get along with.
If you find that, other difficulties, including all of the 'buts' I can think of, can be overcome.
Best regards
Roger
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Author: clarnibass
Date: 2005-10-02 08:22
"Broad Aim should be to teach/coach me in what I cannot learn from books, CDs, DVDs, e.g. Posture, Embouchure, Breath Control (and what else?)
Specifically, if *I * were teaching, I'd have a 'lesson plan' for each lesson, plus specific practice tasks to be worked-thru between lessons.
I would also get a student to set realistic & measurable objectives for each part of his/her development."
If I look at my favorite teachers, one is exactly like that. He has a very clear plan and knows exactly what he wants to teach. He gives great excercises and has a very clear answer to everything any student asks him on the subject.
My other favorite teacher is just the opposite! He barely speaks Hebrew (the language in my country), he is very disorginized as far as planning. That is, he will have a basic plan, but if something unrelated to the subject comes up that he thinks is important he will make the whole lesson about it. He might even joke with us and talk about music we listened to lately half the lesson.
These are my two best teachers in my university and I have learned the most from them (except my old clarinet teacher, but I chose those two because they are more comparable with each other).
Good luck.
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