 The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-01-06 18:00
I will try to make a long story short....
I did a few music studies at a state college back in the mid 80's. My ambition has always been to play and teach clarinet but family had a different idea what my life should be like.
I'm STILL working for the family, but enough is enough and I want to pursue transitioning into teaching clarinet like ive always wanted. (going back to school is not an option).
I did a bit of teaching years ago and recently have acquired my first student. Things are going great and it has boosted my confidence into keep taking steps in the clarinet/music/teaching direction.
Got in a conversation with the owner at a local music store. I sent my resume to the lessons coordinator and he called me today. They would like to have a clarinet teacher, but have no clarinet students.
His idea is to have a "clarinet clinic" and to welcome students to bring their own instruments. He said to just be myself - and added, lets not even call it a "clinic" - lets do a meet and greet. This is just another step in the direction I want to go - but I'm not sure exactly what to include in this clinic/meet and greet.
Any ideas / suggestions would be greatly appreciated
Janlynn
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-01-06 18:30
Seems like the store owner should have some ideas about this - it was his suggestion in the first place.
I've been involved in clinics where local students are invited to come and spend time sight-reading level-appropriate ensemble pieces. The music can often be supplied by the publishing companies (for promotional value) and students are recommended by teachers who then may attend to help. The ones I've been involved with have always been sponsored and organized by teacher groups (NaME/AKA MENC, P(ennsylvania)MEA, B(ucks)C(ounty)MEA). The conductor-leader of the session (which would be you) offers insight to the students about playing techniques and ensemble processes that come up in the music being played.
Something like this might work in a local area if you can get local school music teachers to support it (if they're bringing instruments, the kids must already be taking lessons somewhere), but that means someone - should be the store owner - has to publicize it. It would probably be best to limit the level to elementary (maybe Grade 1/2 music) - it needs to be readable by average kids. If you ask them to prepare anything ahead it will become a source of anxiety and take more of their time than they may be willing to invest. The store owner can put some kind of literature out about your availability as a lesson teacher. If something like this came off, you might be drawing a lot of kids who already study privately with someone, but you don't want to appear to be trying to raid those teachers' classes. Your target should be kids in school programs who are not studying privately.
But I still go back to the store owner - ask him for suggestions. If he has none, he may not be really very invested himself in building this up and is relying on you (or anyone else he can find) to build his business for him. He may not turn out to be very helpful or supportive down the road.
Good luck.
Karl
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-01-06 18:42
- the next 1 - 2 months is going to be spent making connections ...school band directors - advertising -
this "clinic" will be for beginners. When I asked him what to include, he said tell them about putting together the instrument, talk about the range the clarinet plays - then added - you know the clarinet better than me - just be yourself. tell them what you do with clarinet. He said, lets make it more like a meet and greet.
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Author: kdk
Date: 2012-01-06 19:24
That's the way many beginners are recruited, often by instrument dealers who run rental programs aimed at beginning students. The introductory session is organized by the store (and sited at the elementary school). Your local elementary schools may already offer programs like that at the beginning of each school year. But most likely those kids won't already have their own instruments. I'm not sure what kids who already have instruments don't already know a little about playing them, or if they would enjoy just listening to a how-to talk. If the how-to is combined with "now you try" you're apt to get very disorganized very quickly and the whole thing can get out of control.
Karl
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-01-06 19:34
okay - so we're talkin kids who may have had one or two years school band experience. I agree - putting together the instrument is not something to include except many people were never taught about the bridge key and how to properly put it together.
i thought i might talk about breath support
articulation
dynamics
reeds
mouthpieces
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Author: clarinetguy ★2017
Date: 2012-01-06 23:58
I think KDK is right.
In a group situation, I really don't think they're going to want to hear a lot about mouthpieces, reeds, articulation, etc. Perhaps in small doses it will work, but most of the kids won't be there to hear you talk. They'll be there because they want to play. Yes, it's a good idea to instruct them, but you'll have to keep your comments brief.
I'd suggest getting several copies of some easy duet or small ensemble book. One possibility is Standard of Excellence Festival Ensembles (Kjos). The more advanced students can play the top parts, which often go above the break. The less-experienced can play the lower parts. Perhaps you could also write out some very easy parts, all in whole notes or half notes, for those with very little experience.
Instead of just one "clinic," see if the owner will let you do two or three. If the owner is hesitant, suggest charging parents a nominal amount, say $5.00. The owner will have much to gain, since I can almost guarantee that parents will need to buy reeds, cork grease, thumb cushions, etc. After the final session, the students can play a mini concert for their parents.
At this point, I can almost guarantee that at least a few parents will inquire about lessons. You can sweeten the deal by offering to give the first few lessons at a reduced rate. Good luck!
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Author: ohsuzan
Date: 2012-01-07 01:17
LOVE the idea of a little concert at the end of the sessions!
S.
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Author: clariniano
Date: 2012-01-07 03:53
Like the original poster, I wanted to started teaching about 12 years ago, and going back to study music was not an option, because like her, my parents had a different idea and refused to even drive me to my auditions, plus a lot more than that.
What I did then and still do to some extent is contact school music teachers in both private and public schools, and my experience is that private schools are usually more open to having private teachers specializing on instruments. For a couple schools I volunteered to fill in on bass clarinet, and at the full time school music teaching job my husband had a few years ago at a private high school, I filled in on the parts that even the best of their clarinet players (there were three who ended up studying with me) couldn't play then.
I started out advertising in my own neighbourhood, where I was living then, the general neighbourhood, and that I would be willing to travel up to a certain distance. And also talked and talked to people that I am a private piano and clarinet teacher, which has resulted in some students. And in performing recitals and concerts, mention in the program say at the bottom that you teach and leave contact info. I have also networked with dozens of musicians, especially piano teachers, particularly those who also accompany students and professionals on other instruments.
When doing clinics, some of the the things I discussed was the number of reeds students should have (many only have 1 or at most 2 reeds they use!), I bring mouthpiece patches for the clarinet players at the schools, I bring thumbrest covers made out of pencil grips for the school clarinetists, I discuss embouchure, posture, air use (and get as many of them producing a good tone as possible), hand position, and basic alternate fingerings, especially if their band or orchestra pieces use them. For schools that have their clarinetists in the clarion and altissimo register, I teach a short exercise on improving their tone quality in those registers. And I almost always play a piece for them at the end, something that they are likely to know (eg: The Pink Panther or March of a Marionette), especially if I can bring my husband along. (I've never been denied that option so far!) I often will pick a few people to demonstrate the skills I have just talked about as a group.
Although teaching privately has had its ups and downs for me (and many other teachers around here in the last two or three years, and the last 4 months or so it definitely is on an upswing) I throughly enjoy teaching and have had a few (maybe more than my fair share for the number of years I have been teaching???) go on to study music after high school, at least 4, those that I know of, even though one ended up being a guitar major in Jazz performance, but he's my only guitar teacher referral now.
Meri
Please check out my website at: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com and my blog at: http://clariniano.wordpress.com
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Author: janlynn
Date: 2012-01-07 18:27
thanks Meri - those are just the ideas i needed to hear to get my wheels turnin.
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