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Re: Returning player and his interested kid

Author: kdk ★2017
Date: 2017-09-20 21:43

There's a lot here. So, point by point:

Beable wrote:

> I'm interested in any thoughts on how I'm handling both
> situations: me going back to playing and making sure that the
> kid gets a good start.

This sounds great, as long as you and the teacher are on the same page regarding your purposes.

> We've rented her a beginner horn. Plays fine. If she retains
> interest, we'll buy a beginner instrument at some point.
>

Again, this sounds fine. I wouldn't wait too long to make an outright purchase. Once the introductory rental period ends, the rate typically goes up and, unless you buy the rental instrument at a decent discount, you can end up spending a lot more money the longer you rent.

> I play on Mitchell Lurie 3's currently. Used to play on 4's,
> which I will work back to. Would starting her on 2's be
> appropriate? She was able to make sounds on my newish 3's, but
> I don't want to tire her out unnecessarily while she's getting
> started.
>

I'd start her on #2-1/2. I've always found that #2s allow lazy habits to develop that don't become really apparent until you try to move the student into the clarion register. #3, if it doesn't make the tone hard to produce and control, is OK, but typically with most beginner setups it's a little stuffy with an undeveloped embouchure.

> I don't think we'll be able to get her into lessons over the
> long term because she is already taking piano and has other
> after school stuff. But I'm worried about bad habits and not
> doing the basics correctly. I had to rework my embouchure when
> I went to my second teacher, and I'd rather she not have to do
> that.

This sometimes reflects the teacher's prejudices rather than the student's real deficiencies. It's hard to know whether your experience was necessary or not.

> Do you think taking a small amount of private lessons
> would be worth it in the beginning? Or maybe after she's had
> the thing for a month? I will be able to help her, but I don't
> know how to teach fundamentals like embouchure, tonguing, etc.
> Worst case, I'll look up these things on youtube.

Sometimes the chemistry between parent and child turns adversarial as soon as parent tries to teach a complex skill like playing an instrument to child or even try to help. The distinction sometimes gets blurry, at least to the child. Maybe you could get your teacher to give her a lesson or two to get her started, then if she gets into any kind of frustrating problem, do the same thing. The goal being to prevent future problems or solve ongoing ones rather than to develop a continuing sequence of instruction. Ideally, the teacher would suggest technical ideas using whatever music she's already playing without assigning or trying to monitor separate practice material.

>
> I got her the first Rubank book because that's what I learned
> on. Is this still a decently regarded book?

Yes, but it isn't generally used in school programs because it requires "homogeneous" classes - all one instrument. The band methods that are generally used allow for mixed classes.

> I also have
> Foundation to Clarinet Playing by Reinecke, which is what I
> used after a couple years in.
>

I don't know that book. I wonder if it's still in print? I'll have to check for my own information.

Karl

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