The Clarinet BBoard
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Author: jan
Date: 2001-08-10 14:17
ok, this is a strange question ...but, is it appropriate to give your lesson teacher a gift? i have made so much progress since i started my lessons with him. i opted not to take the summer off but will be gone for a few weeks before next semester begins and out of appreciation i would like to give my teacher a gift. is this ok? and if so, what would be a nice music/clarinet related thing to give him?
thanks
jan
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-10 14:24
FYI--A gift is a nice idea but, as far as "clarinet related," that could be tricky because I know how picky I am with my equipment--most often, I would get something that I really didn't want, or I would want a different model,etc. Perhaps a gift certificate at your local CD store would be easier, and much more appreciated. Good clarineting!!!
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Author: Beth R.
Date: 2001-08-10 15:20
How about one of those miniature clarinet replicas? I've started a collection of these miniature instruments, and everyone who sees them on my fireplace mantel comments about them. They're on eBay. Not too expensive either.
Beth R.
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Author: Mario
Date: 2001-08-10 15:45
Chocolate will get you anywhere.
Anybody knows how to get the sublime clarinet-shaped chocolate that we had in ClarinetFest at Oostend a couple of years back?
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Author: William
Date: 2001-08-10 16:32
My old clarinet teacher always use to describe the ideal clarinet sound as chocolate, hmmmm...now I understand.
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Author: Robert
Date: 2001-08-10 18:17
I say either chocolate, or some kinda candy (not mints, because then your implying something) or the clarinet pins, or a clarinet tie, or a mug.
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Author: Douglas
Date: 2001-08-10 19:29
Years ago a student gave me a gift for the extra time I spent helping her prepare for a recital. It was a metal tag with my name and address engraved on it to be used on my key ring. It has been a long lived and useful gift and each time I take my keys out, I think of that student.
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Author: Meri
Date: 2001-08-10 20:35
If you know what your teacher's interests and tastes are, it can be a good idea.
How about including a coupon for "renting" yourself to your teacher for a weekend to help with things like renovating their house, cleaning their basement, house-sitting, or cataloguing their music? Most teachers are really busy and would probably really appreciate that.
Another idea, if you have a bit of a compositional bent, is to write a piece and dedicate it to your teacher.
You could try seeing if your teacher has a wish list on sites such as amazon.com.
Meri
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Author: David Pegel
Date: 2001-08-10 20:41
Meri: I second the composition idea! (Why didn't I think of that? I've done that before!!)
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Author: Ashley
Date: 2001-08-10 21:00
I sent my teacher flowers to be delivered the day before all-state auditions my senior year, w/ a note attached saying how much I appreciated everything she'd done for me..and timed the delivery so I was in the room at the time. she absolulutely LOVED it, said no student had ever sent her flowers before..she loved it, it was really cute. Probably not a good idea in your situation (and I dont think a guy would appreciate it as much as a female, but I wouldnt know), but it was good for my situation..and it make her office pretty for a couple weeks, and put her in a really good mood for rehearsal that day. She only told a few people who they were from (so i wouldnt look like a brown-noser for -gasp- sending a teacher flowers) and they all thought I was soooo sweet. :o) Any other student that asked who they were from, she told them "someone very sweet", they all were completley mystified..some assumed they were from her husband. I just sat back and smiled...hehe :o)
~Ashley~
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Author: Brenda Siewert
Date: 2001-08-10 21:12
I have a clarinetist friend who describes the tone he gets with his Opus and Greg Smith Kaspar mouthpiece as "like Godiva chocolate." What a delicious thought! Go with chocolate!
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Author: Benny
Date: 2001-08-10 23:53
I've given my teacher a gift every Christmas. Normally I get him an ornament. Last X-mas I made him a wooden pen jar because he had a lot of pens everywhere. As stated above, chocolate is a good idea and I also liked the idea of a composition. Do you know what kind of reeds your teacher plays? It couldn't hurt to get him a few boxes of reeds. You can never have too many reeds! Hope you find something.
Benny
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Author: Wes
Date: 2001-08-11 07:52
How about a Korg CA-20 tuner for about $20?
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Author: Anji
Date: 2001-08-11 12:59
I made a gift of a Legere # 3 3/4 to my teacher. She had been sitting on the fence concerning the damn thing.
Now it sits next to the "Good" Zonda reeds as a security blanket.
Aren't all clarinetists gadget freaks?
I recommend the Toblerone chocolate bars, that way portion control is possible.
anji
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Author: Micaela
Date: 2001-08-11 21:17
I went to a concert with recently and got an autographed CD for my violin teacher. I am yet to see how she reacts but I think she'll like it. I give all my music teachers (clarinet, violin, voice) edible gifts every Christmas.
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Author: Gretchen
Date: 2001-08-13 00:03
fruit baskets? my last teacher was a health freak...he seemed to like it though.
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Author: Leanne
Date: 2001-08-13 18:26
I tried to write a song for my band directors (since I'm going to be a senior, I thought it would be really cool). I'm not really too fond of one of them, and, well, it kind of was made obvious through the song. Oops.
So, perhaps next time I write a really cool song, I'll just pretend it was for them in the first place.
I once told the clarinet section that we sounded like a bunch of geese. They weren't sure if that was good or bad. I can only imagine what that could bring...
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Author: Meri
Date: 2001-08-13 22:27
Be careful with food and clarinet-related gifts.
The reason to be careful with clarinet related gifts, especially equipment-related, has been mentioned. Some people are rather picky with what they like and don't like.
With food gifts, be careful about food allergies, dietary restrictions (medical and religious), and preferences. I would never give my teacher chocolate because I know he is sensitive to caffeine, which most if not all chocolates contain.
Also listen for clues to your teacher's non-musical interests. They may like a particular author or artist (in any of the arts), have a green thumb, or play a certain sport.
Meri
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Author: Robert Gifford
Date: 2001-08-14 04:20
I say get some bamboo stalks, you can go to a nursery and get some bamboo either predone in soil and rocks or make a setting of your own. Its supposed to be for good luck, but I think it makes a cool original gift, they are also easy to take care of (all you gotta do is keep the thing filled with water).... I have some in my apartment, they really looks nice.
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