Have you ever been better than your teacher/instructor and you knew it? Did the teacher know it, but played it off? Have you ever had a teacher that was a fraud? If so, how did you know for sure?
I have more than one tale with many things besides music. After reading the "Teachers Chapter" of the "Nothing But The Best" book, it gave me flash backs. Especially the composition student!.
Phineas
Teachers/Instructors
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sidekicker
- Posts: 311
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It may depend on how "better" is defined. If "better" means playing better than a teacher (technically, etc.) then I have had that experience. However, that experience was tempered by the fact that a wider definition of "better", one to which I would ascribe, that includes experience, wisdom, and knowledge of how to play (even if the teacher cannot execute those ideas themselves), would change my answer to no.
All of the teachers I've had, blessedly, have been extremely wise and good communicators of how music should be played on the flute.
I think it's becoming quite common as our "older" generation of great flutists decline in their technical abilities that their students are better technicians. However, the wisdom of teaching doesn't usually go away with those folks. And, in my mind, that is what generally makes them "better" regardless.
SK
All of the teachers I've had, blessedly, have been extremely wise and good communicators of how music should be played on the flute.
I think it's becoming quite common as our "older" generation of great flutists decline in their technical abilities that their students are better technicians. However, the wisdom of teaching doesn't usually go away with those folks. And, in my mind, that is what generally makes them "better" regardless.
SK
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musical_Kat
- Posts: 126
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- Location: West Palm Beach, FL
- Contact:
Sidekicker....I would have to completely agree with you on this! Once a great musician always a great musician and teacher regardless of whether you can still execute it. They've been there....done it and they now what to do to get their students there. To me that's just as much an asset if not more so than being able to still wow a crowd.
Sidekicker and Kat
I totally agree with you on those points. However there are a few factors to consider.
1. A good teacher does not have to be the best player. Often, Great players do not make great teachers.
2. Experience goes a long way.
3. Knoweldge goes a long way.
4. Good teachers know their limitations.
5. Good teachers do what is neccessary to help their students succeed.
What I was mainly talking about are the Frauds! There are people out there that charge lots of money for training/lessons/instruction that are neither good teachers, good players, or have good knowledge about what they are doing. In the book, the composition student exposed one of his instructors. The student did thing purposely to see if the instructor was up on his game. The instructor failed! Big time!
Before I played Saxophone regularly, I have had many successful sax students, even though I am a flute player! Playing helps, but it turns out being a good player is only a smal part of being a good teacher/instructor. Every instructor must know their limitations. In this book, the instructors have a god complex. Some instructors(masters) can live up to this, some cant. The key to being a good teacher/instructor/master is doing what is best for the student to succeed. All the instructors in this book go out of their way to put their student through the ringer to weed out the riff raff, and take thier money. This does not only happen in the music field. I have on many occasions attend some class where I knew the instructor was full of it.
Success in music is based alot on self motivation, and self promotion. These 2 things alone will weed out the riff raff. There is no need to put your students through the ringer. There is a difference in challenging a student, and putting them through emotional stress. Just being an artist is enough dram for most people....lol Things will never change, but that is my opinion.
Phineas
I totally agree with you on those points. However there are a few factors to consider.
1. A good teacher does not have to be the best player. Often, Great players do not make great teachers.
2. Experience goes a long way.
3. Knoweldge goes a long way.
4. Good teachers know their limitations.
5. Good teachers do what is neccessary to help their students succeed.
What I was mainly talking about are the Frauds! There are people out there that charge lots of money for training/lessons/instruction that are neither good teachers, good players, or have good knowledge about what they are doing. In the book, the composition student exposed one of his instructors. The student did thing purposely to see if the instructor was up on his game. The instructor failed! Big time!
Before I played Saxophone regularly, I have had many successful sax students, even though I am a flute player! Playing helps, but it turns out being a good player is only a smal part of being a good teacher/instructor. Every instructor must know their limitations. In this book, the instructors have a god complex. Some instructors(masters) can live up to this, some cant. The key to being a good teacher/instructor/master is doing what is best for the student to succeed. All the instructors in this book go out of their way to put their student through the ringer to weed out the riff raff, and take thier money. This does not only happen in the music field. I have on many occasions attend some class where I knew the instructor was full of it.
Success in music is based alot on self motivation, and self promotion. These 2 things alone will weed out the riff raff. There is no need to put your students through the ringer. There is a difference in challenging a student, and putting them through emotional stress. Just being an artist is enough dram for most people....lol Things will never change, but that is my opinion.
Phineas