Re: Re: Re: Re: Teachers


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Posted by Steve Dedman on February 03, 2001 at 04:11:57:

In Reply to: Re: Re: Re: Teachers posted by curious on February 03, 2001 at 01:43:08:

Curious,

You make some very valid points about whether your question is being answered or not. I'll tell you up front, I'm not going to answer your question directly, since I don't know what (who) the answer is. If you would like to continue reading, I think you might find a quasi-answer, and it might do more good than an actual, factual answer.

I think that the question that you would really like an answer to is: do I sound really good, and is the person telling me that I sound good only telling me what I want to hear? There is not a person on this list that doesn't ask themselves that question at least every time they pick up the horn. It's what we do. We try to sound good. Unfortunately, we can't hear you play on-line to tell you what we think. Remember that everyone has a slightly different sound in mind as an ideal sound. This "other" teacher's ideal sound is probably different from your original teacher's ideal sound. Listen to as many different tuba artists as you can to develop your own ideal sound, then strive for that sound.

You say that your current teacher likes the way you sound. Is your teacher a tuba specialist, or a brass/low brass generalist? That makes a difference. Also remember that all teachers are different. Some will emphasize use of embouchure to effect tone while others will emphasize breath to effect tone. It depends on their personal playing style. I tend to emphasize mostly air, because that is what I emphasize most with my own playing.

*BUT*...

Most teachers I have known will be able to discern what your greatest weakness is and make you work through it. And all players have weaknesses, even the likes of Gene Pokorny. I just wish that my strengths were as strong as his weaknesses. I don't think that many teachers have a "preference in that area of playing." Most will listen to you and fix the way that you sound TODAY. RIGHT NOW. It's not a matter of "if you can't get two fingers between your teeth then..."

It's more a question of "Mr. Curious tends to sound "this" way. I want him to sound "this other" way. What is the shortest route to that goal?" If it is an embouchure adjustment, then that is what will likely be taught. But, as Mr. Jacobs taught, there are very few occaisions where embouchure is the real culprit with a problem.

That's the wonderful thing about teaching lessons. No two teachers are exactly alike, and no two students are exactly alike. To me, some of the biggest keys to finding the "right" teacher have less to do with music than personality. Of course, they have to be a top-notch player. But what then? Do you study with someone with whom that is the ONLY qualifier? What about who that teacher IS as a person?

Can they make you laugh once and awhile? Can they get a chuckle from your jokes? Can you go get a cup of coffee or a soda with them and just talk music or anything else away from the horn?

I'm not talking about a best friend or a parent away from home, but someone that you can connect with on a level that contains music as its center, but encompasses much more. You will always learn more from your friends and peers than from anyone else. So why not make sure that you teacher puts you on that level?

Teachers teach because they love teaching. If one tells you otherwise, look for a different teacher. When you find a good (great) one, stay with them and trust them. They want you to succeed as much as you want to succeed, or more.

For you right now, the use of the mouth is a big deal. But ask yourself: in 5 years, will it be as big a deal? An hour a day for one year, and you can change any aspect of your playing permanently. If you have a teacher that will put his entire being into teaching you to be the best player that you can possibly be, does it really matter where your lower jaw is?

Last point. By all accounts, Arnold Jacobs was (in addition to being an extremely gifted natural teacher) a warm, kind and exceptionally friendly human being. Given his supreme talent, would you choose to study with him if he were to tell you that you had to change the use of your mouth?

I hope this has made some sense to you. If you would like to talk to someone who didn't know where he wanted to go, what he wanted to do, whether he needed a horn, or even if there was a teacher at all, e-mail me your phone number. I've been where you are.

Steve Dedman


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