Choosing A Teacher For An Orchestral Instrument. Options

[morton]

If you were choosing a teacher would you.

Choose someone who had taken up teaching the instrument that they played because they thought that it was a good way to earn money, but whose only experience of teaching was an "A" type teaching diploma, and who couldn't sight read well enough to play in a local community group?

Or, someone who had decided to teach the instrument they played, because they were interested in helping children and adults get the most out of their musical education, had been to a conservatoire, or had studied music performance on their instrument at university, played at a high level, better that the "F" type diploma didn't have a teaching diploma, had played in many of the groups at conservatoire/university and also played in a community orchestra?

[Arundodonuts]

If you were choosing a teacher would you.

Choose someone who had taken up teaching the instrument that they played because they thought that it was a good way to earn money, but whose only experience of teaching was an "A" type teaching diploma, and who couldn't sight read well enough to play in a local community group?

Or, someone who had decided to teach the instrument they played, because they were interested in helping children and adults get the most out of their musical education, had been to a conservatoire, or had studied music performance on their instrument at university, played at a high level, better that the "F" type diploma didn't have a teaching diploma, had played in many of the groups at conservatoire/university and also played in a community orchestra?

Sounds like you are touting for business morton.

[morton]

If you were choosing a teacher would you.

Choose someone who had taken up teaching the instrument that they played because they thought that it was a good way to earn money, but whose only experience of teaching was an "A" type teaching diploma, and who couldn't sight read well enough to play in a local community group?

Or, someone who had decided to teach the instrument they played, because they were interested in helping children and adults get the most out of their musical education, had been to a conservatoire, or had studied music performance on their instrument at university, played at a high level, better that the "F" type diploma didn't have a teaching diploma, had played in many of the groups at conservatoire/university and also played in a community orchestra?

Sounds like you are touting for business morton.

No! Natural players ought not to teach. They often can't tell what they are doing never mind help someone else. I would be a terrible oboe teacher.

[MusicalNitWit]

Because of the instrument DS plays I generally have to go with the only person who teaches it in the area. TBH I have never looked into their qualifications. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

I think there are pros and cons to different teachers.

One of DS bassoon teachers was a professional musician, been to the RCM and lived close by. I still view her as the best teacher he ever had but her priority was performing so sometimes she had to cancel or couldn't book weeks too far in advance because of jobs/auditions.

I don't really know anything about his current teacher. I think he occasionally plays in an ensemble but he only teaches part time at the weekends because I think he works out of the area. I don't think he works as a musician but I could be wrong as he is always around at the weekends and I would have thought that was a performers busiest time. Lessons are done through the school so I have never heard him play or observed his teaching style. He does seem to have confidence in DS abilities and pushes him on, imo, at quite a fast rate.

The main thing I look for in a teacher for my children (not me) is a teacher who works during the holidays because private school holidays are so long. It is easy for a child to learn bad habits during the long breaks, especially if they move onto work not set.

[morton]

Because of the instrument DS plays I generally have to go with the only person who teaches it in the area. TBH I have never looked into their qualifications. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

I think there are pros and cons to different teachers.

One of DS bassoon teachers was a professional musician, been to the RCM and lived close by. I still view her as the best teacher he ever had but her priority was performing so sometimes she had to cancel or couldn't book weeks too far in advance because of jobs/auditions.

I don't really know anything about his current teacher. I think he occasionally plays in an ensemble but he only teaches part time at the weekends because I think he works out of the area. I don't think he works as a musician but I could be wrong as he is always around at the weekends and I would have thought that was a performers busiest time. Lessons are done through the school so I have never heard him play or observed his teaching style. He does seem to have confidence in DS abilities and pushes him on, imo, at quite a fast rate.

The main thing I look for in a teacher for my children (not me) is a teacher who works during the holidays because private school holidays are so long. It is easy for a child to learn bad habits during the long breaks, especially if they move onto work not set.

Military musician? They are often around at the weekends, and work away from home.

[Crotchetymum]

What are an 'A' type diploma and an 'F' type diploma? Assuming A is meant to be higher/better than F, is this dependent on the establishment from which it was obtained? Or something else? That's just out of interest - I don't know what qualifications my son's teachers have. As has been discussed before, personal recommendation, like-mindedness regarding goals and achievements, personality - and many other things - come before qualifications.

[MusicalNitWit]

Never pictured him as a military musician - DS will love him if that's the case! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[KTViola]

Because of the instrument DS plays I generally have to go with the only person who teaches it in the area. TBH I have never looked into their qualifications. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)
.....

I don't really know anything about his current teacher. I think he occasionally plays in an ensemble but he only teaches part time at the weekends because I think he works out of the area. I don't think he works as a musician but I could be wrong as he is always around at the weekends and I would have thought that was a performers busiest time. Lessons are done through the school so I have never heard him play or observed his teaching style. He does seem to have confidence in DS abilities and pushes him on, imo, at quite a fast rate.

I suspect I know who DS's teacher is, given that we've established by PM that we live in the same area...

For what it's worth, if I've got the right chap, his week job is music related, in music publishing. An excellent way to keep on top of the current teaching repertoire amongst other things! He also does a lot of local freelance professional playing. He's known as a very reliable, good player, and probably the only contrabassoon player within about 40 miles. Like you, I don't know what his 'paper' qualifications are, but I do know that he's a committed and experienced teacher who consistently gets good results from his pupils. And I've never come across anyone with a less than positive opinion of his character!

[Maizie]

As has been discussed before, personal recommendation, like-mindedness regarding goals and achievements, personality - and many other things - come before qualifications.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
"Ability to teach me" is the only criterion I have - and that's based on the things Crotchetymum mentions. Paper qualifications, teaching or performing, are basically inconsquential (though, to be fair, interesting to me, but purely because I'm nosey!)

[MusicalNitWit]

KTViola,

I think he is a thouroughly nice chap but that was all I knew about him so thanks for the info. The only criticism I can give of him is that his contrabassoon is always on display and DS is positively foaming at the mouth to get his hands on it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

[SueHM]

I have always chosen teachers based on personal recommendations, and the type of qualifications they have doesn't really concern me, nor what they get up to apart from teaching. That's not to say I'm not interested in these things, just that I don't think they would be a deciding factor for me. There is no one definitive combination that makes a good teacher, because so much depends on the personalities and compatibility of teacher and student.

I think morton is referring to Associate and Fellowship diplomas? (F higher that A, with L in between)

The only criticism I can give of him is that his contrabassoon is always on display and DS is positively foaming at the mouth to get his hands on it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Bit of course - it is all part of his cunning plan!! I think I know who you are talking about too, in which case I concur with everything KTviola has said.

[MusicalNitWit]

I did discount a piano teacher who lives 2 minutes walk from our house because she only taught to grade 3 level. She may well have grade 8 distinction and be great but I was worried at her knowledge and ability if she could only teach to grade 3.

[Crotchetymum]

I think morton is referring to Associate and Fellowship diplomas? (F higher that A, with L in between)

Thanks! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blush.gif)

I did discount a piano teacher who lives 2 minutes walk from our house because she only taught to grade 3 level. She may well have grade 8 distinction and be great but I was worried at her knowledge and ability if she could only teach to grade 3.

I'm not sure, but I don't think it's uncommon for some teachers to have cut-off levels. Grade 3 is quite low, I suppose, but it could be that she loves bringing on the younger, earlier, learners, and then likes to hand them over when they're well on their way (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) I knew a swimming instructor who was brilliant and coaching older kids, but rarely did so as he loved the first bit - actually teaching youngsters to swim. My son's previous piano teacher only taught to grade 5, or above that only if, having passed grade 5, students just wanted to play for fun.

[Listener]

I have always chosen teachers based on personal recommendations, and the type of qualifications they have doesn't really concern me, nor what they get up to apart from teaching. That's not to say I'm not interested in these things, just that I don't think they would be a deciding factor for me. There is no one definitive combination that makes a good teacher, because so much depends on the personalities and compatibility of teacher and student.

I think morton is referring to Associate and Fellowship diplomas? (F higher that A, with L in between)

The only criticism I can give of him is that his contrabassoon is always on display and DS is positively foaming at the mouth to get his hands on it! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)

Bit of course - it is all part of his cunning plan!! I think I know who you are talking about too, in which case I concur with everything KTviola has said.

Advice: buy a very small car NOW, then you can argue you couldn't transport a contra.


Daughter2's bassoon teacher once casually remarked that something she had set up (bassoon octet at local music festival, maybe?) was part of her plan to take over the world. D'you know, I'm not sure she was joking? There's something of the megalomaniac about <at least some> bassoonists.

[Alicia Ocean]

Natural players ought not to teach. They often can't tell what they are doing never mind help someone else. I would be a terrible oboe teacher.

I'm rubbish at singing. I scraped grade 5 with much hard work. I might do some more grades but it will be tough. And yet my singing teacher always tells me I should think about becoming a singing teacher eventually - because I've had to find out all the tricks to make it possible for me to sing in the first place.

I did have a piano pupil who was a (young) singing teacher - she was a natural at singing (not piano) and had got grade 8 effortlessly and I often wondered what she had to draw upon in her own experience to teach.