[TPIN] New Students Off Horn Practice

[Dave Scott]

You guys aren't going to like this response, but I can easily understand the
teacher's policy.  In fact, on the whole I would say it is a good policy.
Beginning players probably get enough practice in class, if classes are an
hour or 76 minutes like they are in my school, more practice would likely do
more harm than good.  It is better to practice on the weekend when there are
no class sessions.  Also, weekend practice can cement the lessons learned
during the week, it is probably more interesting to be able to practice
several new concepts than 1.  Allowing instruments home only on weekends
also creates some excitement about practicing, it becomes a special
anticipated activity rather than a chore.

The teacher is right about kids forgetting their instruments, it happens
very frequently, and is a very frustrating waste of time.  Some kids don't
bring their instruments because lugging it back and forth each day becomes
too much trouble for them.  Better to let them ease into the lugging.

I don't forbid kids from taking their instruments every night as beginners,
but I don't require it, I do require them to take them home on the weekends.
  
Of course later on after the beginner stage daily home practice is needed,
but for group beginners weekend practice only is not necessarily a bad idea

-----Original Message-----
From: tpin-bounces+dascott=sasktel.net at tpin.okcu.edu
[mailto:tpin-bounces+dascott=sasktel.net at tpin.okcu.edu] On Behalf Of Steven
Pastore
Sent: October 2, 2007 7:26 AM
To: tpin at tpin.okcu.edu
Subject: [TPIN] New Students Off Horn Practice

Greetings,
          I am wondering what this teacher's policy leads to?
Certainly, very little practice.  Also, how does the student take a
private lesson?  I don't think they can, unless they buy a second
trumpet and mouthpiece.  Three to seven hundred dollars can buy a lot of
private lessons.  
          In speaking with the principal, you might ask what do the
Middle School teachers (who will have to run  band classes with a group
that probably has no private taught students) think about that policy?
The area's (usually county) music supervisor would likewise want to know
about starting students off for two years discouraging both all practice
and all private lessons.
          One of the main goals of elementary school is to instill the
concept that homework is not an option by the time students reach middle
school.  All progress is based on it.  This policy flies in the opposite
direction.   In most instances, getting the students to practice (15
minutes twice a night) is the actually main problem.  
          Of course the student could be misreading the actual policy,
which might apply to just one week before a concert or something like
that.  Or, dealing with a group hostility problem.  In any case, it
seems like this teacher is having a problem getting instruments into the
class.  A principal's job is to find out why that is the case.  Perhaps
the parents of the students could help the teacher along with this
problem somehow.
          All the best,         
Steve Pastore
 
 
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