[TPIN] "Crushing A Student"

[Jim Eller]

Good for you Nick.  In the 40+ years I have been playing and 30+ years that
I have been teaching privately,  I don't care how bad a student sounds,
especially a beginner, you have to keep his confidence built up.  It's
amazing what a good teacher can do with "raw" talent.  This is what I live
for in teaching, because one day I was that beginning student. I have many,
many students over the years and the biggest kick that I get out of teaching
privately, is when a student thanks me for helping him along!  It's too bad
a certain few behave in this manner, because the beginner players of today
are our superstar players of tomorrow if they are given the right
encouragement and direction.

Thanks for the confidence booster for your young student!

Jim Eller
 

-----Original Message-----
From: tpin-bounces+jim6355=bellsouth.net at tpin.okcu.edu
[mailto:tpin-bounces+jim6355=bellsouth.net at tpin.okcu.edu] On Behalf Of
nickmondello at optonline.net
Sent: Friday, September 21, 2007 4:42 PM
To: TPIN at tpin.okcu.edu
Subject: [TPIN] "Crushing A Student"

Dear TPIN:

Sorry, but I have to rag about this ...

I have a pair of students, two young brothers, both of whom play trombone.
One has played for a year and the other is a raw beginner. Although I teach
trumpet and jazz primarily, I took the student(s) on to get them started
with fundamentals.

The Mother told me that the young beginner was "crushed" when he showed up
for his first band lesson in school. Here comes the 4th-grader, all smiles
and excited for his first day of BAND!!! 
His older brother had taught him a note or two, so he was really looking to
impress. Upon the kid getting set up, Mr. (A.H.) Teacher tells the student
that his horn is a "piece of junk," and admonishes him "your parents should
have NEVER got you that horn, it's junk!" and other idiotic comments. The
kid was in tears Day One! 

I just don't get it. This guy has probably never played with anyone - except
perhaps himself - and he's got the nerve to hurt a kid's feelings, upset the
parents ("Hey, don't forget to vote for the music program in the budget
vote!!!") and embarrassed himself. Even if the horn was "junk" (it was
rented from a "preferred vendor on the Teacher's Music Store List!), why
hurt a kid like that first day out?

It took me an hour last night to get the kid back on track emotionally and
musically. By lesson's end, I told him he sounded like Joe Alessi - even if
it was on ONE note!!!!

Nick
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