[TPIN] "Crushing A Student"

[Louis A. Spagnola]

I'm NOT talking about SOUND.  I'm talking about horns whose valves do not function.  
The valves have to go up and down...That's a requirement of a trumpet, no?



> From: jim6355 at bellsouth.net> To: nickmondello at optonline.net; TPIN at tpin.okcu.edu> Subject: RE: [TPIN] "Crushing A Student"> Date: Fri, 21 Sep 2007 17:05:40 -0400> CC: > > 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> _______________________________________________> TPIN mailing list> TPIN at tpin.okcu.edu> http://tpin.okcu.edu/mailman/listinfo/tpin> > _______________________________________________> TPIN mailing list> TPIN at tpin.okcu.edu> http://tpin.okcu.edu/mailman/listinfo/tpin