[TPIN] What IS competent?

[Brian David Moon]

Mediocrity reigns in the music business.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bill Biffle" <bbiffle at brgcc.com>
To: "Trumpet Players' International Network" <tpin at tpin.okcu.edu>
Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 4:51 PM
Subject: RE: [TPIN] What IS competent?


> I'm a comeback player.  Played in mid-school, high school and college
> back in the dark ages - 1960s.  I had the principal tpt teacher at the
> local college - a major institution - for private lessons while I was in
> HS and Grad Assts at another, even better school as a MusEd major for a
> short time there (one semester).  (Also had a Master Class with the big
> dog once a week.)  I was not taught anything about how to play the horn
> at any of these places by any of these people.  I think the term - which
> I've learned since - would have been "etude checkers".  At best.  Or
> maybe just "check cashers"!
> 
> I'm taking now from a good teacher who tells me stuff to try.  Actual
> changes in the way I'm playing.  And I've learned a lot - a LOT - from
> you guys and others on the Internet.  But the school years were a waste!
> 
> Still pissed about it.
> 
> Bill Biffle
> Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA
> Duke City Jazz Band
> bbiffle at brgcc.com
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: tpin-bounces+bbiffle=brgcc.com at tpin.okcu.edu
> [mailto:tpin-bounces+bbiffle=brgcc.com at tpin.okcu.edu] On Behalf Of Tim
> Phillips
> Sent: Wednesday, January 02, 2008 1:10 PM
> To: Trumpet Players' International Network
> Subject: Re: [TPIN] What IS competent?
> 
> This is something many many people struggle with, including myself as a 
> teacher.   A lot of people think that just because:
> 1.  Someone is teaching at a college/university
> 2.  Has an advanced degree (Masters or DMA or Phd)
> 3.  Has an orchestra job
> 4.  Used to play with xyz
> 5.  Can hit high notes all day long
> 6.  Plays professionally
> 7.  Has a reputation as a teacher
> 8.  Posts regularly on TPIN (not that there's any problem with posting 
> to TPIN)
> 9.  Acts like he knows everything (duh.. he's a trumpet player)
> 10.  Is a member of the ITG  (every trumpet player, especially students 
> should be ITG members)
> 11.  Plays every Sunday in church
> 12.  Has played in community band for 30+ years
> 13.  Played well when he was in high school
> 14.  Add you own :)
> that person is competent.   These types of evaluations usually come from
> 
> students.  So you are trusting someone who is not competent by 
> definition to define competence.  Doesn't make a lot of sense to me.  
> Very rarely do you hear of a student at say they think their teacher is 
> a crack pot.   This is due to the teacher/student relationship where the
> 
> student is getting so much individual attention from the teacher to help
> 
> them, it almost becomes familial (also the reason it's a bad idea for 
> teachers to become involved beyond this relationship with students).  
> 
> The bottom line is, the answer is irrelevant.   If a teacher helps you, 
> use what helps - remember, but discard the rest.   Sometimes, due to a 
> lack of communication, a student misunderstands what the teacher said 
> and stays down a path that is not fruitful.  I always tell my 
> students... if their understanding of something I am having them do 
> hurts their playing, stop it and assume we either have a 
> misunderstanding or I have misdiagnosed the issue. 
> 
> Ultimately, a teacher can only guide you.  The best teachers (IMO) try 
> to teach you what to listen for, what sounds are caused by what 
> problems, how to develop exercises to correct issues, and monitor  your 
> progress as to make fine tunings to the process as things change (and 
> hopefully things will start to change).  Is it like defining a course of
> 
> treatment for an illness.   All problems are not always correctable from
> 
> a single minded approach to "what helped them" some teachers hand out.  
> All problems are not correctable by saying, you need more air or you 
> need a better sonic concept.  Even though there is a common 
> misunderstanding of Mr Jacobs teaching believing that all he ever did or
> 
> said, my experiences with him are far from that.  His ability to adapt 
> to the students way of learning is what made him a great teacher.
> 
> Does the teacher REALLY help you, or are you just thinking  you play 
> better because the teacher does or says so?   Do you understand more 
> about playing than when you started?   Also remember, some people 
> progress slowly and since you see your playing every day, and the 
> teacher once per week.   If the student is passionate, progress is never
> 
> fast enough - but Rome wasn't built in a day.   Not many of us were born
> 
> with all the wiring ready to play the trumpet.
> 
> FWIW, I recommend all my students who are looking for a change in 
> mouthpieces to try Laskey.   I keep several common sizes around.   I 
> find them to be superior for tonal production, quickness of response, 
> and comfort.   For some people, they don't work...  So I don't push it -
> 
> and no teacher should "require" their students to play mouthpiece X, 
> regardless (or horn brand X). 
> 
> But always keep in mind, what we are used to hearing from our side of 
> the trumpet isn't what others perceive.  I've made changes in the past, 
> described what I was hearing and feeling from my end, and the listener 
> told me it was just the opposite in result.   Good luck with your quest.
> 
> The last thing I want to add is... don't assume because someone says 
> someone is a BAD teacher they truly are.  Always find out for yourself.
> 
> You all should really get to chat - we've had some wonderful crowds in 
> there lately!
> 
> Tim Phillips (aka DrMusic)
> iplatrpt at unifourbrass.org
> http://www.unifourbrass.org
> 
> trumpeterdave at comcast.net wrote:
>> Mike Vax said:
>>
>> "Any change or addition of another mouthpiece, especially for a 
>> young person, should be done with the help of a competent teacher and
> not just 
>> because somebody on a list like this says so."
>>
>> Ah, there's the rub: "competent"
>>
>> Who/How defines "competent" ? 
>>
>> I have been struggling for about 9 months with 
>> selecting a mp for lead playing.  My teacher  is a fabulous player,
> and, more 
>> importantly, a tremendous teacher--a 
>> serious student of trumpet playing. (He is a Gary Radke disciple)
> BUT-I just 
>> flat out didn't like the mp he set me with. (A GR)
>> I  could not get air through air through it.
>> I gave it a 2 month committed tryout. Played ONLY the GR. Didn't even
> THINK 
>> about
>> going back.  Until it occurred to me--"Just for kicks, I will try my
> old 1C just 
>> once..."
>> Voila, I was back in business blowing freely again.  (Still looking
> for a little 
>> help with the high range, though!)
>>
>> So the moral of the story is, well, I don't know what the moral of the
> story is.  
>> Whatever works? Listen to yourself? Don't worry about it? Try
> everyting in sight?
>>
>>   
> 
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