[TPIN] What IS competent?

Thu Jan 3 08:06:20 CST 2008

Mediocrity reigns in society...PERIOD! It's not just limited to music
Many years ago as an undergraduate I was once very upset with a particular piano player who played bad changes.   
I asked a former composition/arranging teacher (who many of you would definitely know) how he dealt with people who didn't have their act together on a gig.  This guy has played with everyone from Woody Herman to Frank Sinatra (he's not a trumpet player, by the way).  He never seems to get mad or freak out.  His reply to me was "One day many years ago I realized that, in all fields, at least 70% of the world is incompetent/  Once you get over that realization, you can get on with life without being upset all the time.  I don't hire those guys on MY gigs, but I can't control who other leaders hire." 
It was a rude awakening, but he was right.

Now that I've depressed everyone...Happy New Year!

Lou

Louis A. Spagnola 12 Elliston Court Exton, PA 19341 (610)647-1336 LouSpag at msn.com

> From: briandavidmoon at comcast.net> To: bbiffle at brgcc.com; tpin at tpin.okcu.edu> Subject: Re: [TPIN] What IS competent?> Date: Wed, 2 Jan 2008 18:36:42 -0500> CC: > > 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?> >>> >> > > > > _______________________________________________> > 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> _______________________________________________> TPIN mailing list> TPIN at tpin.okcu.edu> http://tpin.okcu.edu/mailman/listinfo/tpin