Teachers' Corner

[Peter]

Well now Sorrano, I have no doubt you would make an excellent student, or a "bitch", meaning you would ask me difficult questions and be generally demanding. I love such students, rather than those that sit in front of me with mouths agape, diligently writing down what I tell and show them without question.

I agree - had this only last week with a pupil who said 'but you told me to play it like this last week' - yes I said, now I want you to play it this way and next week I'll probably change it again and ask you which you prefer and why!

[Peter]

The unexpected is always a delight in teaching! I have a new 7 year old pupil who has had only 4 lessons and I think coming on well - she seems polite, very intelligent and keen. Then at yesterday's lesson I suggested she should sing her new rote piece, the response "I'm not singing that rubbish!" Oh I said, just imagine you were playing the piece to the school, you wouldn't call it 'Rubbish' - "At this rate I'll never play anything" was the rather unexpected reply - so endeth the lesson for the day!

[Agnes Selby]

The unexpected is always a delight in teaching! I have a new 7 year old pupil who has had only 4 lessons and I think coming on well - she seems polite, very intelligent and keen. Then at yesterday's lesson I suggested she should sing her new rote piece, the response "I'm not singing that rubbish!" Oh I said, just imagine you were playing the piece to the school, you wouldn't call it 'Rubbish' - "At this rate I'll never play anything" was the rather unexpected reply - so endeth the lesson for the day!

Aha, what she really wants to play is the Moonlight Sonata.
Absolutely gorgeous!

[Chris]

There is no problem in being an autodidact (Schoenberg was, to an extent), but I find it sad to read what you have posted.

I just saw this. Actually, what I meant is that my poor teachers made me want to teach others, because in retrospect I could see what they should have done with me. Although I suppose the way you took it is true as well!

[Sorrano]

The unexpected is always a delight in teaching! I have a new 7 year old pupil who has had only 4 lessons and I think coming on well - she seems polite, very intelligent and keen. Then at yesterday's lesson I suggested she should sing her new rote piece, the response "I'm not singing that rubbish!" Oh I said, just imagine you were playing the piece to the school, you wouldn't call it 'Rubbish' - "At this rate I'll never play anything" was the rather unexpected reply - so endeth the lesson for the day!

At least she was honest!

[Quijote]

Sorry to have been absent of late. When one applies the "Kalashnikov" approach one has to clean up afterwards and this takes a lot of time. I hope to post something interesting soon (here and elsewhere on the forum).

[Sorrano]

Sorry to have been absent of late. When one applies the "Kalashnikov" approach one has to clean up afterwards and this takes a lot of time. I hope to post something interesting soon (here and elsewhere on the forum).

With reference to "Kalashnikov" is it appropriate to say we have missed you?

[Quijote]

Well Sorrano, I am a hard target to pin down. Rest assured you are always in my sights ... (Bam!).

[Quijote]

Well, some "teaching" news of sorts: I've been roped in (press-ganged, rather) to play the piano for a Christmas carol concert at my daughter's school (unpaid labour, most distasteful). I asked the class teacher for the music. The music? No Philip, I only have the CD. So, now I have to listen to the German carols CD (with various instrumentation) and transcribe them by ear for the piano. I am too accommodating sometimes, really I am.

[Peter]

Well, some "teaching" news of sorts: I've been roped in (press-ganged, rather) to play the piano for a Christmas carol concert at my daughter's school (unpaid labour, most distasteful). I asked the class teacher for the music. The music? No Philip, I only have the CD. So, now I have to listen to the German carols CD (with various instrumentation) and transcribe them by ear for the piano. I am too accommodating sometimes, really I am.

Should be a doddle - the worst I had to do was when I stupidly agreed to teach the Jazz syllabus for a pupil and found to my horror a blank page in the music - the improvisation of course and I really didn't have a clue what I was doing with it so I listened to a recording and wrote out the whole improvisation from that with a few alterations - amazingly the pupil got a distinction, but fortunately left me soon after that!

[Quijote]

Yes, not difficult, agreed, but unpaid and time-consuming!

[Sorrano]

Well, some "teaching" news of sorts: I've been roped in (press-ganged, rather) to play the piano for a Christmas carol concert at my daughter's school (unpaid labour, most distasteful). I asked the class teacher for the music. The music? No Philip, I only have the CD. So, now I have to listen to the German carols CD (with various instrumentation) and transcribe them by ear for the piano. I am too accommodating sometimes, really I am.

I wonder if some of the music is available on the internet. It could save a little time, maybe.

[Quijote]

I wonder if some of the music is available on the internet. It could save a little time, maybe.

Nah, these are not traditional German carols Sorrano. No sweat. A fun exercise really, but unpaid labour all the same!! The teacher that "press-ganged" me into playing in her Christmas concert is not a bad painter (as in art work). As my apartment needs a new lick of paint I think I'll ask her to pop round to my place one evening and make me a quick fresco in the style of Michelangelo.

[Sorrano]

Nah, these are not traditional German carols Sorrano. No sweat. A fun exercise really, but unpaid labour all the same!! The teacher that "press-ganged" me into playing in her Christmas concert is not a bad painter (as in art work). As my apartment needs a new lick of paint I think I'll ask her to pop round to my place one evening and make me a quick fresco in the style of Michelangelo.

That's only just; I think she ought to do it!

[Quijote]

We have our first rehearsal this Thursday, I'll press-gang her then (just before I play).