pete
08-25-2009, 04:12 AM
Here's a dirty little secret: a lot of instrument teachers don't play the instrument they're teaching, like the saxophone, professionally: they CAN play the saxophone, but their main instrument is something completely different. An instructor that really plays, say, the trumpet, but can also kinda-sorta play the saxophone, won't help a student as much as an instructor who's a real sax player.
In college, the instructor-to-be concentrates on his instrument (which, of course, can be voice) and will take a few classes on brasswinds, woodwinds, piano, percussion and/or stringed instruments. This really isn't to prepare the instructor-to-be to teach lessons on these instruments, it's to teach him the ranges of the instruments and to give him a feel for how particular instruments sound and react –- and, possibly, how difficult they are to play.
Another way of looking at it would be, “Would you rather be taught by someone who has played the instrument several hours a day, every day for the past 15+ years, reads stuff about the instrument and has made it part of his life – or do you want to be taught by someone who knows the fundamentals of the instrument, based on the fact he had a few semesters of training in college?”
In addition to all this, you could go up to a saxophone player and say, “I need to get a horn and a good setup for a beginner. What do you suggest?” and he'll help you get it.
There are a lot of folks that think they can teach themselves. A lot of instruments are easy to play badly. It's difficult to play any extremely well. Remember this, as well: it's much harder to unlearn bad playing habits than it is to learn good ones.
In college, the instructor-to-be concentrates on his instrument (which, of course, can be voice) and will take a few classes on brasswinds, woodwinds, piano, percussion and/or stringed instruments. This really isn't to prepare the instructor-to-be to teach lessons on these instruments, it's to teach him the ranges of the instruments and to give him a feel for how particular instruments sound and react –- and, possibly, how difficult they are to play.
Another way of looking at it would be, “Would you rather be taught by someone who has played the instrument several hours a day, every day for the past 15+ years, reads stuff about the instrument and has made it part of his life – or do you want to be taught by someone who knows the fundamentals of the instrument, based on the fact he had a few semesters of training in college?”
In addition to all this, you could go up to a saxophone player and say, “I need to get a horn and a good setup for a beginner. What do you suggest?” and he'll help you get it.
There are a lot of folks that think they can teach themselves. A lot of instruments are easy to play badly. It's difficult to play any extremely well. Remember this, as well: it's much harder to unlearn bad playing habits than it is to learn good ones.