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Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Sun Oct 25, 2009 8:34 pm
by ChamberKid209
How many of you take private lesson and you get the response "you're only good because you take lessons"?

I have a conclusion that can end the arguing between fellow students.

The reason I've improved so much is because I take account for what my teacher has to say. It comes to a point where you can't teach yourself. And I don't look at a private teacher teaching me, I look at the instructor giving me tips to helped succeed.

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Mon Oct 26, 2009 3:05 pm
by Oldmaceguy
"A wise man seeks knowledge. When he no longer seeks it, he is no longer wise". Chinese Proverb
OR: "I can't make you good! I'm not Merlin! What I can do is tell you what you need to do to be good and the rest
is up to you!" Charlie Groh

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 12:01 am
by KingMattIV
The way I see it-

If you are good, you are good. It doesn't matter if you took/take private lessons. As a beginning instructor myself, I always tell my students that I will give them every opportunity to succeed, however it is the practice and persistence that they put in that will actually make them improve.

Hard and SMART work trumps talent every time.

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 9:36 am
by MalletQueen
You can tell people the truth...Private lessons only do so much.

It's the same with an instrument. One person can learn how to play, for example, a saxophone, and be a good musician. Another person, can take private lessons and become a good musician; but the one taking private lessons has an instructor with some expertise to point out opportunities where the student can get better and what techniques can be used to acheive his/her goals.

My daughter Danielle had a gift for spinning, but she wouldn't have been as apt to try new and challenging things if she had not had the confidence brought on by having an instructor. Yes, it was an expense; but when I look back at memoribilia, I cry from the pride I have for her.

Spinning, playing an instrument, or playing a sport; many people can do it. How good they want to become depends on the amount of time put in to the art of the task, including practice, lessons, watching others, etc. It's about education in the art of your field.

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Tue Oct 27, 2009 7:23 pm
by DMPwer
You can always teach your self new things. I agree with MalletQueen, Private lessons only take effect if you motivate your self to use the things you learned and apply them to discovering new things.

Being a Drum Major, I know first hand, most of my routine moved have been discovered by my self, my instructor just taught me the basics and refines my skills. Honestly, if you are the Drum Major of your band, you really need to have the skill of teaching your self to get ahead. It's a skill all Drum Majors should have.

Private lessons are great, don't get me wrong, they help a BUNCH. But having that essential skill of teaching your self is probably the most important thing. Building off of what you were taught is also VERY important.

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Sat Nov 14, 2009 3:50 pm
by jghsdrummer14
Private lessons are very benificial, when done properly by people who know the trade. I was spinning for two years with no assistance, then met an instructor who helped me clean and construct routines. I knew how to toss and spin because i had studied others and taught myself. Now because i have occasional private lessons, doesn't mean i'm any less of a spinner you get me? We as drum majors are the ones spinning and competing. Not our coaches.

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Sat Nov 21, 2009 11:46 pm
by ArturoHerrera
Totally agree,
If one believes and wants himself to be a good drum major then that person will also admit and seek for help to become good. One can be good but there's so much one can do by oneself. Two minds work better than one, especially for creative purposes.

Any Legendary drum major I've met has taken some lesons from someone. This is because they had the initiative to be good and seeked for help to do so. ONe always needs an outside perspective. It's hard to catch one's mistakes

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Sat Jan 02, 2010 12:32 pm
by agentsquishypenguin
The issue with private lessons in my band is that our band director makes favorites out of the students who take private lessons or go to expensive camps. I do agree, that the students are good at the instrument they play, but the fact that they know the will become a "prodigy" of our director and they get a big head from it.

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 4:34 pm
by KingMattIV
agentsquishypenguin wrote:The issue with private lessons in my band is that our band director makes favorites out of the students who take private lessons or go to expensive camps. I do agree, that the students are good at the instrument they play, but the fact that they know the will become a "prodigy" of our director and they get a big head from it.
Well, you have to realize that even though a band director should never play favorites, he will tend to lean on the better musicians in whatever band you are in. Those musicians, although not exclusively, tend to be better because they have received instruction outside of the normal school day.

Re: Private Lesson Arguement

Posted: Sun Jan 03, 2010 5:40 pm
by agentsquishypenguin
KingMattIV wrote:
agentsquishypenguin wrote:The issue with private lessons in my band is that our band director makes favorites out of the students who take private lessons or go to expensive camps. I do agree, that the students are good at the instrument they play, but the fact that they know the will become a "prodigy" of our director and they get a big head from it.
Well, you have to realize that even though a band director should never play favorites, he will tend to lean on the better musicians in whatever band you are in. Those musicians, although not exclusively, tend to be better because they have received instruction outside of the normal school day.
Well, he tends to make the students who get private lessons section leaders, which is a problem. the latest student has a bad attitude problem that tears his section apart. i would hate to see the band get more broken then mine already can be sometimes.