Thoughts on Giving Public Masteclasses
A public masterclass is a sort of weird situation... in the music teaching sense, it is where a "master" gives open lessons and feedback to guest students in front of an audience of musicians, students, and other interested parties So, it isn't like the open teaching studios that are more common in Europe... and it isn't the private studio lessons with a handful of potential interested fellow students.
Generally, it is a chance for local students and musicians to glean some wisdom from a visiting expert or master in the musical craft.
As a student, I used to take part in these often enough... and as a guest "master", I've had to teach in them as well... and a few times, I have sat in the audience as an interested person who is hoping to pick up some interesting ideas and different perspectives form a visiting master. So, I've had the dubious pleasure of playing all the parts in this sort of situation.
As a "master", it is a strange situation of trying to give some insight and wisdom to a student that you will only hear and interact with for about 30 minutes at best. And to give that feedback in a way that is useful for their current and future development... and to also conduct the masterclass in a way that is ALSO useful for the audience members. A tricky balance...
I have seen some pretty horrific masterclasses where the "master" has used the entire event to essentially showboat at the expense of the students... a weird sort of situation where the supposed "master" seems to feel the need to belittle and flex at the expense of the students, to get some sort weird "respect" from the audience. Sort of making jokes and things like that to the audience to the detriment of the student... and given the weird power imbalance, the student isn't able to do anything other than sit there and take it... and it is a brave member of the audience (or the organisation) that will step up and publicly denounce the behaviour. After all, you will be putting your career on the line...
Sometimes, you can also learn quite a lot about how to deliver a masterclass by sitting in the audience and observing. I recently observed a masterclass where the "master" was quite dry and dull... and that makes for quite a serious and heavy atmosphere. When combined with the "master" focussing on technical little details and getting quite stuck and obsessed about them... I felt that it made for a masterclass that was quite heavy for the student, and perhaps a little negatively so... and for the audience and observers, well... quite dull.
Anyway, it wasn't that there weren't many things that were quite useful and valid... but the manner in which they were delivered, and the inability to let them go... well, I found it to be a bit too much. Plus, a little bit on details are going to be useful... but generally, I find it much better for the masterclasses to be more of an inspirational event... where the student leaves with lots of interesting ideas to try and an optimism to dare to try them.
Remember, that you are only having a little 30 minute snapshot lesson with that... and with no follow up to clear up on details and minutiae. So, I still think that a broad sweep approach... focussing on character, life, and daring... well, that is more useful and entertaining than the technical advice. Little bits of technical stuff can also be eye-opening... but these events... well, they are supposed to be inspirational moments that will be hopefully be fondly remembered as a pivotal moment in the student's development.
I had a few where that was the case... I remember one in particular that was light a nuclear lightbulb moment for me... and I've also had ones where I just wanted to shrink into the ground in humiliation. I guess in a weird way, both types of experiences were quite life-changing and pivotal to the development of my personal style and approach!!! One as an aspiration... and the other as a lesson of what NOT to aspire to!
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Thank you for sharing this. I have never known about such materclasses. It is something I have, however, thought about for a long time. I am in philosophy and I have given some modules/classes and the one-sidedness of giving class always bothered me. It is similar to the masterclass idea where a "master" gives "class". But I wonder how this would translate into philosophical space. I have always thought about the benefit of giving public lectures so that anyone from the public can visit and experience some philosophy. Interesting thoughts. Sorry for highjacking your post like this for my own thoughts! Keep well.
I wonder... I guess in philosophy, it might be a public discussion between the "master" and the "student"? Sort of a live version of the Greek philosopher (was it Socrates?) that had different voices in his books?
Yes, exactly like that. And the sad thing is in a classroom, few students want to engage with the lecturer/philosopher. I tried it when I gave class and most of the students just give me a blank stare.
I get the same, it takes a bit for them to warm up and not be scared... unfortunately, the ones that tend to be the bravest to engage aren't always the ones that you want to encourage!
I am so sorry for only responding now. What a couple of days.
Yes, that is always the problem. The ones who have the guts do not always engage with the work in the way you want them to. Or they talk before they think about the situation. Or they speak up because they think that will score them some "browny" points. The quiet ones who really ponder the situation are the ones you want talking. But the modern day educational system does not, in my opinion, create an environment conducive to that sort of engagement. Alas, we can only do so much.
I wish I could just do more one on one teaching... that tends to bring out better results from the shy or non-confident types.
True, but the mental capacity needed to tutor one-on-one is taxing with the current overload of students flooding universities, at least here in South Africa. I also prefer the smaller groups as via discussion and dialogue, one can achieve much more than the old fashioned style of lecturing via a monologue.
Ah yes, that is definitely true! Too many students and not enough teachers. Still, a good chunk of my teaching is still one on one... musicians!
You are very fortunate. When I tutor philosophy in small groups, I can immediately sense that people understand the complex arguments quicker and easier versus trying to do it in front of a class of 70 plus.