Thoughts on Music Teaching
Now that I've had a couple of years teaching a bit at a university in addition to my private teaching, education outreach, and performing... I feel like I'm noticing a few trends in that I'm not really a fan of. Or perhaps I'm being a normal human and overseeing the things that bother me, while straw-manning and constructing a favourable narrative for the things that I hold dear!
What I have noticed is the heavy focus at all stages of the classical music education process on technical metrics... in tune, and in time... and in a fairly robotic and literal way. You are almost expected to carry out the instructions on the page in a literal manner, and the one that is most "faithful" to the score is the one who is rewarded with orchestral jobs and that sort of thing... needless to say, like most things, this tends to compound over time as those who hold those ideals in high regard will select others who do the same.
Of course, it is the easiest metric to measure "quality" by... but I'm more and more convinced that whilst it is a requisite BASIC level... it isn't the right skills to be focussing upon when we hit a certain point of proficiency. That said, what is that level of proficiency... it seems to be the lowest common denominator way of saying what is good. A metric that is easily measured and easily agreed upon... however, I would argue that this focus has been the poison at the heart of modern classical music.
When I look further afield to other forms and genres of music, there isn't this heavy focus on the things that are basic and that don't ultimately matter to the performance or a the transmission of a message. And they have not lost their audiences and are in many ways, more able to communicate with their audience. Classical music seems to have lost that in part... (again, not absolutes... but I do believe that it was a weighting that wasn't neccessary).
I have sat in on orchestral audition panels as a guest... I'm not in that field of music, and I only play in symphonic orchestras when I have some free time. And what astounded me was the fact that I was the outsider when it came to preferences... Everyone else on the panel were quite adamant that the players that held strict time, and played exactly what was required were the good ones to choose... and I was the outside voice who held that the more interesting and flexible players were the ones that were the good ones. Of course, they had similar levels of technical skill... but I would ALWAYS choose to play with an interesting and flexible partner over someone who is "correct" but contributes less.
... and in the long run, if I look at the surviving players and the desking of them... I would hold that I was right! My choices are ranked higher in desking, even though the rest of the panel were not keen to even PASS them!
Of course, I'm not advocating for complete abandonment of technical skills and ability... given that this is the internet, it is more likely than not that some will see this as a false dichotomy moment... in fact, I'm horrified by what passes for technical skill in universities. I would fail quite a few if I had my way... but universities need funding, and if you fail people you lose funding... so, people pass with quite questionable ability.
BUT... what I am saying is that high levels of technical skills are ONLY the basis for creating great performers and musicians... and NOT the end point. And sometimes, I think that we have accidentally geared our music education to think that it is of paramount importance.
Incoherent rant out...
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I’m by no means an expert or even knowledgeable on this topic.
My 11yo son has been learning violin via the Suzuki method for about 6 years. It’s been good for him. His two teachers thus far have been exceptional.
Your comments reminded me of a movie my wife and I watched a while back, entitled Finding You. It’s about a violin student trying to get into conservatory. It’s not until she learns the non-technical side of the instrument / music that she’s finally ready.
Great that your son is learning!
Yes, sometimes I think that we have forgotten that the technical side is just the beginning... very necessary, but only the start. However, there is the opposite thought where there are those who shun the technical side... but that is equally bad!
Me encantó el post!!! Muy instructivo
Glad you enjoyed it.
The classical world has a massive issue with the disease of snobbery. Like the whole 'clapping' rule in concerts. People would clap and cheer and jeer all the time centuries ago! It somehow (you probably know the history better than I) got sapped out to have this strict policy where you can't clap between movements or be shamed and mocked for not understanding it has multiple parts.
Or, how 'tab' is the non-musician's music, even though it's been used for half a millennium since the old lute days. The shock I've seen in some faces when I've simply tuned my $50 viola in some alternate way to experiment with new ideas (reminds me of the snobbery from those two asian guys on YouTube).
Eesh, really puts one off. Which is cool because people inevitably fall on people like Keith Jarrett and Tigran Hamasyan
Yes, we really did take a wrong turn with Classical music...
... there is a good deal of Baroque music where you have to retune your violin to different pitches... scordatura. It was a relatively common thing, especially in Germany/Austria... but it was lost and forgotten about.
Either is equally likely and some people delude themselves that they are doing the former because the latter is much too severe a blow for the ego XD
Oh no x_x it's a similar deal with art but I don't know whether that's an art school thing or a real or perceived requirement of industry. I've seen quite a number of pieces that are technically brilliant but not otherwise "interesting" (at least to me). Apparently they lack soul (at least that was the explanation I got given by someone else).
What is desking?
Desking... in orchestras, the desking is the order of players in the string section.. from the concertmaster at the front, and then "descending". Although, in realty, every orchestra does it differently... sometimes from "best to worst"... or who works best together, or constantly shuffling!