What have you got against public education??

I don't understand where you are coming from. Personally, I have nothing against school music teachers. I owe my interest in music and a great deal of my acquired aural expertise to them. I also learned the cello at the very beginning in a class with about 4-5 others. Halcyon days!

I think what exasperates contributors to this forum is the number of posts from people trying to learn instruments with apparently no tuition at all. We get questions about the most basic of techniques (how to hold a violin bow; should my bottom lip touch the lip-plate on a flute? How do I play a major scale on a trumpet?). Now, either these people have no teachers at all or they have excrutiatingly bad ones. THAT is what we 'elitists' are attacking. I can't recall a single posting that attacks people like you (I might have missed it, however). You do a fantastic job and, sadly, there are fewer and fewer of you as the years go by. I would be the first to stick up for you and your colleagues.

Are you sure you're not just being overly defensive? Keep up the great work!

Why the fuss? We are going to be FORCED to have health insurance or there will be a fine imposed. That to me is just wrong. Why can't it be a choice? If you can't afford it or don't want it, so be it. Many have used the car insurance laws as an example. If you can't afford the insurance for the car then you can make a choice to not drive. You have a choice. So basically we will be fined for simply living. We exist there for you will be taxed on it. WHAT THE HELL? The cost is going to be extremely expensive compared to what we pay now. I know that we are barely able to pay for the healthcare we have now. How could we possibly pay for the public option which costs about 8x's what we pay now. We will have to sell one of our cars and stop buying many of the products that keep the economy going. Not to mention how can we pay for the good healthy foods that are more expensive? The list goes on. Then there is the extension that says that I can cover my children until they are 26. What happens if they have a child in that time. I already had 2 kids by that age. Am I then responsible to cover the grandchild? Too many bad loop holes that no one took a step back to look at before signing. If the dems had actually listened to people they never would have passed this sloppy piece of crap bill that is going to screw people for a long time coming...... Oh and why should my hard working *** pay for others health care. It's so frustrating to see others sit on their asses in life and get things handed to them. Meanwhile my husband has to put off a dr appt till next week because he has to work, so that you can have free health care and free food! nope I don't like it at all! Back to your original point, public education sucks, so will healthcare!

I have a few comments:

number one:

I have always been an enemy of high school bands. I thought that all the energy which went into marching practice and into putting on glamorous shows could have been more constructively put into learning--well, music!

number two:

It works both ways.

My junior high school orchestra conductor hated my private teacher and she hated him right back.

I understand that this sort of thing goes on 'most everywhere.

There must be some instinct which renders us averse to sharing students.

Whenever I get a music student who is transferring from another teacher, I complain that I have to spend half the time repairing the damage wrought by the former teacher.

I am sure that there are other music teachers who say the same thing about me.

number three:

This animosity doesn't appear everywhere, and I realize you didn't say that it does.

My public school violin teacher in elementary school was herself a student of my private violin teacher.

number four:

There are so many legitimate complaints against public school education that some people might just be in the habit of slamming public school education.

Sounds like you have something of a chip on your shoulders; some public schools are okay, and a few(relatively few) turn out reasonably well-educated students.

But the bottom-line is, that this country is fundamentally like any other capitalistic society; money "talks", and more often than not, the more money you have to invest in any enterprise, the better the quality of the product produced.

I went to a public school, and our music department was pretty sad; we had one scandal after another; a band director rarely lasted longer than one year. Perhaps you lucked out, and joined one of the exceptional public schools.

Besides, why should you worry and get all upset about what people think? If you're satisfied with your teaching skills, just tell anyone who would presume to unfairly criticize you, to go take "a flying leap": "self-esteem" is vastly more important than "public esteem".

Good luck,

Alberich

I have two band directors or conductors, whatever you call them. One's good, the other, all of us hate him to the core.

He can't even maintain a marching tempo, the bass drummer had a hard time. The worst conductor I've ever seen, and he thinks he's a real pro.

The good one, all of us like him.

Maybe it's cause of the commitment they put into teaching. If your conductor is good enough and tells you exactly what to do, then what's the need for getting a private tutor. It's like having tuition for subjects where your school teacher can teach you till you are and A grade student.

but, if the teacher sucks, and doesn't do her job properly, then they should quit the band or stop the program and hire a private tutor if you seriously want to master the instrument.

they shouldn't judge a conductor by just looking at him, or even worst, judge him badly cause your own one was like that.

Personally, I have never heard of this issue. I love my high school music program. Sure, we aren't the best, but I think we sound really good. Of course, what do I know? Hah.

Either way, I have learned a lot from my music school teacher regardless to what others may say. And sure, he may be wrong on some things, like tuning or explaining how to play an instrument, but no one is perfect! As far as private lessons go, I've never had the money for them. I'm not against them, however. I just think that people should put more faith in their teachers.

It's like owning a crappy car. Even though it may suck, it's yours. Sure you can do better, but you just have to wait. Just remember: You have to love what you got. If you don't, who will?

I hope this helps.

I think that teachers in general, are a very special breed.

Whether public or private, a teacher is only as good as their students.

Parents want to do the best for their children. They feel that extra lessons may be beneficial. I don't think they realize it could be confusing for the child or frustrating to the teacher, if the teacher's are not in the same school of thought.

To minimize, if not prevent this from happening, I would send a letter home with the children stating that it would be a good idea for their children to continue lessons over the summer.

Provide them with a list of teachers that you approve of.

If you don't feel you have an adequate list , meet with some of these private teachers and explain to them what you want to accomplish with your students.

I think you will find they are more willing to accommodate you knowing your perspective and be glad that you have referred students to them. Good luck.

I've had a private teacher just because I started cello (and piano) earlier than they would have taught it in school. My cello lessons began when I was eight and I didn't get the option (in school) to learn until I was eleven. I've never had a problem with any of my conductors in school, but I think a private teacher is better because it's one on one and they understand how you play, how you function, and the problems you have and why you have them when you do. Did that make sense?

Well, I have attended annual concerts for several schools, one crappier than the other. Our band director calls Baroque music unexpressive. I got 10/10 on a scale I didn't even play. He though I played A melodic minor even though I had gone upto harmonic. Quite ridiculous.

Edit: Just for the fun of it, I took the tuner out while we were playing scales and EVERYBODY was flat and the band director kept insisting we were sharp.

How am I supposed to feel?

He plays the trumpet. How the heck is he supposed to instruct me on oboe technique. He doesn't know a damn thing about it.

EDIT 2: It's about impressions. When a person from a certain group of people leaves a bad impression on you, you're VERY susceptiple to making generalizations.