TrumpetMaster - View Single Post - Is there a standard to evaluate a Private Lesson Teacher?

trumpetchuck12 · 12-18-2007, 10:56 PM

Thank you all for replying, and here's the long awaited response from me.

Rowuk,

The fire does come from within, and I am recovering from orthodonic brace treatment. The instructor offered no encouragement in the lessons other than saying "I should be able to play this by now..." and pop out high C's and above. He would have me sight read pieces such as Concert Etude at tempo, and then dog me out about messing certain licks up. He would then play the piece and mess it up, take it slower and still mess it up over and over until the majority of the lesson is me listening to him mess up. I asked if he had a good recommendation for a legit trumpet player'ss recording of the piece. He got angry with me and said that I need to play the music my style first before listening to others play it. (This and many other reasons is why I can not continue to take lessons from the him for credit and not learn anything except what not to do as a teacher and waste the Army's educational money.)

I have spoken with the Dean of Music, but nothing in my favor has come from it. He said he would find another suitable teacher for me, but he also stated the difficulty in finding qualified trumpet instructors in the local area. I did some search, and gave the dean a few recommendations with one being the trumpet professor at a nearby private college. The dean flat out told me that if I am to earn a BM concentration in trumpet performance, then I must take the applied lessons at the university...(meaning from the crap teacher.) He also stated that I needed to be honest with the instructor with what I am not getting from the lessons. I responded to the dean, "I do not believe it is my place to tell a collegit instructor how to be professional." The dean was upset at me after that comment. I then stated that my new concentration is BM in composition, then restated who else can I take applied trumpet instruction from, but there has yet been a response.

Hag888,

I have considered other universities, but under my current work load, I can not spare the extra time in commute. I work full-time in a high paying professional corporate career. I am working flex-time in order to balance work & classes and also married life and church commitments as well as part-time commitment to the National Guard as a military trumpet player. My passion and joy has always been in music performing, composing, conducting etc.,. Once I finish the undergraduate level, then I will consider other schools for Masters study part-time. The university I am at is small scale, but it does have really great professors...but just not in the perferred instrument of study (trumpet). I do agree with you.
I do agree with you on your point, and if I were a full-time music student trying to make a career in music, I would NO WAY AT ALL be at this university.

Tom,

I think your reply was for me instead of Hag, but anyhows, I have informed the administration as you have read above. Their delima is they can't pay enough and its hard to get anyone good to replace him even though he's a horrible teacher.

I would like to discuss taking lessons and pointers from you. Its been eight weeks since I completed my orthodonic brace treatment. It was very strange at first, and I almost quit the trumpet. I was introduced to "The Daily Routine" by Bill Adams w/notes by Dr. Karl Seivers, and it has worked wonders on practicing the right fundementals in redeveloping the face correctly.

I would love to take lessons and get pointers from you.

Thanks to all!

12-18-2007, 10:56 PM	#8 (permalink)
trumpetchuck12 New Friend Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 7	Re: Is there a standard to evaluate a Private Lesson Teacher? Thank you all for replying, and here's the long awaited response from me. Rowuk, The fire does come from within, and I am recovering from orthodonic brace treatment. The instructor offered no encouragement in the lessons other than saying "I should be able to play this by now..." and pop out high C's and above. He would have me sight read pieces such as Concert Etude at tempo, and then dog me out about messing certain licks up. He would then play the piece and mess it up, take it slower and still mess it up over and over until the majority of the lesson is me listening to him mess up. I asked if he had a good recommendation for a legit trumpet player'ss recording of the piece. He got angry with me and said that I need to play the music my style first before listening to others play it. (This and many other reasons is why I can not continue to take lessons from the him for credit and not learn anything except what not to do as a teacher and waste the Army's educational money.) I have spoken with the Dean of Music, but nothing in my favor has come from it. He said he would find another suitable teacher for me, but he also stated the difficulty in finding qualified trumpet instructors in the local area. I did some search, and gave the dean a few recommendations with one being the trumpet professor at a nearby private college. The dean flat out told me that if I am to earn a BM concentration in trumpet performance, then I must take the applied lessons at the university...(meaning from the crap teacher.) He also stated that I needed to be honest with the instructor with what I am not getting from the lessons. I responded to the dean, "I do not believe it is my place to tell a collegit instructor how to be professional." The dean was upset at me after that comment. I then stated that my new concentration is BM in composition, then restated who else can I take applied trumpet instruction from, but there has yet been a response. Hag888, I have considered other universities, but under my current work load, I can not spare the extra time in commute. I work full-time in a high paying professional corporate career. I am working flex-time in order to balance work & classes and also married life and church commitments as well as part-time commitment to the National Guard as a military trumpet player. My passion and joy has always been in music performing, composing, conducting etc.,. Once I finish the undergraduate level, then I will consider other schools for Masters study part-time. The university I am at is small scale, but it does have really great professors...but just not in the perferred instrument of study (trumpet). I do agree with you. I do agree with you on your point, and if I were a full-time music student trying to make a career in music, I would NO WAY AT ALL be at this university. Tom, I think your reply was for me instead of Hag, but anyhows, I have informed the administration as you have read above. Their delima is they can't pay enough and its hard to get anyone good to replace him even though he's a horrible teacher. I would like to discuss taking lessons and pointers from you. Its been eight weeks since I completed my orthodonic brace treatment. It was very strange at first, and I almost quit the trumpet. I was introduced to "The Daily Routine" by Bill Adams w/notes by Dr. Karl Seivers, and it has worked wonders on practicing the right fundementals in redeveloping the face correctly. I would love to take lessons and get pointers from you. Thanks to all! __________________ Trumpet Chuck (T.C.) B&S Challenger II 3125 Bb Trumpt B&S Challenger II 3136 C Trumpet Yamaha A/Bb Piccolo Trumpet Getzen 300 Series Eb/D Trumpet use Yamaha Custom 16C4-GP mpc on all Getzen Signature 2000 Bb Cornet use Sparks 2 mpc Last edited by trumpetchuck12; 12-18-2007 at 11:08 PM.