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trumpetdad · 01-08-2008, 04:35 PM

Two ideas, one of which the trumpet community doesn't have much control over, and one that we could perhaps make a difference on:

1. Too much homework. School for ambitious kids these days involves 7 hours of classtime, followed by 2-3 hours of written homework. I'm not opposing homework altogether, and I think outside reading and studying is important. However, too often modern written homework is a subsitute for inspired teaching, not a supplement, and is more about doing assignments for the sake of doing assignments. Kids with great organization skills and mental stamina succeed best -- they get top marks, stature and encouragement. However, great organization minds are not always very artistic! Kids without great organizational skills these days can easily get discouraged, and discouraged kids sometimes drop out of music too. Even for the high-organization kids with musical ability, after a 10-hour workday, you just want to veg out. TV, video, games and facebook/myspace time fill in the down time gaps. Few have the energy to practice an instrument seriously -- a high-energy endeavor -- after that kind of day.

For our part, trumpet players can be their own worst enemies, giving people (including kids) the idea that trumpet playing is all about the loudest, weirdest noises. Other posts here have gone on about the horrible racket at trumpet displays. I went to ITG last year and it was embarrassing. Couldn't get close to the displays without earplugs. One of the people working a display (an occasional poster here) described it as "aural terrorism."

I know this will be somewhat offensive to some musicians here, but sometimes our choice of music at competitions gets a little weird too. Stuff that can be pretty hard on the ears, especially if not played by an absolute master.

I sometimes wish more young students were started on the cornet, which by its nature (with the proper mouthpeice) has a softer, gentler, sound that makes it easier to play lyrically. Might be a good way to start the education process, rather than on a student trumpets, which often sound blatty in elementary and junior high bands (even some high schools). (We already have enough trouble with squeaky clarinets and out-of-tune flutes turning kids off from band!)

I appreciate great lead playing and (some) of the ultra-modern music, but I think we may have overdone the higher, louder, more atonal and unrhythmic thing, and as teachers and example setters, we could do a lot more to show that trumpet playing can also be about melody and lyricism and beauty.

Just, as they say, my humble opinion.

01-08-2008, 04:35 PM	#20 (permalink)
trumpetdad New Friend Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3	Re: Grass Roots Two ideas, one of which the trumpet community doesn't have much control over, and one that we could perhaps make a difference on: 1. Too much homework. School for ambitious kids these days involves 7 hours of classtime, followed by 2-3 hours of written homework. I'm not opposing homework altogether, and I think outside reading and studying is important. However, too often modern written homework is a subsitute for inspired teaching, not a supplement, and is more about doing assignments for the sake of doing assignments. Kids with great organization skills and mental stamina succeed best -- they get top marks, stature and encouragement. However, great organization minds are not always very artistic! Kids without great organizational skills these days can easily get discouraged, and discouraged kids sometimes drop out of music too. Even for the high-organization kids with musical ability, after a 10-hour workday, you just want to veg out. TV, video, games and facebook/myspace time fill in the down time gaps. Few have the energy to practice an instrument seriously -- a high-energy endeavor -- after that kind of day. For our part, trumpet players can be their own worst enemies, giving people (including kids) the idea that trumpet playing is all about the loudest, weirdest noises. Other posts here have gone on about the horrible racket at trumpet displays. I went to ITG last year and it was embarrassing. Couldn't get close to the displays without earplugs. One of the people working a display (an occasional poster here) described it as "aural terrorism." I know this will be somewhat offensive to some musicians here, but sometimes our choice of music at competitions gets a little weird too. Stuff that can be pretty hard on the ears, especially if not played by an absolute master. I sometimes wish more young students were started on the cornet, which by its nature (with the proper mouthpeice) has a softer, gentler, sound that makes it easier to play lyrically. Might be a good way to start the education process, rather than on a student trumpets, which often sound blatty in elementary and junior high bands (even some high schools). (We already have enough trouble with squeaky clarinets and out-of-tune flutes turning kids off from band!) I appreciate great lead playing and (some) of the ultra-modern music, but I think we may have overdone the higher, louder, more atonal and unrhythmic thing, and as teachers and example setters, we could do a lot more to show that trumpet playing can also be about melody and lyricism and beauty. Just, as they say, my humble opinion.