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Philosophy of Teaching and Playing by James Olin
Philosophy of Teaching and Playing
Introduction
In order to know how to teach, we must know who is being taught so that we can decide what to teach. Before dismissing this notion as obvious, consider the importance of knowing the student’s age, present playing level, and, most importantly, the objectives and goals of the student.
If you as the teacher do not know the specific goals of your student, or you do not know why he or she is studying with you, then ask! A typical first lesson might include playing a simple duet, and then asking the student what it is he or she hopes to gain from the lesson with you. By then you will have an idea of the playing level of the student, and the diversion of sight reading a duet will put him or her at ease (especially if you are not warmed up!)
In the teaching of applied trombone, whether at an advanced or primary level, we also should ask the question, “Why do we play the trombone?” We should point out that playing the trombone is fun!; otherwise why would we be studying and practicing? My philosophy of teaching is essentially derived from this “given” - that there exists in us a love for playing the trombone.
Making playing fun depends on:
a) choosing practice material that is challenging but not too difficult,
b) providing different types of music- not only daily drills and etudes, but also solos and orchestral excerpts,
c) allowing the student to progress at his or her own rate.
Allow the student to excel at a rate that matches the student’s ambitions at the moment. I have found that pushing (or pulling back too much) a student’s own rate of progress can be counter productive, especially if you exhibit frustration that the student’s expectations do not match your own. It is difficult for me to discourage a player as long as I know that the student is enjoying playing. Trombone playing can be thought of as therapy!
I am not implying that our work is so blissful that all of my students think that they will get a job playing in a major orchestra. I try to make clear that a person’s goals should be realistic, and that they should include alternative plans, in case the long term goals are not met within a reasonable period of time.
The following outline describes specific ideas and techniques which I use in my teaching. The underlying theme of my teaching is to teach yourself how to play. If a student constantly tries to teach himself techniques for self-improvement and learns to be independent from his or her major teacher, then the improvement of the student can progress at the most satisfactory rate.
An Outline of Basic Concepts:
Breathing
a) Breathing is natural.b) Breathing should be relaxed, with your body limp.c) A breathing tube helps to simulate saying the syllable “HO.”d) Take in ample air (more than you think you will need).e) The respiratory system is like a bellows- it rises and falls very easily and naturally.f) Expel air without locked muscles. Do not work against yourself. g) Do not push or hold your stomach out.h) Fill up as if you are yawning. Allow your entire torso to move up and out.i) Put your hand on all areas of the chest in order to feel the even and natural expansion and collapse. j) The sound of inhalation should be dark and quick and open.k) Suck the air from your mouth.l) Practice starting notes without tonguing. Do not articulate with the throat as you might do when whistling.m) ) Do not tense the large muscles of your body as if doing isometrics.l) Practice blowing air out with little or no effort (collapsing). The add light articulation.m) Try incorrectly blowing air out by using large muscles (forcing); then collapse and feel the difference. Forcing and collapsing are opposites. It is impossible to collapse and force at the same time.n) When blowing, think of the air stream as thick and slow. Think of an open aperture.
Sound (tone)
a) Concept
1) Think of the greatest, smoothest, most exact, beautiful sound that could ever be, and imitate it.2) Always pretend you |
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