December 20, 2005 at 8:19 PM

With all the blog talk about teaching I was recently enjoying a reading a recent thread at maestronet called teaching at a high level thought some of you would be interested also?

From Eric Stanfield
Posted on December 20, 2005 at 8:22 PM

Heh I was just reading it this morning. My theory is the original poster is actually another student based on the initial comments.

From Evelyn Ray
Posted on December 20, 2005 at 10:12 PM

Nope, Eric, she's a teacher who is well known on the net. She has an "interesting" net history.

www.geocities.com/conniesunday/

From Eric Stanfield
Posted on December 20, 2005 at 10:23 PM

Interesting, I'll have to check out that site. From her comments on maestro I would not have taken her for a teacher. At least not one currently employed.

From Eric Stanfield
Posted on December 20, 2005 at 10:39 PM

Just finished reading the latest comments on Maestro and then followed her to google groups. What is it about violin teachers? Here's another one that asked for advice, crapped on 90% of the responses she received and then left the site entirely when she found someone telling her what she really wanted to hear all along on some other forum. You kids actually pay a lot of money to go be taught by these egomaniacs eh? Crazy stuff.

From Neil Cameron
Posted on December 20, 2005 at 11:09 PM

Well as Evelyn pointed out "Ms Sunday" has an interesting history, including having died at some stage last year! I can't be bothered with anything she writes.

Neil

From Eric Stanfield
Posted on December 20, 2005 at 11:58 PM

lol, ok good to know. wasn't sure what 'interesting history' meant.

From Emily Grossman
Posted on December 21, 2005 at 12:39 AM

Wow, she must be something. I didn't even bother to read it, and I knew exactly who the author was just by the vibes. I've heard about her.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on December 21, 2005 at 3:44 AM

I thought that "Connie Sunday" is not one person but a bunch of anonymous posters using that name as an alias. Is this true?

From Jim W. Miller
Posted on December 21, 2005 at 6:54 AM

Haaaa. We had the same teacher. I understand her completely...

link

From Patty Rutins
Posted on December 21, 2005 at 3:49 PM

Actually, I found her question interesting, and honestly 90% of the advice she received really wasn't helpful.

If you had a student that assumed that s/he would get into a top conservatory with ease, but wouldn't listen to your advice and critique, what would you do? Just keep correcting the same G#? Tell him/her one more time that s/he shouldn't swell so much on that note? How many times can you keep saying the same thing to the same person?

The advice she finally got from a couple of people was good -- lay down some requirements, encourage the student to meet them but require them to really work hard. That kind of experience is one that will help the student figure out for him/herself whether s/he should be aiming for a high level professional career in music.

I'd also add to that some remedial repetoire -- go back to the Kreutzer etudes, and Wolfhardt, as far back toward beginner as you need to in order to find appropriate skill development. Encourage the student to compete in competitions at an appropriate level, and do your best to prepare them. Having an external adjudicator can be that voice of reason that tells the student that they really need to work harder if they want to succeed.

Local musical groups can be an opportunity for peer review as well. It should become clear to a student pretty quickly where they rate in a group, according to the opinions of the others in that group.

Put yourself in the teacher's shoes as well as in the student's shoes. It's a touchy, frustrating situation.

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December 20, 2005 at 8:19 PM

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