Educational Malpractice

August 29, 2008 at 2:46 AM

I learned recently that the director of orchestras at Memorial High School in Houston's Spring Branch School District has mandated that all violinists and violists must use a shoulder rest. He claims that playing without a shoulder rest is injurious and that this is for the benefit of the students.

Memorial High School is known locally for its huge orchestra program spearheaded by a teacher with no known string playing experience. The school is located in the heart of one of Houston's finest residential neighborhoods. The demographics of the neighborhood are fully reflected in student achievement.

I am well known on violinist.com for my advocacy of clenchless playing which in my mind is best achieved with no shoulder rest. I believe that all students should (with the assistance of their private teacher) be permitted to choose whether they should use a shoulder rest. I am appalled at the arrogance of this teacher for mandating shoulder rests. I don't know any private teachers with students at Memorial High School but if I were such a teacher I would demand my student's withdrawal from this program. It is educational arrogance and malpractice at its worst.

From Laurie Niles
Posted on August 29, 2008 at 4:12 AM

This shoulder rest business is driving me bananas! I must enter the fray!

I don't blame the guy for requiring shoulder rests. Sorry, but simply depriving someone of a shoulder rest doesn't magically allow them to get that perfect balance between cradling with the hand and holding with the shoulder, which if you are any kind of violinist, you do a little bit of both, and it's just NOT A BIG DEAL whether you achieve that with or without a shoulder rest.

The reality is, when you are dealing with a bunch of school kids, unless you like thumb clenching and stooping, you give them the shoulder rests, or more likely, a sponge. There will be a few who don't need them, and that's fine. But from all I've seen in life, most people are more comfortable, and are able to play with better posture, with them.

BTW people who don't use shoulder rests are also quite capable of clenching with the shoulder.

The teacher gets good results, didn't you say that? I guess I'd be upset if a kid who was taking from a private teacher and was happy with his set up WITHOUT a shoulder rest were forced to use a shoulder rest.

From Corwin Slack
Posted on August 29, 2008 at 12:25 PM

So you think that the school teacher supercedes the private teacher?

From Corwin Slack
Posted on August 29, 2008 at 12:26 PM

No I refrained from saying that the teacher gets good results. He has huge participation but that is the best I can say.

From Tess Z
Posted on August 29, 2008 at 1:03 PM

I'm more upset about the basic message...all musician's must conform. Music is an art form and every artist has their own style.

Not even taking into consideration...is the teacher going to make all students use the same brand of SR? The same sponge? One size fits all type of thinking is not going to work for the collective orchestra student body.

The parents need to get involved in this and fight for their kids. However, if the parents don't care and they don't complain to the superintendent/school board...there's nothing anyone else can do.

Corwin I can understand your stance, but when a kid is in a school program, the school teacher is the one in charge of that situation. The private teacher may not agree with what the public teacher is doing but they are two separate entities.

Be relieved none of your students are in that orchestra.

From Terez Mertes
Posted on August 29, 2008 at 1:23 PM

I thought maybe his stance was a "fear of lawsuits" kind of thing. As silly as that sounds, I see some pretty outrageous public school rules and regulations based on just that. They're idiotic. But it is the nature of the beast in a public school system, where conformity is necessary, particularly as teachers are asked to do more with less, year after year.

From Corwin Slack
Posted on August 29, 2008 at 1:21 PM

Tess, In my day the public school teacher taught rhythm, ensemble, intonation and musicianship. Teachers understood that the student had contracted with another for the development of specific technique.

My high school teacher was a member of one of the better orchestras in the country (still not full time but they toured Europe and had one of the most extensive discographies of that time). He never said anything technical to students except those who had no private instructor. He had one before school hour that he used to coach such students.

Texas teachers are mediocrities. Very few have any playing or private teaching credentials at any level. Most of the best teach in the middle schools. High school music is a disaster.

We are now in an era of educational impoverishment. Its everything for everybody which means nothing for anyone.

From Corwin Slack
Posted on August 29, 2008 at 1:31 PM

Terez, If you leave the decision on a shoulder rest in the hands of a student, parents and private teacher there cannot be a lawsuit. Now making it mandatory seems to increase the risk, wouldn't you think?

From Patricia Baser
Posted on August 30, 2008 at 5:21 PM

Well, I slap a sponge on just about every school instrument I see. I have shaped sponges, sponges bought from the dollar store, sponges cut from chair foam, and some nifty thick red cosmetic sponges. I have very few students who do not need something to fill up that space. Educational malpractice? Unless he says you must use X brand, how can you say that?

From Terez Mertes
Posted on August 30, 2008 at 6:30 PM

Corwin, good point.

From Corwin Slack
Posted on August 30, 2008 at 9:49 PM

Patricia, As useless as I believe a shoulder rest to be, I have no problem with a teacher recommending it, or providing it, but requiring it is malpractice pure and simple.

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Educational Malpractice

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