IU snags Josh Bell

May 3, 2007 at 7:29 PM

NEW FLASH:

Joshua Bell will join the faculty of Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, and he will start teaching in the fall of 2008.

Here is more on this story

From Ray Randall
Posted on May 3, 2007 at 9:43 PM

It sounds like IU is becoming the place to be for violin studies.
On the other hand, Mr. Bell will be there just one week per semester.....that's hardly worth it.

From Tommy Atkinson
Posted on May 3, 2007 at 10:29 PM

man, i bet there are some students are kicking themselves for turning down that acceptance to IU...

From Sydney M.
Posted on May 3, 2007 at 10:39 PM

Hmmm, he had a good teacher. Would that make him a good teacher? Fall 2008 is when I start college, although, I doubt I'd get into IU...

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 12:09 AM

Idk, does anyone know of his teaching abilities? My teacher (who was a great teacher) always told me that a teacher with a lot of performing experience wasn't always a good teacher. Doesn't mean that he isn't, but just because he is one of the best violinists out there today doesn't mean he is going to be the best teacher out there...

What I am wondering is if he has teaching experience at all?

From Patrick Hu
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 1:48 AM

To be truthful, I would rather take lessons with Laredo or Kerr than Bell. He's just not my cup of tea...I mean...what would he teach? It seems to me that presently, Bell does not play in co ordinance with what Gingold taught. Anyway...this gives IU more reasons to be considered on par with Julliard, Curtis, CIM, etc.

From Maura Gerety
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 2:09 AM

Sydneeeeey, you said you wanted to come to Oberlin! You mean you would actually pick Josh Bell over ME? Gawd almighty, I feel so rejected.

;)

From Sydney M.
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 3:02 AM

Hypothetical. He would probably only have 2-3 students anyway. ;)

From Laurie Niles
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 4:52 AM

Well, I did go to IU and studied violin there. I've found, in life, that people who studied with Gingold tend to make very good teachers; Gingold held teaching in such high regard. I don't know anyone who has studied with Josh though. But I wouldn't knock someone just for being a soloist; look at Midori. I've heard nothing but high and genuine praise from her students.

From Pauline Lerner
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 7:25 AM

Great performers are not necessarily great teachers. I'd like to hear from someone who studied under Bell, if there is someone.

From al ku
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 10:42 AM

i don't think one can judge one's teaching ability based on one's teacher or one's teacher's teaching ability. there is simply so much that goes into a person that whatever comes out is very hard to predict. one fundamental element is the passion to teach, to share. and to think and reflect. and experience helps.

i am not a music person. i doubt he will be teaching specific persons. rather, in a week or two, there may be some master classes that open up to the public, not unlike those by vengerov on youtube.

it will be a show because he is a superstar. anyone who plays at that level deserves respect, no matter how he looks.

it is silly imo to tell a great teacher apart from a greater teacher because under the same treatment, the question will be how great a student are you...

From J.Rand Certain
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 12:30 PM

Joshua Bell, along with other 'solo' violin performance majors are great at performing, he along with Eugene Fodor, might if given the chance turn around and be some of the best violin teachers yet. I myself was a violin performance major, and as I continue to perform locally for weddings,private dinners & such, am now a private violin teacher & enjoy teaching children from age 3-adult level, far more than peforming; I feel a professional duty to educate,teach & nuture the violin art for youngsters-adult level.To teach, an invidual to learn/play the Violin, in itself is a great task by itself. I wish the best of luck & professional courtesy to Mr. Joshua Bell for getting onboard such a wonderful school of music & attempting to 'Teach' or give back what He himself has been taught to others.

From Anne Horvath
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 2:38 PM

Bell's title is given as "senior lecturer", which sounds a lot like "visiting professor". He might be fabulous, or not, but he hasn't even started the job yet. Also, I started lessons with a Gingold student this year, and he is quite impressive, in communication, attitude, and patience. I have been very fortunate.

From Patrick Hu
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 2:57 PM

I was just saying my personal opinion of bell in terms of musical expression...I don't really agree with him most of the time (although I do love his sibelius). I wouldn't want my teacher teaching me certain things in musicality that i don't agree with? (sorry if that doesn't make sense)...also, if Bell was only going to be at IU for 2 weeks out of the whole year, I would highly be tempted to look at other teachers.

So what does senior lecturer actually mean? Does anyone know?

Anyway, Bell is a wonderful violinist. His impact on the violinist profession, whether or not you agree with his musical ideas, has made a huge contribution to the popularization of our violin-world with the maineam society, and i'm sure he'll do wonders for IU during his stay there. I respect his artistic views, because he IS one of the leading violinists of today's generation (and if anyone is at IU currently, you are so lucky to have such an amazing string faculty!)

From Laurie Niles
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 3:15 PM

Actually we DO learn a lot about how to teach from our teachers, just as we learn how to play from them. It doesn't guarantee anything, but it is one indication to consider.

I can say I had several Galamian-protege teachers, and their approach had certain commonalities. I see certain things in teachers who were Gingold proteges as well. And then there is the effect of the institution, too. IU has a certain feel, a huge music school, in a tiny town, etc. Gingold had a huge effect on the violin program there, and no doubt, a huge effect on one of his finest students, Josh.

Sure, he'll have his own approach, and I really have never met anyone who has been his student, so who knows. But he had a good teacher trainer in Gingold, not to mention his other mentors, etc. I feel positive about it; the main concern I'd see would be juggling the solo-ing. I think only he can answer about exactly how much time he intends to spend at IU!

From Ihnsouk Guim
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 3:41 PM

It's only 2 weeks, one in each semester. How could it amount to much in reality, whether it's teaching or otherwise? His mom said he wanted to settle down with this appointment. Settle down to be home for one wekk each semester? As for teaching, are students at this age so mature that they can get by with one lesson a semester? To me, it seems just in the title and title alone. IU gets to list him among facuty and he gets to be a professor. Since neither of them is doing much, one would think nothing much will come out of it. Or has life gotten so easy these days one gets a lot without doing much?

Ihnsouk

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 6:53 PM

Teachers need to have a lot of patients (as many of you out there who are teachers know) and I am wondering if he would have that patients.

From Steffen Zeichner
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 7:29 PM

Well, I'm going to IU next fall (undergrad) - Would be great to even watch him do a few masterclasses every once in a while :)

From Sydney M.
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 8:58 PM

And Maura, you know you would leave Oberlin in a second for Barnabás! (heck, I would too!)

From Laurie Niles
Posted on May 4, 2007 at 10:45 PM

Richard, you meant "patience". But it was funny, at first I thought you meant they needed a lot of patients, like a doctor. That's rather true as well! I feel like I get better at the "diagnosis" and "treatment" of my violin "patients," the more I teach!

From Christian Vachon
Posted on May 5, 2007 at 12:55 PM

Hi,

Many great players have studied with great teachers and benefited from great teaching which they can transmit many a times. On top of which, they have a wealth of information to share regarding shaping, concepts and projection that comes from playing the great repertoire in great halls. I think that there is a lot to be learnt there.

That said, it is wonderful in many ways that Mr. Bell has decided to continue the legacy that he received at IU, and I think that is very good for the school.

Cheers!

From Richard Hellinger
Posted on May 6, 2007 at 1:43 AM

Lol, Sorry Laurie... I thought it looked wrong too.

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