[Trombone-l] do you object to teaching euph/baritone?

[billredgate@comcast.net]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Lawrence Borden" <lawrence.l.borden at Vanderbilt.Edu> 

Folks, I have a colleague who objects to teaching euph since there is no continuing path except (in his opinion) a band director, community band, or service band. 

___________ 

I write; 



             So then by his yardstick no university ought to have a philosophy department - or an English Department - or - fill in the blank.  I hope this fellow isn't a Post secondary level employee.  This is one of my personal pet peeves that just runs up one side of me and down the other  - with steel cleats.   If we're talking about a vocational or technical school - then fine  - how can it be applied - what will you get?  But this is University.  It's supposed to be an EDUCATIONAL experience - not a TRAINING experience.  Training gives you a level of facility with a set of techniques.  Education gives you the ability to know how to use what techniques you have.  It's the difference between being shown how to use the brakes and accelerator - and being tau ght how to drive.  Heck by his yardstick the re ought to be only one or two Tuba majors a year - since no body else is going to work. 

  

            Additionally, he limits his prospective charges with the limits of HIS imagination - not theirs as it should be.  Perhaps he sees nowhere to go from there, but just because You don't see the way out of the maze - does that mean there IS no way out?  Of course not - and its downright rude and disrespecctful of him to allow that opinion to effect - as it must - the way he interacts with his charges. 



             A College level instructor - is an EMPLOYEE.  And here's the real kicker - he is employed to serve the customer - who is the student.  THe guy at the hamburger stand doesn't resent making Hamburgers because most folks like 'em with cheese.  He does his job and makes the burgers his customers request. At the end of the day he realizes that his customers choices have no bearing on his personal worth.  If  your "colleague" doesn't want to teach Euph then he ought not. G o get a job teaching what he wants to teach and let somebody have that job who will do the job as it exists.  One of the things I learned from being a studio player is - music is an art - making money around music is a JOB.  Even if you're "self employed", you have to do the job in order to eat regular and sleep indoors.  You don't want t he job?  Move out of the way. T here's plenty of folks that do. 



            For me though, Your colleague is only demonstrating his lack of willingness to accept that other folks' assessment of value might be valid.  For him, Euph lessons might be pointless.  For someone else they could be the fulfillment of life.  Dude needs to give some credit to other folks. 



            Please don't think there is any personal invective intended here.  This just happens to be one of my major issues and this audience is the best possible for this discussion.  I appreciate your question and I hope you understand the jist of my uneducated reply. 



            My apologies to the list for this strongly worded reply.  While I expect that it will upset some,  I really hope that more will see the point I am trying to make about Post Secondary education as practiced in our time.  It may be better to light one candle than curse the darkness, bt if you don't have a candle maybe cursing the darkness enough will get someone who does to light theirs. 



Bill Redgate 

Atlanta