[HANASHIR:1639] Teaching theory

[Red Sea Blue <Jess...>]

I had just gone to bed for an early night when I started thinking about
this discussion so out of bed and onto the email.  I find it very
interesting, how people are reacting to different things, and some of the
early comments by Karen D etc. You see one interest of mine is why do so
many people learn instruments in their youth and then never play them again
after the age of 18? How is our music teaching going wrong? Why can't music
be taught to be a form of self expression, relaxation, communication and
community for life?

I think my own experience up until the age of 18 is not uncommon, but then
what happened at 24 saved my grace. I will outline briefly. From the age of
about 5 I think my musical aptitude was discovered. A violin teacher (some
distant family member) offered free lessons because we couldn't afford. I
played for about 2 years (kindly chap), enjoyed mildly and then got bored,
not interested in scales and stopped. Apparently this teacher had grand
plans for me that shattered. Then I started learning the guitar at age 7 in
groups at school. Lovely teacher (my first love) memories are fun, covered
a lot of materials and did nice group things - not that much skill gained
over 4 years but positive memories. Age 10 started learning double bass
'cos tallest in class, only one who didn't have to stand on a box. Played
this instrument till aged 18, in variety of bands and orchestras, all laid
on really at school etc. Enjoyed, but didn't strike passion in my kishkes.
(However learnt theory and I'm strong on bass lines now). In this time
continued guitar and started flute. Played said wind instrument for 3 yrs
approx. Again enjoyed, but it was all classical and I could appreciate my
skill improving and the music I was playing on some level as being nice and
pretty - but this was not a personal experience. It was not ever my
expression. None of the music ever played was me speaking I was just being
a vehicle for Fernando sor or Bach or Glen Miller.

So on leaving school it all stopped. Except my guitar because I played it
in the youth movement, a little bit. But because it had never been a
passion I wasn't very good or confident. So (also being female) I let the
better guys dominate. I was kind of sad that it had stopped but not
devastated.

Then 6 years later (when had done no music for four years beyond singing in
the congregation at shool) Debbie F came to England to Limmud. She ran one
of her choirs which I sang in. This really did totally change my life
(cliche bore). Five months later attended HN for first time. These two
experiences showed me how music is my very own personal expression and that
this is totally valid and I could make it other people's very own personal
expression too.

This is at the top of my mind because I have just started classical music
over the last year by doing some serious voice work. Just over the past
month I have started going beyond exercises and doing pieces. We have
started on the Carmen arias. They are fun but you know nothing has changed.
They still don't stir my kishkes even though I can appreciate my voice
stretching and developing, become more flexible etc. My teacher (bless her)
wants me to start learning these pieces off by heart. That made me flinch.
Its not that I can't - I'm just not sure that I want to. Well you could
call me uncultured, provincial or whatever but these are my honest
emotional responses - Carmen is great for Bizet and I'm happy to go and
watch it for a night - but in regards to singing it, it leaves me cold in
comparison to singing Glaser's Oseh Shalom or Friedman's Modim or Kleppers
Yesh Cochavim (and the list is endless).

I guess this expains (to me at least) why this theory discussion has turned
my cold (although has engaged brain). I associate it all with my 'bad old
days' of music - where none of my teachers ever said to me 'Create your own
sounds Jessica and they are valid and beautiful because you are valid and
beautiful'. Debbie Fried said that (not literally of course) but via her
actions. This turned me on, and now I can't turn me off!

So at (high) school we learn technically, via brain (which side Jeff?) and
then we stop for 3 years, realise our technique has diminished
significantly feel disappointed, inadequate and leave the instrument to
collect lonely dust in a cupboard.

Surely theory was built around the music as opposed to the music built
around the theory? This is why music is culture specific? And music is so
different.

This by the way is not an argument against theory page guys, just some
thinking. Of course its useful if people know how to change keys and do all
sorts of clever things. But primarily our work is to validate the
individual, and enable us to work spirit to spirit, helping each other to
fly.

So our responsibility with young people is to make sure that as well as
praticing technique and other peoples music they must know that their
personal expression on that instrument is just as important as the piece of
schubert they are learning.

Theory is useful, but passion is the most important thing.

Did I say something about being brief? Ah well.

thanks
Jess

Now I can go to sleep!