on forced instrument learning (and only piano/violin, nothing else)

[acroyear]

Renewable Music: Piano and Violin: Blunt Instruments of Bourgeois Education:

But I do wish to add two caveats. The first is that the orchestra (professional or amateur) relatively rarely uses pianos and though there can be many violins, we need violas and bassoons and horns as well. A world full of "Chinese Mothered" violinists and pianists will be a world in which violists, bassoonists and horn players will be valued more highly. (The "Chinese Mother" appears not always to be wise about economics.) The second caveat is that I want to work with and listen to musicians who are not only mechanically competent, but are honestly interested in the music and, generally speaking, cheerful rather than fearful about music-making. Unfortunately the tactical application of fear appears to be a major element of Prof. Chua's pedagogy; in all my experience of music, I have never seen any necessity for fear as an element in its production.

Comments

[vconaway.livejournal.com]

You might recognize me (I'm a dulcimer player), and if you have the CDs I hope you're enjoying them! And you're right about the piano being harder to master than to understand, but getting both hands to do different things is tricky.

[sestree.livejournal.com]

Yes I do - and yes I enjoy them. I have 2 I think.

I didn't have problems teaching two different hands to do two different things (percussionist at heart I guess) or reading two lines of music at once. Mine is I over analyze it. I can't be free with the piano except very rarely and then it's beautiful. The rest of the time I sound like a drummer who's been accidentally cast as a pianist.


Mind if I send you a friends request on here? I've missed you at faire the last year or two. If you say no I'll understand :)

[vconaway.livejournal.com]

Absolutely! I haven't been back to Maryland in a few years, but I'm hoping to make it back someday. I'm glad you like the CDs, that's always great to hear :)