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arpthark wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 8:44 amon topic/masterclasses: I have played in some that made me feel good and helped my playing, and I have played in some where I was made to feel like a beginner. Usually the bigger the ego or the more reputation the clinician had as a "firebrand," the less helpful the masterclasses were.

Goes to show how people have an effect on others and how those in a position of authority are remembered through their comments and actions.

There's a video of a then-"famous" clinician coaching a person who - today - is considered to be at the top (I'm not naming the instrument...not tuba).

It seems obvious (to me...??) that the clinician felt threatened by the (then) student who (arguably) played better than the clinician.

I've had students who played as well as or better than I play. I could help them with some things, but/and I didn't feel threatened.
ie. "Are there people who play better than I play?" ...well duh.

If one is threatened by a student playing better, then one probably shouldn’t be a teacher. Hate to see that happen. Especially when it’s in front of a bunch of people. How embarrassing!

That’s the ultimate goal, is it not? To get your student playing better than you is what every high level instrument teacher is doing at the end of the day.

Sousaswag wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 12:52 pm If one is threatened by a student playing better, then one probably shouldn’t be a teacher. Hate to see that happen. Especially when it’s in front of a bunch of people. How embarrassing!

That’s the ultimate goal, is it not? To get your student playing better than you is what every high level instrument teacher is doing at the end of the day.

"grasping at straws" is what came to mind, when I reviewed the video (NOT this Warren Deck video) to which I'm referring.

For maybe a decade back in the 80’s I used to go to the week long all day master classes that Arnold Jacobs used to hold at Northwestern. He was a wonderful teacher who really made people comfortable playing. His discussion was always positive and insightful. Always in the light of learning a new way - not changing an old habit - but learning a new habit. I don’t remember anyone being terrified, but more like way over excited for the opportunity to play for him. It felt on stage more like having an individual lesson with him and you forgot all about the room full of peers possibly judging you. I always walked away from those a much better player and they were also great refreshers -even though I was there as a serious amateur who never harbored a hope of playing professionally - I enjoy eating well too much to have wanted a career in music.
I really miss those week long sessions as well as hearing him all through the years in the CSO.

I think it was 1995-ish that I took vacation days and attended one of those sessions at Northwestern. Really glad I did.

I attended the 1995 ITEC at Northwestern. Mr. Jacobs did a
2 1/2 hour master class there. (At the end, it was cool to see him surprised by a bunch of family, friends, and colleagues, including the then-mayor of Chicago, Richard M Dailey, who declared that day Arnold Jacobs day in Chicago). One of the biggest regrets of my life is that I was too shy to go on stage when he called for volunteers to work with. I think it would’ve helped my playing so much. He took every player he worked with to the next level in front of our very eyes.
The 2 1/2 hours felt like five minutes because I hung on every word he said. I’m not sure I’ve ever heard anyone that knowledgeable about what they were doing as he was, and he was able to convey that knowledge where anybody could understand it. It’s one of the highlights of my life that I met him afterward when I was 17 and he was 81. He treated me like I was royalty, like I was one of his colleagues in the Chicago symphony. Totally put me at ease.

I actually played on a master class with Michael Sanders, then of the St. Louis Symphony, a few years later, and he was much the same as Mr. Jacobs as far as mannerisms and putting me at ease.
I played pretty well, especially for me, and he gave me some great suggestions. It was a good experience.

As discussed above, both of those gentlemen were devoid of ego. They were there to make the students better, not to show us how much they knew.

I was there, too! Terrific conference, imo.

That was a great conference.

The pinnacle highlight for me was the Roger Bobo recital in Pick- Staiger Hall. Absolutely superb. An enthralling couple of hours and I’m not a fan of tuba recitals. What an artist. And then the dinner buffet afterwards and being able to meet and talk with him. I’m not sure, but I think that may have been on the last day of that conference. Another highlight of that conference was the Sam Pilafian masterclass on jazz improvisation. It was terrific. What a nice guy. I crossed paths with him a few times over the years. I think the last time was in 2016 when my group played at the summer TMEA in San Antonio and he was there with the Boston Brass for an opening night concert. They were great. The groups he was in were always the best. I’ve worn out my record of the Empire Brass doing West Side Story. Gone too soon.

There were so many excellent presentations at that 1995 NU ITEC you couldn’t attend them all. The nice thing about tuba pros has always been how nice they are and how approachable they are. Willing to have a meaningful conversation with anyone.

If they still held conferences like that one @NU in ’95 with that level of great pros and groups I’d consider re-joining just to go. Heck, even the tuba ensemble Silent Movie (Keystone Cops/Buster Keaton etc.) live sound track was great. I can’t remember who did that - was it the Marine Band?

tofu wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 9:29 pm That was a great conference.

The pinnacle highlight for me was the Roger Bobo recital in Pick- Staiger Hall. Absolutely superb. An enthralling couple of hours and I’m not a fan of tuba recitals. What an artist. And then the dinner buffet afterwards and being able to meet and talk with him. I’m not sure, but I think that may have been on the last day of that conference. Another highlight of that conference was the Sam Pilafian masterclass on jazz improvisation. It was terrific. What a nice guy. I crossed paths with him a few times over the years. I think the last time was in 2016 when my group played at the summer TMEA in San Antonio and he was there with the Boston Brass for an opening night concert. They were great. The groups he was in were always the best. I’ve worn out my record of the Empire Brass doing West Side Story. Gone too soon.

There were so many excellent presentations at that 1995 NU ITEC you couldn’t attend them all. The nice thing about tuba pros has always been how nice they are and how approachable they are. Willing to have a meaningful conversation with anyone.

If they still held conferences like that one @NU in ’95 with that level of great pros and groups I’d consider re-joining just to go. Heck, even the tuba ensemble Silent Movie (Keystone Cops/Buster Keaton etc.) live sound track was great. I can’t remember who did that - was it the Marine Band?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fL-iI ... 6k2V/view

Here’s the 1995 ITEC program. Lots of great stuff…

graybach wrote: ↑Sat Oct 19, 2024 8:39 pm

tofu wrote: ↑Fri Oct 18, 2024 9:29 pm That was a great conference.

The pinnacle highlight for me was the Roger Bobo recital in Pick- Staiger Hall. Absolutely superb. An enthralling couple of hours and I’m not a fan of tuba recitals. What an artist. And then the dinner buffet afterwards and being able to meet and talk with him. I’m not sure, but I think that may have been on the last day of that conference. Another highlight of that conference was the Sam Pilafian masterclass on jazz improvisation. It was terrific. What a nice guy. I crossed paths with him a few times over the years. I think the last time was in 2016 when my group played at the summer TMEA in San Antonio and he was there with the Boston Brass for an opening night concert. They were great. The groups he was in were always the best. I’ve worn out my record of the Empire Brass doing West Side Story. Gone too soon.

There were so many excellent presentations at that 1995 NU ITEC you couldn’t attend them all. The nice thing about tuba pros has always been how nice they are and how approachable they are. Willing to have a meaningful conversation with anyone.

If they still held conferences like that one @NU in ’95 with that level of great pros and groups I’d consider re-joining just to go. Heck, even the tuba ensemble Silent Movie (Keystone Cops/Buster Keaton etc.) live sound track was great. I can’t remember who did that - was it the Marine Band?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fL-iI ... 6k2V/view

Here’s the 1995 ITEC program. Lots of great stuff…

Never fails to amaze what can be found online. Forgot that Steven Mead & Mel Culbertson performed as well. Really an outstanding array of performers. I do remember going to one recital of a name and being thoroughly unimpressed by their sound. It was definitely a sound I would not want to emulate. Seeing the cover of the program reminded me that I still have the t-shirt someplace in one of the closets. I’ll have to get it out and start wearing it - almost 30 years later!