empowering the student
Steven and Jane Eubanks (eubanks@en.com)
Fri, 3 Jan 1997 22:35:15 -0500
I have always been able to get up in front of people and play or read..just
lucky, I guess. I have done some really bad playing in front of people,
too..forgetting a memorized piece more than once. I took care of that by
never memorizing again after I didn't "have" to. Luckily my paino teacher
in college pointed out that Dame someone or other (can't remember her name)
who messed up a memorized piece in front of the Queen
just vowed never to play without music again, so why didn't I do the same.
New path. But I have done some darn good playing also.
My bad experience came as a freshman in college when I decided to try out
for the concerto contest with the school orchestra. The school brought in
an outside judge and we were off. I chose the Mozart Concerto in D
minor...a beloved piece for many years. It didn't take me long to learn
it, and memorize it
and I was to the give myself goosebumps part. Came the day..There were
three of us trying out for two slots. A graduate student with a Brahms, a
senior with Chopin and me, with Mozart. I went first, played the heck out
of the piece, and was told later that the senior (whom I considered the
best player in the department) was sweating, I was so good. But I didn't
win. The judge told me why--I was a freshman, I had three more years to
play with the orchestra, the upperclassmen needed the chance to play. I
was really angry. And the upshot was that I never tried out to play with
an orchestra again, although I would have loved to. Not that I was better
than anyone else, but I just loved making music in a group so much.
The good part of that experience came when my teacher had me play the
concerto for a "Student recital"
where he played the orchestra part on another piano. I wowed my friends
and my dad, who came to hear me, who had heard me play every day of my
life, was totally blown away. Much better than pleasing some judge I
didn't know.
I make music in groups all of the time now. Groups I form myself with
others who just want to play.
Sometimes we play in public, sometimes not. Sometimes it's formal music
already written down, sometimes more informal with our own arrangements.
(More with harp there) My favorite is a piano trio. I love the literature
and the group dynamics. I teach all of my students to play with each
other-trios, duets, the band, in the school bands and orchestras if they
want to. It's the playing together that empowers. The group dynamic
created by willing individuals doing something that creates boundless good.
I also try to tell them that there will be bad experiences in the music
"world" as they enter it, but that
the fun and lifetime wonder of music will always outweigh the bad. Making
the music is more important
than some director's opinion of you, or your ability to audition. Now, I
must admit I have sent very few students on to college as music majors,
even though I was one. Only if they are very bound and determined. But I
always encourage them to find new teachers and new points of view other
than mine, and to always be looking to learn new things. I don't teach
because I can't do anything else, I teach because it is a calling I can't
deny.
jane
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Steven and Jane Eubanks eubanks@en.com
427 Beech Street 216.234.9671
Berea, Ohio USA 44017