Blind leading the Blind-incompetent music teachers

Subject: Blind leading the Blind
From: GUEST,Newbie
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 09:36 AM

I have noticed that at the festivals I have been to there appears to be a band of "do gooders" who set them selves up as teachers of musical instruments - there aim is usually the "young people" at festivals, showing them how to play various instruments eg fiddle guitar sqeezeboxs the problem being these people are very poor on the instruments the are teaching when asked they reply "as long as people are making music that all that matters" I don't think this is right and bad habits are being taught or young people being put off learning the right way what do you think?

Subject: RE: Blind leading the Blind
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 09:43 AM

by preference yes, the students should be shown the correct way - but perhaps the ones teaching are doing it becuase no one else was willing?

Subject: RE: Blind leading the Blind
From: smallpiper
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 09:46 AM

examples please

Subject: RE: Blind leading the Blind
From: GUEST,Newbie
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 10:03 AM

I'm not going to name names or particular Festivals as this wouldn't be fair to the people involved if they do not visit this site and would no no right to reply:

I did wonder if others had noticed this and maybe festival organisers should "vet" the people doing these workshops or maybe hire professionals? as I'm sure some do, maybe others are just saving money or think because children are involved anything will do?

Subject: RE: Blind leading the Blind
From: GUEST,Russ
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 01:12 PM

Newb,

I think that bad teaching is indefensible no matter what the context.

And I don't want to be a quibbler.

But...

I am tempted to call the phenomenon to which you refer "introducing young people to musical instruments" rather than "teaching young people to play musical instruments."

I am only familiar with the phenomenon as it is practiced in the unrepresentative selection of festivals I attend in the states. It seems to me that all that the "facilitators" (to avoid using the "t" word) are trying to do is to show the kids that music is something they can produce. The one thing that is pretty consistently "taught" is that musical instruments must be treated with respect.

Subject: RE: Blind leading the Blind
From: smallpiper
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 03:44 PM

I ask because I haven't come accross it myself

Subject: RE: Blind leading the Blind
From: Little Hawk
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 05:01 PM

I've seen examples of what Newbie is alluding to, and I've seen the contrary (people who were quite good at playing the instruments doing such workshops). I guess you have to take the good with the bad.

For instance, this year at the Mariposa Folk Festival they had hired a 3-woman "comedy" group to do comedic performances in between the musical sets. Their performances were so godawful and annoying that it drove away much of the audience to seek relief at the food concessions, at the other stages, at the beach, ANYWHERE. They were simply dreadful.

What is particularly ironical is that they were supposedly on to prevent the phenomenon of "dead air" (nothing in particular happening onstage) to cause the audience to lose interest (Horrors! Can't have that!) and drift away from the main stage.

Pathetic, that's what it is.

I would just love to hear some dead air now and then. It would be nice and peaceful and would allow me to reflect upon and savour the musical performance that just ended. Instead I am tortured by MC's who blather on and on between acts, enjoying their fifteen minutes of fame and ego-tripping all over the place, and comedic trios that make a trip to the dentist seem like being in heaven.

GAAAAAHHH! Give me dead air, please!

- LH

Subject: RE: Blind leading the Blind
From: Anglo
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 05:47 PM

Festival formats are very different across the world, even the English-speaking world. Perhaps guest Newbie would at least tell us where the festivals are that s/he has noticed this problem.

Subject: RE: Blind leading the Blind
From: JedMarum
Date: 25 Aug 03 - 05:55 PM

I have seen both. Some festivals have great players who know how to teach, and more importantly, know how to show a group of various level players, what they need to do to teach themselves ... but I have seen festivals, where a festival organization's favorite volunteer is given a teaching workshop, and he is isn;t a good player, and worse does not know how to teach/inspire. This is a bad thing - good intentions aside, a teacher need sto know what he/she is talking about - and how to get that across to a wide variety of players. More festival organizers should take this job seriously.