Who Was Your First Music Teacher?

Subject: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Peter T.
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 05:27 PM

The "first musical instrument" thread is so interesting, I thought I might try this topic. It can either be a homage or a firebombing. Mine was, alas, a second rate lady piano teacher who made me hate the instrument. Cannot remember her name, though I do remember walking home afterwards in the snow in Chatham NB feeling liberated.

Those stupid crap little tunes in those elementary books, hated that.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Bert
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 07:10 PM

Some stuck up B*&^@ who expected all the kids to be born with the ability to play an instrument and made fun of those who weren't.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 07:44 PM

The awful Miss Middleton in Hough Lane, Wombwell, Yorkshire. I used to try to bunk off as often as possible. Hated her and her snooty professional pianist son, Paul Burke.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Cruiser
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 07:50 PM

Mrs. Robbins, an elementary teacher in Colorado in the late 1950's who taught me all the old folk songs (Erie Canal etc.) and helped me cultivate the joy of singing music. I looked forward to her class especially during the long, gloomy, dark, snowy winter days. When St. Patrick's Day came I knew winter was mostly over and the waltzing in the gym, under the tutelage of Mrs. Robbins, would begin. The 4th grade girls on one side, boys on the other, with the girls selecting their partners. My first waltz with the lass of my dreams was 'Smoke Gets In Your Eyes' I wonder where that girl is now...

Mrs. Robbins, where ever you are, you were my favorite and I never took the time to say so.

Cruiser

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Sorcha
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 07:58 PM

Leoti Newland...one of the very best violin teachers ever to live. I HATED her at the time, but she taught me well. Unless you mean elementary school 'singing' teachers, who told me to just mouth the words because I couldn't sing.....

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Zany Mouse
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 08:05 PM

I would add that I now have a fantastic piano teacher, Dave Joy in Retford. He has renewedd my love of the piano. Thanks Dave, if you are looking in.

Rhiannon

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Padre
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 08:11 PM

Conrad Eaddy, choir director at First Presbyterian Church, Charleston, WVa, who encouraged me to sing.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 08:26 PM

Mrs Lynch, whose husband introduced me to the wonderful world of Ham Radio and all things electronic and other technical thingies. She was the 'rap over the knuckles with a ruler' type. She was most annoyed when I was the highest placed of all her students at the Eisteddfod, and I don't think she ever trusted me since. I went to another really brilliant teacher for a few weeks, who only taught her students on a Grand Piano, not an upright like Mrs Lynch, but she moved away - no!, she got a job teaching music to remote students!. My father, and a certain lady pipe organist whose name I now forget, helped restore my love for music.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Leadfingers
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 08:27 PM

I cant blame ANYBODY ! Maybe the guy who first showed me the basic guitar chords (C Am F G G7, then G Em C D D7 ) in six keys and showed
me how to fit Chords to words ! Apart from that I am self taught !

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: number 6
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 09:44 PM

I can't remember her name ... I was in grade 2 at the time.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 09:59 PM

Mom, Dad, my brother and sisters. Formally, Mrs. Heiny, yes, like yer backside...poor thing we made such fun of that, but she was a very good piano teacher. "Granny" Grantham was an excellent violin teacher and I hope she never knew we called her that. Mr. Griggs was a kind orchestra teacher, but Mr. Ashley was to die for handsome, gave me a ride home in his new BMW, the first in our valley, and orchestrated "Classical Gas" for us. It was a ...well...a *gas* to play!:-)

Thanks, Peter,

kat

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: LilyFestre
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 10:01 PM

My very first music teacher was Sandy Foster. She lived up the street from me and I played at her house all the time with her
4 girls. She played the piano and sang at her church. I always loved Sandy but I didn't like the music lessons because I had a lot of trouble learning to read the notes. I don't think I took more than a month's worth of lessons.

My violin teacher was my first "real" music teacher. His name was Lee Copenhaver. He is the one who really taught me to read music and to play my first instrument. God love the man, I can remember standing in front of the music stand in his cubby hole of a music room and him screaming at me at the top of his lungs....CAN'T YOU HEAR OUT OF TUNE YOU ARE!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! LOL....nope, at age 8, I really couldn't! The man had the patience of a saint! It wasn't that I didn't like him but more like he scared me.

Michelle

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: mg
Date: 18 Dec 04 - 11:22 PM

a series of young and beautiful Irish nuns. We were one of their mission parishes. mg

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 01:03 AM

Seymour Silbermintz, the famous Jewish choir leader, 1951 in Camp North Star, Duane, N.Y. I sang in a musical cantata that he composed called "Song Of The Soil", about the Zionist "Chalutzim" (Pioneers) that helped build the State of Israel in 1948. SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Metchosin
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 01:31 AM

My Grampa. He taught me first that music is more than mastering an instrument, it includes sharing and even the smallest voice has a place.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Kaleea
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 01:36 AM

I moved so much as a child I don't remember the elementary Music teachers. The one who profoundly changed many lives was Mr. Duke Loucks in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He taught Jr. Hi. Band at the Jr. Hi. which was so lousy with dopeheads they later closed it, but he was respected by all. Many of his students have gone on to be professional Musicians & Music Educators. He had heart trouble & died when we were in High school. We got special permission to attend his funeral.
      There were 2 or 3 college profs who made a big impact. I am still an egghead about Music History because of Mr. Fletcher. My Music Theory is very strong because of Dr. "Uncle" Arthur. One never forgets the educators who really teach.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: *daylia*
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 08:45 AM

My first music teacher was my mother, who taught me how to find my way around the piano. WHen I was 6, she sent me to an aging nun who taught piano on an old clunker in the garage behind the convent. Dear Sister R used to hit my knuckles with a ruler if I played the wrong key or used the wrong finger. In those days smacking kids was just par for the course (the mid-60's) and I loved music so much I hardly noticed. But one day she was in a particularly nasty mood and I walked home crying, hands like a road map. My mom asked what was wrong and I told her how the good Sister hit me. SHe said nothing to the nun, but the following week I had myself a new teacher.

And I loved my new teacher! A smiling Jamaican lady, a concert pianist with a gorgeous grand piano, a hundred-acre farm, 7 kids of her own, and sheer musicality overflowing her heart of gold. She became my "second mom" and confidante, her kids became my best friends and through her loving guidance and expertise I finished my Grade 10 Conservatory on the piano (+ Grade 8 on the viola + all that theory AARRGHHH) by the time I was 15.

OVERLOAD!!! I finished the exams and I gave it all up to teach myself rock and roll guitar instead :-)

Anyway, since then I've been the "First Music Teacher" for so many people I can't count'em. I've known so many kids who were turned off music by their first teachers (as some folks have pointed out above) that at 19 I swore to myself if I was going to teach music, my students were going to LOVE it. And I must be doing something right, because for the most part they do!

I keep my attitude and my comments encouraging and positive, of course I never hit them, and I'm patient and flexible and easy-going re practicing commitments/exams because for me, personal enjoyment and musical creativity always come first.   

I encourage parents to actively participate in their children's lessons / practicing especially at first, and to make music a "family affair" in their homes. No sending the kid down to the basement to practice alone behind closed doors where it won't "bother" anyone (you wouldn't believe how many families do it this way!)

No annoying timers or clock-watching at practice time either! My students are supposed to get themselves to the piano at least 4X a week, and practice each exercise/piece at least 3 times, however long that takes. The less "lovable" aspects of musical education (technique and theory) are presented as fun "warm-ups" - like sports! - for the songs the kids want to learn.   And for the most part, my students choose their own repertoire from the genres they like best - so they WANT to practice (99% of the time!)   

The only drawback to this is that certain pieces like 'Mission Impossible', 'Star Wars' and the Fur Elise get worn pretty thin in short order ....

Peter T, you'll be happy to know those beginner books have improved 100% over the last 30 years! There's a lot more selection and Canadian content now too, which is good. If I have to listen to that Little Birch Canoe (played badly) one more time I think I'm going to sink the thing .... and the "Love Theme from the Titanic" too. The Conservatory even has a "popular selections list" of rock, folk and pop pieces that can be used for exams now. That was so good to see!

I could go and and on and tell you how kids have changed over the last 30 years ... that they are for the most part undisciplined and unable to focus attention on anything for longer than 10 seconds ... that even at 16 they whine and fuss because Ooooooo they just don't WANNA to do things that are "hard" ie require effort of any kind (like reading music, working on rhythm etc). They just don't LIKE to, and that's all that matters of course!   ;-)

I could tell you about how at age 6, at least I DID learn to read carefully so I wouldn't get smacked! Many of my students, even at 15, still don't read well in spite of all my efforts.   They've never put forth the effort required to read music easily. They ignore fingering, and fumble and stumble (and drive me nuts week after week!) to no end because of it.

And they ARGUE with me like I NEVER would have dared to do with teacher!

ie Me: "Ok - let's try that again - that's an A chord and you played G."   Kid: "I did NOT!!!"

or

Me: "You got all those notes right. Good for you! :-) Now, let's go over the timing - you forgot to count." Kid: "I DID SO count! I ALWAYS count!"

*sigh* So much time is wasted at lessons because certain kids are disrespectful. And I've learned it's relatively useless to say anything to the parents - I watch them tolerate the same behaviour themselves time and time again.

At any rate, I've gone on too long here ... thanks for listening!

daylia

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Crystal
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 08:48 AM

My parents.
They gave me music to enjoy and taught me to sing.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Peter T.
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 09:14 AM

Hey daylia, where are you? It sounds like it is worth getting on a plane to take a few lessons from you!!!!

Birch Canoe. Hated that song. There was one about raindrops too that I would like to find the grave of the person who wrote it and go and desecrate it.

yours,

Peter T.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Mooh
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 09:57 AM

My Dad, because we had music at home, church (where he was choirmaster), at Scouts (he was leader), and because he prevented us from practicing stunned mistakes at the piano.

My first piano teacher was some twit named Jim somethingorother, who disliked me, chatted on the phone a lot during lessons, and left me feeling disenchanted with private lessons. He did have a baby grand though, and was a very good player, but those things didn't make him a good teacher.

The second piano teacher also disliked me, was gruff, disinterested, and distracted. He taught in the church hall, so he didn't step out of line (my Dad was usually about), but I always had a fear that he wanted to swat me.

In the end I gave up piano (round about grade 4 conservatory) for road hockey and fishing. I knew it was a mistake and I regretted it immediately, but felt defeated and that I had no alternative. I was too proud to admit it was a mistake to quit, too stupid to plead for a different teacher, and too defeated to think I had ability.

Funny how things change though. Eventually I played keyboards (for a year or so, 25 years ago) in a country and dance band, and I make my living in music. My family influences did a lot to negate the influence of lousy piano teachers.

Peace, Mooh.

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: *daylia*
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 11:09 AM

Stories like yours are unfortunately so common, Mooh. :-( I think it's a crime to present the sacred (well, it's sacred to me anyway!) art of music without real caring and love; to mistreat kids and stomp all over their natural musicality, perhaps destroying their innate love of music for life.

I've been known to get downright p****d about it, as a matter of fact!

Thanks for your kind comments, Peter. I live near Barrie Ontario, just north of Toronto - but hey, the very thought of anyone flying in just for a piano lesson with me is making these big BIG butterflies flap around in my belly .... eGADS! Just PLEASE don't make me hit you ... CURVE YOUR FINGERS NICELY and COUNT TO 4 INCESSANTLY, OK?    ;-)

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: John C.
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 11:23 AM

The first music teacher I remember was called Mr Knight. I didn't like him and he (I suspect) rather despised me because I 'couldn't sing'. I don't actually remember him doing anything to improve this state of affairs but he did hit me once for daydreaming (this was in the late 50s). Nevertheless, he did introduce me to English Folk Song - I loved the songs instantly and still do. So, at least the old git was good for something!

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Amos
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 12:05 PM

Aside from Leona Bodenmiller up on Belden Hill Road, my first real music was learned from Jonathan Hall, a guitar teacher in my home town. His younger brother became my best musical mate for years, as he played banjo; and oddly enough, in one of those strange miracles of connectivity, I thought of the Hall brothers almost never until the day last summer when Guy Wolfe came to do a pottery exhibition in these parts and I went up to jam with him on his breaks,

Well, we got tot alking and when he learned what part of the world I was from asked me on a long-shot guess whether I knew Jonathan Hall. Knock me over with a feather, I tell ya!! Turns out Guy knows him well. Made my day!

Thanks, Guy! And more than anything, thanks to Jonathan for starting such a long anf happy association!


A

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: *daylia*
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 02:07 PM

Oops I forgot ... Peter, is this is the grave you dream of descrating?

If so, I don't blame you. Poor Chopin was dying of TB when he wrote the (in)famous Raindrop Prelude. It's haunted conservatory syllabi at intermediate level for over a century now. But take heart ... when it's executed with better than morbid technique and a touch of artistry, rigor mortis can be prevented in both performer and audience!

daylia

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: GUEST,Helen
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 02:45 PM

This thread has reminded me of a question I would love to have answered. My first experience of traditional music was listening to a teacher who was on her year's teaching practice before qualifying. I was 5 or 6 and can still remember being enthralled and I am sure that teacher instilled a love of song that has shaped my life. Trouble is, I have no idea who she was. She was twenty or so and had long blonde hair and played the guitar. The year was about 1966 and the school was in the village of Ewhurst in Surrey. The two songs I can clearly remember her teaching the class were 'When I first came to this land' and 'Jug of Punch'. I would really like to know who that teacher was.

If you are this lady, or your know who she is, thank you for all the pleasure I have had from folk music over the years!

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: Peter T.
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 03:00 PM

Oh heavens no, I revere Chopin, have visited his grave and everything. I never made it anywhere near intermediate level. It was some drippy piece.

Well, daylia, if you ever decide to relocate to Toronto, you just let me know (I was lying about the plane ride, not even a GO bus would get me out today, it is so damn cold).

yours,

Peter

Hmm. I wonder what the best instrument to start on is?

Subject: RE: Who Was Your First Music Teacher?
From: GUEST,Wesley S
Date: 19 Dec 04 - 06:13 PM

Stanley Davis - Largo Jr High - eighth grade. He insisted that all of his students be able to write a scale before they could even pick up an instrument. And he threatened to flunk any student that ever misspelled "rhythm". He once picked up an unruly student by the hair in order to get their attention. It worked.