Comments on: Failing our job as teachers/coaches? http://rachelvelarde.com/2009/06/06/failing-our-job-as-teacherscoaches/ Lyric Mezzo-Soprano Fri, 12 Aug 2011 14:48:57 -0700 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Rachel http://rachelvelarde.com/2009/06/06/failing-our-job-as-teacherscoaches/comment-page-1/#comment-25 Rachel Sun, 07 Jun 2009 06:34:34 +0000 http://rachelvelarde.com/?p=377#comment-25 I completely agree with you! The student must take responsibility for evaluating their own progress. But, I also think it's unethical for a professional teacher to encourage students who do NOT have the tools to compete in the marketplace - even if they "have it," there is still an enormous amount of refinement to be done. I don't believe the teachers should be discouraging, but rather realistic about what the goals are and what actions need to be taken to achieve those goals. Teachers who encourage students to enter national conferences where they will show to enormous disadvantage is NOT setting the student up for success, but rather for failure. Sending them to the conference to LISTEN & understand where their art needs to go is another matter, but encouraging them to perform and audition when they are not even remotely ready is just a sneaky way to crush the student - NOT acceptable in my book. Thanks for the comments! All are welcome & I will do my best to respond quickly to them. Take care everyone! Rachel I completely agree with you! The student must take responsibility for evaluating their own progress. But, I also think it’s unethical for a professional teacher to encourage students who do NOT have the tools to compete in the marketplace – even if they “have it,” there is still an enormous amount of refinement to be done. I don’t believe the teachers should be discouraging, but rather realistic about what the goals are and what actions need to be taken to achieve those goals. Teachers who encourage students to enter national conferences where they will show to enormous disadvantage is NOT setting the student up for success, but rather for failure. Sending them to the conference to LISTEN & understand where their art needs to go is another matter, but encouraging them to perform and audition when they are not even remotely ready is just a sneaky way to crush the student – NOT acceptable in my book. Thanks for the comments! All are welcome & I will do my best to respond quickly to them. Take care everyone!
Rachel

]]> By: Gretchen Saathoff http://rachelvelarde.com/2009/06/06/failing-our-job-as-teacherscoaches/comment-page-1/#comment-24 Gretchen Saathoff Sun, 07 Jun 2009 02:07:06 +0000 http://rachelvelarde.com/?p=377#comment-24 A huge part of the responsibility for pursuing a career lies w/the student, in my opinion. I've had discouraging teachers, even "bad" ones along the way. But I felt I had it. Being a student @ state-wide music camp gave me state-wide perspective; Aspen gave me national perspective; Tanglewood gave me a take on where I stood professionally. Getting isolated, too wrapped up in one person's (teacher's) ideas is a real danger. It's crucial to put it out there, put it on the line. At least, that's what I think. Great post! A huge part of the responsibility for pursuing a career lies w/the student, in my opinion. I’ve had discouraging teachers, even “bad” ones along the way. But I felt I had it. Being a student @ state-wide music camp gave me state-wide perspective; Aspen gave me national perspective; Tanglewood gave me a take on where I stood professionally.

Getting isolated, too wrapped up in one person’s (teacher’s) ideas is a real danger. It’s crucial to put it out there, put it on the line.

At least, that’s what I think.

Great post!

]]> By: Rachel http://rachelvelarde.com/2009/06/06/failing-our-job-as-teacherscoaches/comment-page-1/#comment-22 Rachel Sat, 06 Jun 2009 19:19:38 +0000 http://rachelvelarde.com/?p=377#comment-22 Thanks for your comments Susan - as you know, I'm a big fan of yours! To clarify: I LOVE studios that have only beginning students when the teaching is good. I would just be careful if, as an advanced singer, you are studying with a teacher who only has beginning students. It MIGHT be indicative of the ability of the teacher to teach advanced students. As a singer, it is your job to make sure you have the best support possible. None of us have the money to waste on lessons and coachings. Thanks for your comments Susan – as you know, I’m a big fan of yours! To clarify: I LOVE studios that have only beginning students when the teaching is good. I would just be careful if, as an advanced singer, you are studying with a teacher who only has beginning students. It MIGHT be indicative of the ability of the teacher to teach advanced students. As a singer, it is your job to make sure you have the best support possible. None of us have the money to waste on lessons and coachings.

]]> By: Susan Eichhorn-Young http://rachelvelarde.com/2009/06/06/failing-our-job-as-teacherscoaches/comment-page-1/#comment-21 Susan Eichhorn-Young Sat, 06 Jun 2009 15:43:56 +0000 http://rachelvelarde.com/?p=377#comment-21 Some great thoughts here! I would only query the point about a teacher's studio primarily having beginning students. It doesn't necessarily mean they aren't successful/couldn't be successful with advanced students, but perhaps only want to work with beginners. However, in saying THAT, perhaps an advanced singer would want to find a teacher more suited to their needs indeed!!! And I share your anger - bad singing is irresponsible on all accounts. No excuses. Some great thoughts here! I would only query the point about a teacher’s studio primarily having beginning students. It doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t successful/couldn’t be successful with advanced students, but perhaps only want to work with beginners. However, in saying THAT, perhaps an advanced singer would want to find a teacher more suited to their needs indeed!!! And I share your anger – bad singing is irresponsible on all accounts. No excuses.

]]>