When pianist Cecil Taylor taught at the University of Wisconsin in the late sixties, the final exam for his course was to "create something".   90 percent of the class failed the exam. 

  When I was in 5th grade, we had art class. One day the teacher put a picture of a squirrel on the wall and said, "Here's a piece of paper. Take out your crayons and draw this squirrel." Derek drew a squirrel that had three heads and was purple. The teacher gave him an "F" and yelled at him for not following directions. Jim made a squirrel that looked exactly like the one on the wall. He received an "A" and praise from the teacher.  I tried to please both the teacher and myself. my squirrel wasn't as creative as Derek's and not as perfect as Jim's. Mine was terribly mediocre.  I received a "C", which I guess accurately identifies mediocrity. My own music didn't get good until I followed Rick Nelson's advice: "You can't please everyone so you've got to please yourself".

Frank Zappa said: 

     "The main product of America is mediocrity".

 When Mr. Zappa auditioned musicians for his 30 piece rehearsal band, they were brought into a room and seated on the single chair facing Frank.   Mr. Zappa would look them in the eye and say, "What do you do that's fantastic?" 

  I was the director of the music department at

MATC for 20 years,  I was in charge of filling vacant and expanding faculty positions.  If the potential employee couldn't answer that question,   I didn't hire them.  Sometimes I would ask, "What do you do that's fantasic?", and some of them would answer, "What do you mean?"  If someone can do something fantastic, they should be able to tell you what it is.

 While interviewing music instructors for my children, I asked the same question of them.  I saved a lot of time, and my children had wonderful teachers.        

  Often, an artist whose work receives praise, is mentioned in history books, and is preserved in libraries and is a person who didn't get a doctorate or in many cases didn't finish "high" school.

Do we ask the people who have changed the world and influenced millions if they have degrees from schools?

  Do Jack Johnson, Andres Segovia, Tal Farlow, Jimi Hendrix, Salvador Dali, Muhammed Ali, George Van Eps, Eddie Van Halen, Link Wray, Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Johnny Winter, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Count Basie, Duke Ellington, Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Roy Haynes, Elvin Jones, Mc Coy Tyner, Bill Evans, Michael Jordan, Abraham Lincoln, Thelonius Monk, Horace Silver, Hank Aaron, Muddy Waters and Robert Johnson have degrees ?

   At a recent seminar, someone asked for my advice on music education. Since I am the product of taking lessons and practicing a musical instrument from age 3, performing on stage from age 4, competing in contests from age 9, working as a professional musician from age 12, teaching in a music store from age 15, having my own children at 30 and repeating the same mistakes my parents made, I have some views on the subject. I don't know you or your children, so you have to decide what's right in your situation.

1. Music is a lot more fun when no one is standing over you informing you of your mistakes.

2. People don't always feel like playing music. Being forced to practice is usually unproductive and puts playing a musical instrument in the same category as school homework. Try allowing your child the opportunity to chose when and which day to practice. For example, out of the seven days of the week, one of the days is a lesson day, (no practice on that day), there must be four practice days, and two days off (it's optional to practice on these days if the child wants).

It's more important to practice well than to practice

long.

3. Little fingers and small bodies don't often interface with an instrument properly and can lead to poor posture, pain and bad habits. If you are an adult, imagine trying to play a piano where the keys are two inches wide! Get a small instrument that matches the child's size.  

Note: (Full size guitars are made by men for men and are too big for a woman's fingers.  A female guitarist should have a three-quarter size instrument.)

4. Get a quality instrument and have it set up by a professional so that it is as easy to play as possible.
Real music stores adjust instruments so that they are working properly before they sell them.  I recommend

Lincoln Music (Milwaukee, WI) , Schmitt Music (Racine, WI) , Uncle Bob's Music (Milwaukee, WI) and

J Hale Music (Hartland, WI).  Do not buy an instrument from a non-music chain store or on the internet.

5. Interview many teachers before deciding on one for your child. It's a good idea to spend some time in the lesson so you know what's going on. However, it's also good for the teacher and the child to have one on one time. Spend about 10 minutes near the end of the lesson in the room.

6. Many studios have recitals. You can allow your child input as to whether they want to participate or not. Perhaps let them perform in one and then evaluate the effect on your child. I've seen many children stop playing music after their first recital. Other children love the attention.

7. My opinion, (and you don't have to agree with it. However, I have eaten Brussels' Sprouts and decided I don't like them.) is that Suzuki instruction is not a good idea for most children. I did enroll my son in Suzuki piano and became familiar with the concepts and gave the program 100%. I think Suzuki takes all the fun out of music and can drive anyone in the house crazy from listening to all the repetition. I did not enroll my second son in the program.

8. You must decide WHY you want your children to play an instrument. If you push too hard they will learn to resent you and the music. Are you trying to live your unrealized dreams through your children? Some parents support their children and create many musical learning opportunities for them. But as soon as the child grows up and wants to be a professional musician, the parents withdraw their support which can be very confusing for the player.

9. It works best for children, (and adults) to have a lot of music to play at the same technical level. It is boring to play the same 8 measure piece over and over all week until the next lesson. Have 3 or more books, so the child can have a wide variety of things to practice.

10. For 35 years, Joe Segal at the Jazz Showcase in Chicago had what he calls "The Save the Children Program". He allows children under 12 free admission for the Sunday matinee. My son sat on Elvin Jones lap while he played the drums when at age 9. My other son saw Miles Davis when he was 10. The experience of seeing musicians playing "live" is the best thing you can do. Especially when you take your children to a bar, they can even talk with the musicians. Most children never experience the finished product of musical study. Neither of my children play music now, (I was too hard on them) but if you look at their CD collections, they have Miles Davis and Frank Sinatra next to Run DMC and The Red Hot Chili Peppers. They love music. Your children can learn to love music even if you decide to take the option of not having them play music.

11. When I was a teacher, I had a few rules for success:

        - be able to do something that's fantastic and only  you can do.  Know what that is and describe it verbally.

        - show up on time, dressed appropriatly for whatever you're going to be doing.

        - be honest and tell the truth.

        - everywhere you go should be better because you are there.

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Recommended reading available from this web site's shopping cart :

- YOUR MUSICAL CHILD, Inspiring Kids to Play and Sing for Keeps, by Jessica Baron Turner, M.A.

- TEACHING GENIUS,

by Dorothy DeLay and the making of a musician

- TEACHING MUSIC WITH PASSION,

Conducting, rehearsing and inspiring

by Peter Loel Boonshaft

See the shopping cart  for a complete description

of each book.

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