Composer Roger Bourland describes some feedback he received after sharing honestly with a student who auditioned at his school:I held up the mirror and told him as gently as I could, what he needs to work on if he truly wants to get into a music school. Two days later, I got an email from someone, perhaps a friend, that ripped me to shreds. “You don’t deserve Max.” My screen was smoking as I read the letter. It occurred to me later, that high school students may not always have the maturity to be hit in the face with their shortcomings.
Look here to see how he handled it.
1 comment:
If someone asked "What is the ONE thing you dislike about being a music educator?", it would parallel the topic of this post.
I am now in a position with a volunteer group where no auditions are required and I am much more at home. Over the course of the last 6 years, I ran across only one singer who had too many problems to work well with the group.
In a small rural town, we take what we can get and then I am expected expect to do some transformational 'teaching' to keep everyone moving up to a higher level of musicianship.
I don't know which is hardest - taking all comers or having to tell the ones who you know aren't going to make it the truth.
Great article, this.
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