I can't speak for orcastra (sp?) but band...
I'm a rising sophmore, but last year my teacher was called Mr. Martin. He's nice, but he's got some environmental issues.
Orchestra..
Most of my teachers have been great. I want to learn from Roberta, though.
I played the flute from the second thorough the tenth grade. My elementary teacher's name was Mrs. Mercer. For as long as I could remember she was so mean to everyone. She used to take her "conducting wand" and slap us on our fingers with it if we played a wrong note. It wasn't hard enough to bruise us but it did make us think. But then I realized she wasn't all that mean, she just wanted the best out of our playing. She didn't accept slack and she didn't want us to give up. She saw the potential in us that we couldn't see. To her I will be eternally grateful for making me strive for excellence.
shareMy high school orchestra teacher was the best. We all called him Uncle Jeffy, and he used to have parties at his house like a week before our concerts. He's also in the local orchestra, so he got discount tickets (for those who wanted to go) for the ASO performace with Yo-Yo Ma. *Sigh* how I miss him.
"He's not the only cat in the pond" ~ Sammy
Orchestra....
My first teacher (in elementary school) also taught high school, and he was brilliant. My friend and I (also in orchestra) had a huge crush on him. This was on what, 3rd grade? :) He got married...and moved to Virginia...! Then we got a new teacher who wasn't that good but she was really really nice... that was the year that I started playing cello. In middle school we had this guy who yelled at us constantly and thought he was challenging us, but it was much too easy. Sometimes I just wanted to kick him...
No one like Roberta, though.
OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo
Johnny Depp+Ed Harris+Jim Carrey+toast= sexy
My first "strings" teacher, from grades 4-6, was my inspiration to become an orchestra teacher myself. I job shadowed her in high school and knew then I was going to become a music teacher.
My junior high (grades 7-9) orchestra teacher was a nightmare. I rarely say I hate anyone, but looking back, she taught me how NOT be be a middle school orchestra teacher. I still talk with my aformentioned elementary teacher - they still teach in the same district, and those two can't stand each other.
By the time I got to high school, we had about 12 people in orchestra - with one of the largest high schools in the state of Wisconsin. I didn't like the teacher then, but now I realize that he was trying to make do in a bad situation - most kids quit in junior high because of said teacher (she, of course, taught at both junior high feeders at the time). I've since apologized to him, since he is a nice guy and given the right circumstances, I'm sure, would've done a great job.
My high school private violin teacher was pretty cool. However, I took piano lessons as well, and I had to work 1,000 times harder for her - not only because piano was harder for me, but because she really challenged me. Violin wasn't really ever a challenge for me. Piano righteously kicked my ass, both in high school and college. And I loved it. My high school piano teacher was awesome. In fact, since I teach a majority of private piano lessons now, I feel like I'm her incarnation.
My college violin prof. would fall asleep during my lessons. Nuf said.
My college piano prof is still one of my favorite people in the world, although I don't hear much from her. She's one of the few people in the world who's an amazing performer but she's also a wonderful teacher - you don't find many of those in the college teaching world. Especially when you consider that she still teaches mostly non-piano majors, the music ed. majors in voice and choir and need to learn piano but don't really have the background.
"One of the hardest parts of my job is to connect Iraq to the war on terror." G.W.B.
I took band in Junior High school and while it was frustrating at times, it was the best experience of my life. I am so sad I didn’t appreciate it more. I went to a pretty mediocre JHS in the South Bronx and their “gifted and talented” music program was the pride and joy of the school. I had a pretty hardnosed, mean but well intentioned Teacher named Ms. Castiner. Come to think of it she resembles Meryl Streep in her features and mannerisms. Anyway, she always pushed for perfection and encouraged us to strive for a life better than what we inherited. It was because of her a few of us students were recommended to play for the Boro-Wide band. I got in as well as 2 of my friends and all 75 of us students in the Boro-wide band played a year end concert along with the Staten Island band @Carnegie Hall back in May of 1998. It was Amazing!! I was kind of mean to my band teacher at times and our relationship was pretty tough but we did have lots of fun. I always remember her crush on Leonardo DiCaprio and her letting me and my friends play and goof around in the auditorium instead of going to recess. Which TRUST ME we appreciated! Kids are their meanest during recess! The discipline and determination I learned from playing the Trumpet has helped me to be the successful person I am today.
Heheh this turned out longer than I had anticipated but I liked this topic question. Thanks!
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I also play the french horn! Horns rock! Well, my middle school band teacher (I'm in high school), was very good. She's a very good teacher but sometimes she gets stressed.
shareAll of my piano teachers and voice teachers were huge inspirations in my life. Also pushed me to my limits and never allowed me to settle. If they felt I wasn't putting forth 100% effort, they would always let me know and never minced words about it.
shareI had four music teachers between the 8th and 12th grades. Mrs Kemp and mrs Potter were very nice, then Randall, who must've been about 21 when I was 15 in the 10th. He was fun (fun as in picking out the best pieces, not really suitable for an exam) but very WEIRD, the long haired small voice, suspiciously gay kind, what a honey!! then there was Miss Stockdale, who was also my voice teacher, choir mistress AND my English teacher...She was horrible!!! Amazingly, My years with her were the best I've ever played or sung in my entire high school career. She still checks in on me from time to time, even though it's been almost 10 yrs since I held a musical instrument let alone play one. I wish I hadn't quit though...
I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous
my choir instructor is insane and yells all the time. our choir sucks and we never get anything done.
our accompaniest (sp?) is amazing and when our teacher is too busy talking on the phone to whoever she talks to he does her job and we get tons more done.
i wish he was our instructor, he's amazing and nice and funny and flamingly homosexual :] everyone loves him.
WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO GIVE MORE DETAILS ABOUT FAVORITE MUSIC TEACHERS?
I am writing my dissertation on this topic and am looking for narrative stories about excellent (and even horrible) music teachers. As I develop the questions I would like to be able to get input!
If you are interested, indicate here and I will arrange to contact you privately. Thos is legitimate--no meetings or personal data needed.
Deb
Oh the women who this movie is about was my violin teacher. I hated her very much, she yelled alot and it made my nerves bad but I love the instrument and she did teach us how to play and she was a great violinist. and i got to be in the movie, which was cool for because i was like 8 or 9 and i felt important(i am in the last scene).
I had chorus as an elective in junior high and the teacher was also a band teacher. He didn't really do anything but play Civilization on his laptop all period long and then would be in a rush when there is a performance. Before we sang at the performance, he mouthed, "Shut up." He said that to his band students too.
share