Mitch Man
01-05-2002, 08:05 AM
OK for my 300th post, here is a really hot topic that needs to be sorrily addressed!
There seems to be a notion that there is a certain level of predudice toward Adult Learners
in the piping world.
Let me be honest and comfirm this is true, but
not to the extent where we sit on a hill at the
highland games with a 6 pack and a Deer rifle
looking for newbies!
It comes from a preference between teaching kids
who offer no resistance to learning something new or teaching adults with attitudes that hinder more then help. Too many questions only add confusion and many adults are not capable of
taking instruction, meaning they can't follow orders.
I find that if students do exactly what they are told to do, then they don't have problems! It's
when the student comes back the next week and
hasn't played what you instructed them to do, then I think what is the point of teaching them.
This is where the main frustration lies!
It is even more evident when confrontations on
public forums take place in regards to debates
about piping topics. Debates are about differing
opinions which are based on some form of facts
and experience. Many lack the real experience
to form a truly educated opionion on tone issues and solving problems.
Speaking from an experienced player's point of view, it's sometimes irretating to read some of the tripe that's printed in these forums from
some of the newcomers who understand nothing
of the piping world let alone the music world too.
Much like that new person who comes into the
office with all sorts of ideas on how to save
money on paper, better ways to create reports faster or the Rookie Cop who tells you his idea of how to deal with bad guys! All Naive!!!!!
Just look to your own industries to experience the
newbies that try to tell you how things should be run. I have seen both sides literally attack each
other in topics as simple as Bag Seasoning.
What I do enjoy is seeing a student progress, and
it's a real pleasure to work with students who are
enthusiastic and willing to work hard. I do not discriminate against age, as I have just recently
found out that there are some instructors who refuse to take adult learners. This was a concept I have never heard of before, except from many top
pipers who only teach promising prize winning students.
The thing to remember is to keep your mind open when reading these "Free" forums! Advice is cheap!
I teach concepts that are not always straight forward, but they are all designed to get the student to think outside the box and get past the thinking of mediocredy.(Spelling is note my forte)
JM
There seems to be a notion that there is a certain level of predudice toward Adult Learners
in the piping world.
Let me be honest and comfirm this is true, but
not to the extent where we sit on a hill at the
highland games with a 6 pack and a Deer rifle
looking for newbies!
It comes from a preference between teaching kids
who offer no resistance to learning something new or teaching adults with attitudes that hinder more then help. Too many questions only add confusion and many adults are not capable of
taking instruction, meaning they can't follow orders.
I find that if students do exactly what they are told to do, then they don't have problems! It's
when the student comes back the next week and
hasn't played what you instructed them to do, then I think what is the point of teaching them.
This is where the main frustration lies!
It is even more evident when confrontations on
public forums take place in regards to debates
about piping topics. Debates are about differing
opinions which are based on some form of facts
and experience. Many lack the real experience
to form a truly educated opionion on tone issues and solving problems.
Speaking from an experienced player's point of view, it's sometimes irretating to read some of the tripe that's printed in these forums from
some of the newcomers who understand nothing
of the piping world let alone the music world too.
Much like that new person who comes into the
office with all sorts of ideas on how to save
money on paper, better ways to create reports faster or the Rookie Cop who tells you his idea of how to deal with bad guys! All Naive!!!!!
Just look to your own industries to experience the
newbies that try to tell you how things should be run. I have seen both sides literally attack each
other in topics as simple as Bag Seasoning.
What I do enjoy is seeing a student progress, and
it's a real pleasure to work with students who are
enthusiastic and willing to work hard. I do not discriminate against age, as I have just recently
found out that there are some instructors who refuse to take adult learners. This was a concept I have never heard of before, except from many top
pipers who only teach promising prize winning students.
The thing to remember is to keep your mind open when reading these "Free" forums! Advice is cheap!
I teach concepts that are not always straight forward, but they are all designed to get the student to think outside the box and get past the thinking of mediocredy.(Spelling is note my forte)
JM