Well, what am I taking lessons for, if not to get good?
To satisfy yourself in whatever way you want to. If you want to reel off St. Anne's Reel really quickly, then definitely set that as a goal (and I'll duck that pun-inspired thwack, thank you). I know that, given the mild tendinitis I've had touches of at times, I won't ever be a technical virtuoso. So I have different goals: general musicianship and using my musical wits to make things sound good, in addition to just enjoying playing more (and wincing less). I want a music teacher to give me technical advice and add to my musical perspectives. But I'm setting the goals. And a good music teacher wants adult students to set goals, as far as I understand! Imagine yourself being paid to teach songwriting, or science, and having someone your age asking you to tell her or him what she or he wants to learn. You know lots about what may be wise to learn, but you can't set goals. (I face this in students all the time. I can arrange the course to make students learn if they're in it for the grade. But it's a lot easier if they have other goals as well.)
Of course, ask me tomorrow evening how that first viola lesson in 20 years went. Maybe I'll have a different perspective then.
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Date: 2003-10-05 07:40 pm (UTC)To satisfy yourself in whatever way you want to. If you want to reel off St. Anne's Reel really quickly, then definitely set that as a goal (and I'll duck that pun-inspired thwack, thank you). I know that, given the mild tendinitis I've had touches of at times, I won't ever be a technical virtuoso. So I have different goals: general musicianship and using my musical wits to make things sound good, in addition to just enjoying playing more (and wincing less). I want a music teacher to give me technical advice and add to my musical perspectives. But I'm setting the goals. And a good music teacher wants adult students to set goals, as far as I understand! Imagine yourself being paid to teach songwriting, or science, and having someone your age asking you to tell her or him what she or he wants to learn. You know lots about what may be wise to learn, but you can't set goals. (I face this in students all the time. I can arrange the course to make students learn if they're in it for the grade. But it's a lot easier if they have other goals as well.)
Of course, ask me tomorrow evening how that first viola lesson in 20 years went. Maybe I'll have a different perspective then.