Gene Pokorny Lesson

[Todd S. Malicoate]

You would be right most of the time, but on this one you're off. I know for a FACT that he is called by his first name by his students.

Why do people "your age" seem to nod in disapproval of "this generation"? Every generation is generally looked down upon by a previous generation.

50s: "Those kids and their rock and roll."
60s: "Those damn hippies."
70s: "Those kids and their devil music..like KISS"
80s: "Those kids and their weird haircuts and clothes."
90s: "What the hell is all this 'gangsta' stuff about?"
Now: "Kids and their damn texting, calling teachers by their first name, etc."

Am I pretty close?

Yes, I am an old "fuddy-duddy," Ralph...you are right on the mark, as usual. I did like KISS in my day, though...

I may be alone in my opinion, but it is still mine to have. I find it to be a much different thing to refer to someone of the stature of Gene Pokorny or Rex Martin directly to him/her by their first name, and quite another to use their first name in a familiar manner in public...might be my upbringing, but I find it most egregiously disrespectful. But, as they say, the times they are a'changin...

Everyone lighten up...it's a message board for crying out loud...not everyone is going to like you or agree with you all the time, and that's just fine!

[TexTuba]

[TexTuba]

[Rick Denney]

Gene Pokorny's "going rate" for lessons is his business and between his students and him. It is NOT fodder for message board discussion (see the "$200" posts above) or speculation, certainly not in a public venue such as TubeNet.

Yup. It shouldn't be discussed in public. Like I said, I expect Gene charges different people different prices, as I would in his shoes.

And I'll call him Gene because he calls me Rick. But then we are of similar age. That doesn't, of course, imply that I'm not in dumbstruck awe when I'm in his presence.

Rick "Mr. Denney is my father" Denney

[tuba kitchen]

I took a lesson from Mr. Pokorney a while ago. In addition, he took me to the Planetatium and made dinner for me - all for under $200! And I was even allowed to call him Gene!!

He is an amazing teacher, player and person

[chipster55]

Quote from Sgt. Hulka: "Lighten up, Francis." What someone charges for a lesson should stay between student and teacher, unless said teacher makes his/her rate public -- as in a school setting. Just .02 from an old-fashioned, behind-the-times, ain't gonna change soon, curmudgeon.

[Liberty Mo]

[MikeMason]

My only complaint about this post is the choice of beer pictures.That one with the 3 Bavarian Angels is the only one for me...

[finnbogi]

My only complaint about this post is the choice of beer pictures.That one with the 3 Bavarian Angels is the only one for me...

You mean this one?

[NDSPTuba]

As a F. Horn player I took lessons with more that a few principle horn players of major Symphony Orchestras, well known and well thought of College professors, and one horn "God". Everyone of them were kind, friendly, and approachable. Not one of them thought of themselves on the lauded level that we tend to put them on. They all seemed eager to pass on their knowledge and experience to the young players. I never paid more than $60 for an hour, and even paid $0 to more than one. The point is, some of you seem to think that the more famous the teacher/player is the more expensive they are and the more reverence that needs to be made. I don't think so. They are normal folks like you and me, and prefer to be treated that way.

[Toobist]

Dylan King wrote:

1. Canada has a military?

2. With that attitude, I don't know if a man like Gene would teach you for $400. You may just want to buy his excerpt CD and call it a day, eh?]

Dylan. Remove your post before you offend anyone else who might be from Canada.
Not everyone here is so polite that they might not point the finger at ignorance nor bigotry. Eh?

[Rick Denney]

The point is, some of you seem to think that the more famous the teacher/player is the more expensive they are and the more reverence that needs to be made. I don't think so. They are normal folks like you and me, and prefer to be treated that way.

I treat my best friends--all completely normal except for their one flaw of enjoying my company--with a good dose of self-deprecation. Any show of lack of respect is done as an obvious joke, and that requires enough face time so that they can tell that they are jokes. I withhold such jokes from those whose experience with me might be insufficient to that understanding, especially in the company of other strangers (as Tubenet surely is). I suspect that's normal for relating to just about anybody, famous or not.

I also don't publicize the prices I pay craftspeople to do special work for me, if they are identified by name. It doesn't matter whether they are plumbers or world-class tuba players. The price they agree to with their clients should be held in confidence, just like salaries and other private matters. In this gossipy world, everyone wants to know everything at an intimate level, but I don't even tell my best friends or closest family members (except my wife) what I make and if I did, I wouldn't want them telling anyone else.

The more in demand someone is, the more they can charge, if they choose to. They earned that demand, and should be able to reap its reward without it being a character issue. I would think no less of Gene as a person if his price was the highest in the business, as it deserves to be.

Rick "noting the difference between reverence and respect" Denney

[danthetubaman]

If you are in Ottawa, be sure to get a lesson with Nick Atkinson! Have fun at the music mill!

[Mark]

How much are you willing to spend. Im sure you go to indiana and to Gene Porkony or someone, youll get a cheaper decent lesson....

[Dylan King]

Dylan King wrote:

1. Canada has a military?

2. With that attitude, I don't know if a man like Gene would teach you for $400. You may just want to buy his excerpt CD and call it a day, eh?]

Dylan. Remove your post before you offend anyone else who might be from Canada.
Not everyone here is so polite that they might not point the finger at ignorance nor bigotry. Eh?

Come on, that was all in good fun. The Canadians are actually younger brothers to us Americans, and appointed by God to be greater, along with the rest of the British Empire around the world.

I therefore retract my previous statement as failed comedy.

Genesis 48:17
Now when Joseph saw that his father laid his right hand on the head of Ephraim, it displeased him; so he took hold of his father’s hand to remove it from Ephraim’s head to Manasseh’s head. 18 And Joseph said to his father, “Not so, my father, for this one is the firstborn; put your right hand on his head.â€

[windshieldbug]

Dylan. Remove your post before you offend anyone else who might be from Canada.

Hey- he's American. THAT, in itself, is enough to offend many of the Canadians I know...

[The Big Ben]

As I will be in a Military Band for the summer making about $100 a day I could easily drop $200 on a lesson and not think twice about it.

1. Canada has a military?

Yes, Canada has a military. They are currently supporting NATO actions in Afghanistan, as well as other peacekeeping actions in the world.

It works kind of like this: "You guys behave yourself and shape up or the Americans are coming in. They are crazy. We know. We live next to them."

When there was such a thing as a British Empire, the Canadians antied up with all of the other Commonwealth countries. Canada lost over 80,000 troops in WWI. The Canadians kicked in right along with the Americans in WWII.

Don't joke about the Canadian military. They are more formidable than many forces from countries much larger than them.

ObTuba: Since my Mother was Canadian and my father was American, I'd like to have an enameled crossed flags of both countries to put on my horn.

[Toobist]

Much appreciated Dylan.

Sorry to hijack the thread! Carry on!

[randy westmoreland]

Be prepared to enjoy your lessons with both Gene and Rex. They are both wonderful people. I still am inspired by my lessons with them (especially Rex), even though it has been since the early '90s. If you have a lesson at Northwestern, check out the practice rooms, some have (or least they did), windows facing Lake Michigan, very cool.

Make sure to take an Arbans

Randy

[Mojo workin']

I still am inspired by my lessons with them (especially Rex), even though it has been since the early '90s.

Ditto. Rex is one of the coolest musicians in our field. And you will learn from him.