Those who can't play... teach?

[Aardvark892]

Would you want to be given your very first tuba lesson by someone who really can't even play the horn?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3F51c2tS ... re=related" target="_blank

The student, apparently her very first time on the tuba, quickly has a better sound than the instructor, who seems to have quite a bit of trouble just trying to hit a Bb.

This video is part 1. There is a part 0, but it is only the rudimentary "get to know your horn" kind of stuff with no playing.

[TexTuba]

Matt, there is something seriously wrong with your horn. It sounds like either you have a leak or your water key is stuck open. Why are you having such a problem playing a Bb? She actually has a better sound. I'm NOT trying to insult you... I really think there's a problem with your tuba. BTW, top action tuba is HUGE.

Really? Are you sure you're not trying to insult him? If you REALLY thought something is wrong with his horn, you wouldn't have made this thread.

[toobagrowl]

I have stumbled onto several of these videos on YouTube and they are comical and painful at the same time.
Mostly H.S. or college student "teachers" giving "lessons".

[tubaforce]

HI!
Looked like he had a valve partly depressed,too!
Unfortunately, if he's a Band director, he may not be as exceptional as one might think!
The guy who started me (in '73) was an "old school" Band Director! He had a degree from Chico State ( California) and had a career as a side man on Sax. He could play ALL the traditional band instruments and demonstrate proper tone on each, including several major scales...
I'm not saying weak musicians can't field a fine Band, but if you can't demonstrate that a Tuba is NOT a fog horn, or that a Clarinet doesn't make the same sound your cat did when Dad stepped on it's tail, then the odds are against such a "Teacher".

Al

[k001k47]

Looks like a course requirement.

[tubatom91]

look at his main slide, is it about to fall out? Or partially out already?

[The Jackson]

look at his main slide, is it about to fall out? Or partially out already?

No, this is Bolton.

[peter birch]

this statement is actually quite profound, although on first reading it is quite cynical. the reverse is interesting, because we know that just because one becomes an expert in whatever you do, it does not necessarily make you a suitable person to teach it, and teaching technique is possibly more important than high order skills on the instrument,
On first view, he fails in this lesson because of lack of preparation, his equipment is not in working order, and the instrument he has given his pupil does not look suitable. He does not appear to have a plan, he is teaching "on the hoof" which is never good, and although he did give some good encouragement and feedback, he did not record what they did.
As a teacher, I would give him 4 out 10, he has some significant weaknesses, but real potential.
PS - I don't teach music, but I do teach, and videoing your lesson is a good way to develop and learn the art of teaching, the young man should review the lesson with his own teacher and hopefully will become a decent teacher himself

[Wu299]

Around 2:15 when they both try it sounds like pregnant elephants.

[Aardvark892]

Matt, there is something seriously wrong with your horn. It sounds like either you have a leak or your water key is stuck open. Why are you having such a problem playing a Bb? She actually has a better sound. I'm NOT trying to insult you... I really think there's a problem with your tuba. BTW, top action tuba is HUGE.

Really? Are you sure you're not trying to insult him? If you REALLY thought something is wrong with his horn, you wouldn't have made this thread.

The head of the nail hath been struck an heroic blow.

Tex, you're right. My post was insulting. I went over the top on that. I didn't intend to... but I was a bit in shock. I'll apologize to him. Thank you for the reality slap in the face.

[doublebuzzing]

This is the tuba "expert" on the youtube channel expertvillage. If you are a student and looking for a sound to emulate, may god help your soul if you choose his. There's a ton of videos of him so here's two that made me laugh:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8ino824Lxo" target="_blank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUG3P9ADnw4" target="_blank

[sousaphone68]

This is the tuba "expert" on the youtube channel expertvillage. If you are a student and looking for a sound to emulate, may god help your soul if you choose his. There's a ton of videos of him so here's two that made me laugh:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8ino824Lxo" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GUG3P9ADnw4" target="_blank" target="_blank" target="_blank

He believe or not is not the worst expert in the village. They have another dude who without a trace of irony announced that the Munsters theme was one of the few tuba solos in existence and then went on to murder it. I will search for it and then link it.

Found it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVOxZFb_ ... ata_player" target="_blank

[Lew]

On a totally different note, is that a Conn 21J that he is playing (and I use the term loosely)? The body sort of looks like one but the bell looks like one of those old two part Reynolds ones.

[The Big Ben]

Found it
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVOxZFb_ ... ata_player" target="_blank"

I had completely forgotten about that tune. I kinda like it and I think I'll figure it out and play it.

Now, the *player*. Rather thin, eh?

[sousaphone68]

I think the video has been taken down just tried to view it again and it's gone

[GC]

I see the original video has been removed. Oh, well.

[Ken Herrick]

Don't feel bad about missing the original. There are plenty of examples of how not to sound which have been posted by a couple of the regulars from here. There is no shortage of mediocrity combined with liberal doses of ignorance and arrogance.

[Jaks]

Bad player don't necessarily translate to bad teachers and vice-versa.

[TexTuba]

Bad player don't necessarily translate to bad teachers and vice-versa.

Would you want a math teacher who wasn't so good at math? Or an englsih teecher not to good with the languig.

[Rick Denney]

Bad player don't necessarily translate to bad teachers and vice-versa.

Would you want a math teacher who wasn't so good at math? Or an englsih teecher not to good with the languig.

That's a false choice. I would not take a Ph.D. mathematician--which is probably the minimum level to actually be an expert in mathematics as its own subject--to be an acceptable teacher of middle-school algebra. Nor would it require a published author or professional journalist to provide reasonable instruction in how to read for beginners.

The mistake this person made, as has been said, is that he did not craft his teaching based on a good understanding of teaching. Rather than providing examples and saying "Do this", he should have focused on fundamentals of tone production. I'm not a very good player by any professional measure, but I bet I could teach reasonable tone production to a beginner. (I bet I could do better than the video star in question, for that matter.) I've certainly described it often enough here.

I don't think I recall all that much demonstration in the teaching I received, most of it from high-end professionals. But they all taught me things that I was able to incorporate into the actions I took.

There is an aspect to learning, though, that depends on the student building a mental model of the sound they want to make. Frankly, that could be done with good recordings, for those who must study with whomever is available. The mistake this guy made was not evaluating whether his own sounds were adequate to create that mental model, without supplementation by recorded excellence. That is a correctable mistake--in the context of his life, however, becoming a pro-level tuba performer might not be. That doesn't mean he doesn't know how correct playing sounds, or even how to lead a student to develop good fundamentals.

Obviously, the further a student progresses, the greater the need for expertise from the teacher. But it's a lot to expect many students of modest means and in out-of-the-way places to have access to a high-end teacher.

Now, why he would put a video of his teaching prowess on Youtube--that is a whole 'nother question. I don't think people realize how little control they have over who sees a posted video or what they might say about it. That's probably why it's gone now.

Rick "who could not afford and therefore received no private instruction at all until his mid-20's" Denney