Something to be Thankful for: Private Teachers

One thing we rather take for granted in music study is the idea that we should have private studies with a master teacher and performer of our instrument. It is something desirable for any serious student of the horn by into high school, and at the college level it is firmly a part of our experience as music students.

Actually, outside of music this type of study is extremely rare. One-on-one study is ideal for learning to play a musical instrument at a high level. It is also something that is otherwise an anomaly on a college campus. Who else gets to spend an hour a week working directly with a mentor teacher, usually the same mentor teacher over a period of years? It does not happen much at all, especially at the undergraduate level. Bonds are formed with teachers that are not nearly so common or deep in other fields.

We take this type of study for granted, but this type of study is in fact a huge expense to the school–they really only make money on classes taught in large sections or online. Speaking of online learning, I was surprised to learn very recently that it is possible to take a wide variety of college lab science courses as online courses. My father was a chemistry professor and the smells and sounds of the chemistry lab are something you never forget. But now you can take for example chemistry courses online for college credit, such as shown at this link. I don’t see the magic of the virtual Bunsen burner, but I do see where the money is made on it.

In music we have some of the deepest time to be found on a college campus with our mentor teachers. With that thought in mind, perhaps it gives you one more thing to be thankful for at Thanksgiving. I know that I think often of the private horn teachers that influenced me the most as mentors and role models (before, during, and after my college horn study), and I believe that I am not alone in that sentiment. To all of them, and to all of you, best wishes for a great Thanksgiving.