This is nothing new. This brought back memories of my years going into high school. In junior high I started taking lessons in seventh grade. I was a decent player, but I was not first chair. I was fifth. I would be lying if I stated that lessons did not help me. I made region band in 7th grade while I was 5th chair. I was the only 7th grader who made region band.

Ok, so moving into 9th grade. My junior high director was my clarinet teacher. (Back then it was not an issue for me to take clarinet lessons from my band director) He had announced that he would be leaving the district for another position in the county. Of course, I did not have an issue to driving where he would be teaching. That seemed like the logical thing to do. When the people at the high school- band directors got wind of my plans they were not happy. I would think that taking lessons from a clarinet teacher would the key to success. Well, not in my district.

The band directors had a mom ( of a clarinet player and a lady I already knew via Girl Scouts) call my mom to say that if I did not switch to the clarinet teacher that would be teaching at the high school that I would never have the opportunity of being in top band. I was super pissed to say the least. It was not fair. Already, I was willing to take lessons from someone who had plenty of experience and whose students made Region Band and All-State band .. yada,yada, yada.... I was so upset by this. My parents allowed me to meake the call, but they asked me idd I could handle being in a lower band than my friends.The clear answer was no because I am a sensitice person. I am sure I would have cried every day I went to school. So, I decided I had better hop on the pony and change teachers.

To this day I can remember my first several lessons. They were miserable. The new teacher would pull out music that was much harder than I had ever played and make me play it. I kept telling him that I couldn't play it...it was too hard. He kept trying to pull the piece out of my poor clarinet- play it any way no matter what it sounded like... so, between the tears I did what I could... I am sure it was absolutely...horrible... I don't remember what he said. That lesson was not pleasant.He saw that I was a basket case. He did not give up on me,though. I did not have any self confidence - for a variety of reasons. My parents never pushed me. In fact, they told me that I might have the ability to do things. Great confidence builder there, huh? My parents were always like that.. My new private lesson teacher continued to push me. He did so in a gentle way, though. After four years of lessons with him I can say that I was not a failure. I made region band- in 9th Freshman Region Band. The last three years - I was not able to get to State until I learned how to settle my nerves. So, I was glad that I had made the change. I guess he was, too. I was first chair in 9th, 11th and 12th. With chair test every week during concert season I had to be on my toes. At this time in my life- the last three years I was practicing about 2 hours each night.

I cannot encourage private lessons enough. The right teacher needs to be in place.

So, this is how it was in the late 1970's. I will not list names. All teachers have already passed away, but there are people out there who knew them. I do not believe that the way this handled was fair. Of coursem there were many things back then that were unfair. It was life that we had to get adjusted to.