“There is no substitution for a good teacher.”
It cannot be stressed just how important the basic fundamentals are as the foundation for music performance. To this end I shall repeat: “there is no substitution for a good teacher.”
My first flute professor ‘Harry Eden’, had this way of explaining the importance of intelligent practice – “An amateur practices till they get it right, a professional until they cannot get it wrong!” This is so true, and in the building of technique and tone the basics are essential. “It takes time, patience and intelligent work.”
After working hard, 8 hours a day for several years, you have the beginning of a professional performance. Or have you? Even advanced students sometimes discover that they have missed some of the basics. I remember Harry Eden repeating to me “Stand still, keep your fingers close to the keys and never force.” Years later, when Harry had passed me on to Geoffrey Gilbert I heard that great man comment to other advanced students – ‘Stand still, keep fingers close to the keys and never force!’ The great teachers had wonderful short clichés that explained the difference between merely good and reaching for perfection. The great performer is always paying attention to detail and being precise in the execution of their performance.
The performance lasts minutes, but the preparation takes years. No matter how many tips or how much time one spends in practice – the level of your performance and your maximum potential will only be as good as the basic foundation.
It cannot be stressed just how important the basic fundamentals are as the foundation for music performance. To this end I shall repeat: “there is no substitution for a good teacher.”
My first flute professor ‘Harry Eden’, had this way of explaining the importance of intelligent practice – “An amateur practices till they get it right, a professional until they cannot get it wrong!” This is so true, and in the building of technique and tone the basics are essential. “It takes time, patience and intelligent work.”
After working hard, 8 hours a day for several years, you have the beginning of a professional performance. Or have you? Even advanced students sometimes discover that they have missed some of the basics. I remember Harry Eden repeating to me “Stand still, keep your fingers close to the keys and never force.” Years later, when Harry had passed me on to Geoffrey Gilbert I heard that great man comment to other advanced students – ‘Stand still, keep fingers close to the keys and never force!’ The great teachers had wonderful short clichés that explained the difference between merely good and reaching for perfection. The great performer is always paying attention to detail and being precise in the execution of their performance.
The performance lasts minutes, but the preparation takes years. No matter how many tips or how much time one spends in practice – the level of your performance and your maximum potential will only be as good as the basic foundation.
Ludwig van Beethoven had just finished performing one of his own compositions, and a crowd of admirers surrounded him. Each person tried to outdo the others in their praise of both the work and the performance. “If only God had given me such a gift of genius”, one woman gushed. Beethoven turned an unfriendly look on her. “It is not genus madam,” he said coldly. “It is not magic either. You can be as good as I am. All you have to do is practice on your piano eight hours a day for forty years.”
The Irish gave bagpipes to the Scots as a joke, but the Scots haven’t seen the joke yet.
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