Ten things your music teacher will never tell you.

• Professional musicians never practice. They call it practice, but all it consists of is playing a piece twice through before final performance. The only exception is soloists performing classical music without a score.
• Don’t just play music, play with it. Never play any piece of music the same way twice. Mix it up, hit deliberate wrong notes, change the rhythm, harmony, phrasing. No limits.
• Your first lesson should be the chromatic scale. If you can play the chromatic scale then you can play any scale. Counting semitones, 2,2,1,2,2,2,1 gives every major scale.
• Fingering doesn’t matter. Are you a two finger typist? Then you can be a two finger musician. Except for exams. That said, the second time you play through a piece write your preferred fingering on it in pencil.
• Love the sound of your instrument. The more you love the sound of your instrument, the better the player you’ll become.
• Play as many different pieces as you can.
• There are huge differences in teaching ability between different music teachers.
• Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at. It was only mid-20th century that the recording of live concerts forced the audience to be deathly quiet – and robbed the life out of the music.
• When choosing an exam piece, always choose one that is either long or ugly, because short sweet pieces in the syllabus are always much too hard for the grade level.
• There is no such thing as a piece of music that is too easy. If a piece is too hard, look for or write out an easier version.

Lot of rubbish in that list, but I assume you know that :)

Bubblecar said:

Lot of rubbish in that list, but I assume you know that :)

I made up the list, posted it in order to get your opinion on what is or isn’t rubbish.

eg. Are you saying that your music teacher told you those?

I’ll endorse this one:

>Love the sound of your instrument. The more you love the sound of your instrument, the better the player you’ll become.

Bubblecar said:

I’ll endorse this one:

>Love the sound of your instrument. The more you love the sound of your instrument, the better the player you’ll become.

Agree, very true.

What’s rubbish:

>Professional musicians never practice.

…most of the working life of professional musicians consists of practice, unless they’re playing a limited range of undemanding music.

>Fingering doesn’t matter.

…amounts to saying: “playing your instrument properly and well” doesn’t matter.

>Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at.

No.

>If a piece is too hard, look for or write out an easier version.

…or better still, keep practising until you can play what the composer wanted you to play.

Don’t let any piano teachers hit you on the hands with a ruler

Tau.Neutrino said:

Don’t let any piano teachers hit you on the hands with a ruler

:)

Bubblecar said:

What’s rubbish:

>Professional musicians never practice.

…most of the working life of professional musicians consists of practice, unless they’re playing a limited range of undemanding music.

>Fingering doesn’t matter.

…amounts to saying: “playing your instrument properly and well” doesn’t matter.

>Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at.

No.

>If a piece is too hard, look for or write out an easier version.

…or better still, keep practising until you can play what the composer wanted you to play.

>Fingering doesn’t matter.

…amounts to saying: “playing your instrument properly and well” doesn’t matter.

Pursuit of excellence is a virtue.

Bubblecar said:

I’ll endorse this one:

>Love the sound of your instrument. The more you love the sound of your instrument, the better the player you’ll become.

I also like this one.

I watched a break down of Fire and Rain yesterday. The reviewer talked about James Taylor’s fingering which wasn’t as it is taught. (I also fret an A wrong) But the way JT frets it aids him in how he plays the song. Which he wrote.

So many good self taught guitarists. Not necessarily wrong.

Tau.Neutrino said:

Don’t let any piano teachers hit you on the hands with a ruler

Someone should have told this to my six year old me. How dare she? How come I didn’t tell anyone ceptin’ my peers?

sarahs mum said:

Bubblecar said:

I’ll endorse this one:

>Love the sound of your instrument. The more you love the sound of your instrument, the better the player you’ll become.

I also like this one.

I watched a break down of Fire and Rain yesterday. The reviewer talked about James Taylor’s fingering which wasn’t as it is taught. (I also fret an A wrong) But the way JT frets it aids him in how he plays the song. Which he wrote.

So many good self taught guitarists. Not necessarily wrong.

A lot a cover bands for Led Zeppelin get things wrong. Drumming and lead guitar.

sarahs mum said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Don’t let any piano teachers hit you on the hands with a ruler

Someone should have told this to my six year old me. How dare she? How come I didn’t tell anyone ceptin’ my peers?

Its very problematic and created inhibitions.

Not good for creativity.

mollwollfumble said:

• Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at. It was only mid-20th century that the recording of live concerts forced the audience to be deathly quiet – and robbed the life out of the music.

No, just no.

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

sarahs mum said:

Bubblecar said:

I’ll endorse this one:

>Love the sound of your instrument. The more you love the sound of your instrument, the better the player you’ll become.

I also like this one.

I watched a break down of Fire and Rain yesterday. The reviewer talked about James Taylor’s fingering which wasn’t as it is taught. (I also fret an A wrong) But the way JT frets it aids him in how he plays the song. Which he wrote.

So many good self taught guitarists. Not necessarily wrong.

Yes, there can be many idiosyncratic approaches to musicianship that work well and result in worthy musical experience. But obviously in every one of those approaches, what you do with your fingers, and how well you do it, is of crucial import, even if it’s unorthodox.

I would say in regard to guitar that classical techniques offer the widest range of musical possibilities, so if you want to get the most out of guitar, study classical guitar at least to some extent.

sibeen said:

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

What’s brown and sits on a piano stool?

Beethoven’s last movement.

sarahs mum said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Don’t let any piano teachers hit you on the hands with a ruler

Someone should have told this to my six year old me. How dare she? How come I didn’t tell anyone ceptin’ my peers?

I went to school with bloke who had piano lessons through his childhood, and he said a teacher once hit his hands with a stick.

I asked him what he did about it.

‘I stood up, looked right at him, and told him if he did it again, i’d break his fingers. I meant it, and he knew it. Never did it again’.

One thing my music teacher never told me, by then my confidence was destroyed….

I could read music and I could play by ear. My after school music teacher, Carol Judd (yes I remember her name), tricked me by putting some new music in front of me and then played a different tune. I had to “have a go” at reading the music and playing it. So…I played what Carol had played, not reading the music. She was so excited that I could play by ear and read music….but I thought I was in trouble and gave up my classes.

Woodie said:

sibeen said:

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

What’s brown and sits on a piano stool?

Beethoven’s last movement.

snigger

kii said:

One thing my music teacher never told me, by then my confidence was destroyed….

I could read music and I could play by ear. My after school music teacher, Carol Judd (yes I remember her name), tricked me by putting some new music in front of me and then played a different tune. I had to “have a go” at reading the music and playing it. So…I played what Carol had played, not reading the music. She was so excited that I could play by ear and read music….but I thought I was in trouble and gave up my classes.

What a sad, and obviously unintentional, outcome.

A friend’s little brother had the same ability. Never had a piano lesson in his life, but couldd hear a tune once, and then reproduce it on the piano. Infuriating to the artless ones like me.

captain_spalding said:

kii said:

One thing my music teacher never told me, by then my confidence was destroyed….

I could read music and I could play by ear. My after school music teacher, Carol Judd (yes I remember her name), tricked me by putting some new music in front of me and then played a different tune. I had to “have a go” at reading the music and playing it. So…I played what Carol had played, not reading the music. She was so excited that I could play by ear and read music….but I thought I was in trouble and gave up my classes.

What a sad, and obviously unintentional, outcome.

A friend’s little brother had the same ability. Never had a piano lesson in his life, but couldd hear a tune once, and then reproduce it on the piano. Infuriating to the artless ones like me.

She was rather sad about it. I was only 11 or 12. Not very confident.

kii said:

captain_spalding said:

kii said:

One thing my music teacher never told me, by then my confidence was destroyed….

I could read music and I could play by ear. My after school music teacher, Carol Judd (yes I remember her name), tricked me by putting some new music in front of me and then played a different tune. I had to “have a go” at reading the music and playing it. So…I played what Carol had played, not reading the music. She was so excited that I could play by ear and read music….but I thought I was in trouble and gave up my classes.

What a sad, and obviously unintentional, outcome.

A friend’s little brother had the same ability. Never had a piano lesson in his life, but couldd hear a tune once, and then reproduce it on the piano. Infuriating to the artless ones like me.

She was rather sad about it. I was only 11 or 12. Not very confident.

The things we might have been, if we’d had a positive word at the right time…

Tau.Neutrino said:

Bubblecar said:

What’s rubbish:

>Professional musicians never practice.

…most of the working life of professional musicians consists of practice, unless they’re playing a limited range of undemanding music.

>Fingering doesn’t matter.

…amounts to saying: “playing your instrument properly and well” doesn’t matter.

>Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at.

No.

>If a piece is too hard, look for or write out an easier version.

…or better still, keep practising until you can play what the composer wanted you to play.

>Fingering doesn’t matter.

…amounts to saying: “playing your instrument properly and well” doesn’t matter.

Pursuit of excellence is a virtue.

>>Pursuit of excellence

Pursuit of excellence leads to virtuosos.

The conductor will place the better musicians towards the front, usually the lead violinist is closest to the audience, lead bass player on the other side etc

I mostly play my own compositions, but continually improve my technique by playing other people’s stuff as well (at least on some instruments – I play various different instruments :))

As far as practice goes, on lute I’m currently perfecting my version of Dowland’s Fantasia No.7, played here by Nils Klöfver on alto guitar, but it actually sounds better on my lute-guitar.

Nils Klöfver plays John Dowland – Fantasia no. 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Z0eeyJqt4

captain_spalding said:

kii said:

captain_spalding said:

What a sad, and obviously unintentional, outcome.

A friend’s little brother had the same ability. Never had a piano lesson in his life, but couldd hear a tune once, and then reproduce it on the piano. Infuriating to the artless ones like me.

She was rather sad about it. I was only 11 or 12. Not very confident.

The things we might have been, if we’d had a positive word at the right time…

Nods.

Bubblecar said:

I mostly play my own compositions, but continually improve my technique by playing other people’s stuff as well (at least on some instruments – I play various different instruments :))

As far as practice goes, on lute I’m currently perfecting my version of Dowland’s Fantasia No.7, played here by Nils Klöfver on alto guitar, but it actually sounds better on my lute-guitar.

Nils Klöfver plays John Dowland – Fantasia no. 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Z0eeyJqt4

Is he using any of the extra strings?

captain_spalding said:

kii said:

captain_spalding said:

What a sad, and obviously unintentional, outcome.

A friend’s little brother had the same ability. Never had a piano lesson in his life, but couldd hear a tune once, and then reproduce it on the piano. Infuriating to the artless ones like me.

She was rather sad about it. I was only 11 or 12. Not very confident.

The things we might have been, if we’d had a positive word at the right time…

I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody.

Tau.Neutrino said:

Bubblecar said:

I mostly play my own compositions, but continually improve my technique by playing other people’s stuff as well (at least on some instruments – I play various different instruments :))

As far as practice goes, on lute I’m currently perfecting my version of Dowland’s Fantasia No.7, played here by Nils Klöfver on alto guitar, but it actually sounds better on my lute-guitar.

Nils Klöfver plays John Dowland – Fantasia no. 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Z0eeyJqt4

Is he using any of the extra strings?

Don’t think so. Seems a standard arrangement for six string guitar (the original composition was probably for six (double) course lute, but there are arrangements for eight course lute).

sibeen said:

captain_spalding said:

kii said:

She was rather sad about it. I was only 11 or 12. Not very confident.

The things we might have been, if we’d had a positive word at the right time…

I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody.

Unlikely.

Bubblecar said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Bubblecar said:

I mostly play my own compositions, but continually improve my technique by playing other people’s stuff as well (at least on some instruments – I play various different instruments :))

As far as practice goes, on lute I’m currently perfecting my version of Dowland’s Fantasia No.7, played here by Nils Klöfver on alto guitar, but it actually sounds better on my lute-guitar.

Nils Klöfver plays John Dowland – Fantasia no. 7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3Z0eeyJqt4

Is he using any of the extra strings?

Don’t think so. Seems a standard arrangement for six string guitar (the original composition was probably for six (double) course lute, but there are arrangements for eight course lute).

Sweet tune.

sarahs mum said:

Bubblecar said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Is he using any of the extra strings?

Don’t think so. Seems a standard arrangement for six string guitar (the original composition was probably for six (double) course lute, but there are arrangements for eight course lute).

Sweet tune.

It’s the archetypal English Elizabethan lute piece.

Actually great fun to play. When you can play it fluently all the way through without looking at the music you know you’ve become pretty good at this stuff :)

Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.

Aristotle

Tau.Neutrino said:

Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.

Aristotle

“Life wasn’t meant to be easy” – Malcolm Fraser

Woodie said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Excellence is never an accident. It is always the result of high intention, sincere effort, and intelligent execution; it represents the wise choice of many alternatives – choice, not chance, determines your destiny.

Aristotle

“Life wasn’t meant to be easy” – Malcolm Fraser

Yes. Agree.

Effort = “Life wasn’t meant to be easy”

Choice = “Life is what you make it”

sibeen said:

captain_spalding said:

kii said:

She was rather sad about it. I was only 11 or 12. Not very confident.

The things we might have been, if we’d had a positive word at the right time…

I coulda been a contender. I coulda been somebody.

I thought you were!

(Yes, I know the quote)

sibeen said:

mollwollfumble said:

• Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at. It was only mid-20th century that the recording of live concerts forced the audience to be deathly quiet – and robbed the life out of the music.

No, just no.

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

God that makes me laugh.

mollwollfumble said:

sibeen said:

mollwollfumble said:

• Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at. It was only mid-20th century that the recording of live concerts forced the audience to be deathly quiet – and robbed the life out of the music.

No, just no.

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

God that makes me laugh.

How would you feel if you went to an open air rock concert and everyone in the audience was forced to sit there stiff as a board not making the slightest sound?

How about “Much classical music is hilarious”?

Bubblecar said:

What’s rubbish:

>Fingering doesn’t matter.

…amounts to saying: “playing your instrument properly and well” doesn’t matter.

Yes. I am saying that. The enjoyment is all that matters, not the difficulty. Certainly not the “properliness”.

Ever sung in a pub?

mollwollfumble said:

mollwollfumble said:

sibeen said:

No, just no.

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

God that makes me laugh.

How would you feel if you went to an open air rock concert and everyone in the audience was forced to sit there stiff as a board not making the slightest sound?

How about “Much classical music is hilarious”?

Patrice Munsel, soprano – J. Strauss II – Die Fledermaus – ‘Adele’s Laughing Song’ (video – 1951)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlNemVkpu4

mollwollfumble said:

mollwollfumble said:

sibeen said:

No, just no.

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

God that makes me laugh.

How would you feel if you went to an open air rock concert and everyone in the audience was forced to sit there stiff as a board not making the slightest sound?

How about “Much classical music is hilarious”?

How would someone feel if they sat down to listen to some music or tv then sudedenly thousands of people start screaming and yelling?

mollwollfumble said:

Bubblecar said:

What’s rubbish:

>Fingering doesn’t matter.

…amounts to saying: “playing your instrument properly and well” doesn’t matter.

Yes. I am saying that. The enjoyment is all that matters, not the difficulty. Certainly not the “properliness”.

Ever sung in a pub?

OK, you’re saying: if your musical endeavours don’t extend beyond singing in a pub, musicianship doesn’t matter.

Your music teacher probably won’t bother telling you that, because if you’ve signed up for lessons, you presumably do value musicianship to some extent.

sarahs mum said:

mollwollfumble said:

mollwollfumble said:

God that makes me laugh.

How would you feel if you went to an open air rock concert and everyone in the audience was forced to sit there stiff as a board not making the slightest sound?

How about “Much classical music is hilarious”?

Patrice Munsel, soprano – J. Strauss II – Die Fledermaus – ‘Adele’s Laughing Song’ (video – 1951)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlNemVkpu4

You have to agree that Handel’s Messiah is freakin’ hilarious.

And then, the third movement of Mozart’s 4th horn concerto.

Second movement of Haydn’s “Surprise” symphony.

Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

Mozart “Marriage of Figaro”.

Carmen by Bizet.

Grieg “Peer Gynt”

Orff “Carmina Burana”

Debussy “Minstrels”

All freakin’ hilarious.

mollwollfumble said:

sarahs mum said:

mollwollfumble said:

How would you feel if you went to an open air rock concert and everyone in the audience was forced to sit there stiff as a board not making the slightest sound?

How about “Much classical music is hilarious”?

Patrice Munsel, soprano – J. Strauss II – Die Fledermaus – ‘Adele’s Laughing Song’ (video – 1951)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlNemVkpu4

You have to agree that Handel’s Messiah is freakin’ hilarious.

And then, the third movement of Mozart’s 4th horn concerto.

Second movement of Haydn’s “Surprise” symphony.

Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

Mozart “Marriage of Figaro”.

Carmen by Bizet.

Grieg “Peer Gynt”

Orff “Carmina Burana”

Debussy “Minstrels”

All freakin’ hilarious.

What is funny about them in particular?

> OK, you’re saying: if your musical endeavours don’t extend beyond singing in a pub, musicianship doesn’t matter.

Yes. For more that 90% of music students, their musical performances won’t extend beyond playing for that type of gig.

As for “musicianship”, the word itself makes me shudder. What I remember most about “Musicianship” as taught by the AMEB is that it includes an 8 year long course in how to four-part harmonise in the style of a mathematical bastardisation of Palestrina. I do not consider that useful.

mollwollfumble said:

sarahs mum said:

mollwollfumble said:

How would you feel if you went to an open air rock concert and everyone in the audience was forced to sit there stiff as a board not making the slightest sound?

How about “Much classical music is hilarious”?

Patrice Munsel, soprano – J. Strauss II – Die Fledermaus – ‘Adele’s Laughing Song’ (video – 1951)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlNemVkpu4

You have to agree that Handel’s Messiah is freakin’ hilarious.

And then, the third movement of Mozart’s 4th horn concerto.

Second movement of Haydn’s “Surprise” symphony.

Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

Mozart “Marriage of Figaro”.

Carmen by Bizet.

Grieg “Peer Gynt”

Orff “Carmina Burana”

Debussy “Minstrels”

All freakin’ hilarious.

I find Handel’s Messiah really boring. Same for most of Mozart (his stuff seems very shallow and trite to me — like pop music of his time) and Haydn. The others, though (including Figaro,) I agree wholeheartedly.

mollwollfumble said:

sarahs mum said:

mollwollfumble said:

How would you feel if you went to an open air rock concert and everyone in the audience was forced to sit there stiff as a board not making the slightest sound?

How about “Much classical music is hilarious”?

Patrice Munsel, soprano – J. Strauss II – Die Fledermaus – ‘Adele’s Laughing Song’ (video – 1951)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRlNemVkpu4

You have to agree that Handel’s Messiah is freakin’ hilarious.

And then, the third movement of Mozart’s 4th horn concerto.

Second movement of Haydn’s “Surprise” symphony.

Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor.

Mozart “Marriage of Figaro”.

Carmen by Bizet.

Grieg “Peer Gynt”

Orff “Carmina Burana”

Debussy “Minstrels”

All freakin’ hilarious.

Cath and i did a version of the Hallelujah Chorus when the new mixer tap was installed. It was pretty hilarious.

Its true emotions can be reflected in music to various degrees.

Sadness, surprise, anger, happiness can be expressed by musicians.

Orchestras, movie directors, composers, / sound producers, can take that to a different level.

Book

The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Lessons From a Transformational Leader
By: Richard D. Sagor, Deborah L. Rickey

The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Lessons From a Transformational Leader

from the link

Research shows that the single variable that makes the most difference in student performance is the quality of the teacher. How do we keep teachers motivated in the face of increased pressure for grades, class sizes and media attention? How do we attract and retain high-quality teachers? This inspiring text offers a refreshing alternative to the portfolio and high-stakes accountability models of school improvement. Based on the successful methods of Dealous Cox, The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence describes a leadership philosophy based on the search for wisdom through personal reflection and community. The authors share their experience with this leadership style and document the sustainable results of transformational leaders working with teachers as partners rather than adversaries. These results include:

Book on Stradivaris

Pursuit of excellence in musical instrument making – voilins, cello

Stradivari’s Genius: Five Violins, One Cello, and Three Centuries of Enduring Perfection Paperback – April 4, 2006
by Toby Faber

https://www.amazon.com/Stradivaris-Genius-Centuries-Enduring-Perfection/dp/0375760857

The Relentless Pursuit of Tone

Timbre in Popular Music

Edited by Robert Fink, Edited by Melinda Latour, and Edited by Zachary Wallmark

First book dedicated to the subject of timbre in popular music Incorporates a wide range of methodologies, from neuroscience to enthology to archival study and critical theory Covers the full history of popular music across genres

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-relentless-pursuit-of-tone-9780199985227?cc=au&lang=en&

Human Accomplishment: The Pursuit of Excellence in the Arts and Sciences, 800 B.C. to 1950

“At irregular times and in scattered settings, human beings have achieved great things. Human Accomplishment is about those great things, falling in the domains known as the arts and sciences, and the people who did them.’

Just Play: The Simple Truth Behind Musical Excellence By Nick Bottini

https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Just_Play.html?id=BA3KuwEACAAJ&redir_esc=y

A revolutionary new understanding of the mind is transforming the field of performance psychology, making it easier than ever before for musicians to bring out the best in themselves and make music as nature intended. Not only that, but it offers renewed hope for sufferers of anxiety, depression and a whole host of other psychological disorders.

KJOS Excellence In Theory – Theory in Music, Ear Training and History work book by Ryan Nowlin, Bruce Pearson

https://www.musicarts.com/kjos-excellence-in-theory-book-1-main0105383

The Theory section of Excellence in Theory, Book One concentrates on learning the basic language of music that helps develop well-rounded musicians. Lesson & Assignment pages introduce staves, treble and bass clef. Time signatures, and simple rhythms. Melodic elements are presented in accidentals, enharmonics, and whole and half steps, as well as tetrachords and major scales. Each lesson is carefully reinforced through Review pages. Ear Training pages are incorporated throughout the book, providing the listening tools and opportunities needed to put recently learned theory into practice. Listening examples and exercises accompany each of these pages, and are accessible for free to students and teachers through the Kjos Multimedia Library at www.kjos.com. The History section of Book One broadens students’ understanding of music by providing the historical context during each of the musical eras-from the Middle Ages through the 20th century-using text and full color images. Each reading assignment is followed by an assessment page with a timeline to help strengthen the learning process.

Some other books I found on the subject and there are many other books specialising in pursuit of excellence in other fields

Art – IN PURSUIT OF EXCELLENCE Essay by Oleg Grabar and Nazan Olcer Photographs by Ahmet Ertug
http://www.ahmetertug.com/books-pursuit.html

Business – In Search of Excellence Lessons from America’s Best-Run Companies by Thomas J. Peters, Robert H. Waterman Jr.
https://www.harpercollins.com/9780060548780/in-search-of-excellence/

Engineering – Excellence in Engineering https://www.amazon.com/Excellence-Engineering-W-H-Roadstrum/dp/B0026039A0

Military – Military Leadership : In Pursuit of Excellence – Edited by Robert L. Taylor , Edited by William E. Rosenbach , Edited by Eric B. Rosenbach
https://www.bookdepository.com/Military-Leadership/9780813344393

General life – Pursuit of Human Excellence Hardcover – 2013 by A.N. Tripathi (Author) https://www.amazon.com/Pursuit-Human-Excellence-N-Tripathi/dp/8126917652

Sport – In Pursuit of Excellence How to win in sport and life through mental training : 5th Edition – Terry Orlick
https://www.booktopia.com.au/in-pursuit-of-excellence-terry-orlick/prod9781450496506.html

Tau.Neutrino said:

Book

The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Lessons From a Transformational Leader
By: Richard D. Sagor, Deborah L. Rickey

The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Lessons From a Transformational Leader

from the link

Research shows that the single variable that makes the most difference in student performance is the quality of the teacher. How do we keep teachers motivated in the face of increased pressure for grades, class sizes and media attention? How do we attract and retain high-quality teachers? This inspiring text offers a refreshing alternative to the portfolio and high-stakes accountability models of school improvement. Based on the successful methods of Dealous Cox, The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence describes a leadership philosophy based on the search for wisdom through personal reflection and community. The authors share their experience with this leadership style and document the sustainable results of transformational leaders working with teachers as partners rather than adversaries. These results include:

> Research shows that the single variable that makes the most difference in student performance is the quality of the teacher.

Thank you.

I’ve been wondering about that. I’ve seen a truly awful violin teacher and a truly magnificent violin teacher, in action.

The truly magnificent one, many prize-winning students. A huge amount of praise. Concentration from the very earliest on correct pitch. Never give a student a piece that is too hard. Play notes first and have student copy sound, rather than book reading. Keep playing until piece is reproducibly perfect. Choose pieces that are pleasant to play.

mollwollfumble said:

Tau.Neutrino said:

Book

The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Lessons From a Transformational Leader
By: Richard D. Sagor, Deborah L. Rickey

The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence
Lessons From a Transformational Leader

from the link

Research shows that the single variable that makes the most difference in student performance is the quality of the teacher. How do we keep teachers motivated in the face of increased pressure for grades, class sizes and media attention? How do we attract and retain high-quality teachers? This inspiring text offers a refreshing alternative to the portfolio and high-stakes accountability models of school improvement. Based on the successful methods of Dealous Cox, The Relentless Pursuit of Excellence describes a leadership philosophy based on the search for wisdom through personal reflection and community. The authors share their experience with this leadership style and document the sustainable results of transformational leaders working with teachers as partners rather than adversaries. These results include:

> Research shows that the single variable that makes the most difference in student performance is the quality of the teacher.

Thank you.

I’ve been wondering about that. I’ve seen a truly awful violin teacher and a truly magnificent violin teacher, in action.

The truly magnificent one, many prize-winning students. A huge amount of praise. Concentration from the very earliest on correct pitch. Never give a student a piece that is too hard. Play notes first and have student copy sound, rather than book reading. Keep playing until piece is reproducibly perfect. Choose pieces that are pleasant to play.

I remember in my grade one time I read and realised that the student’s choice piece was selected by my teacher. I asked if I could pick it and I was told I could not make an appropriate choice. I kept on complaining until I was told to bring a piece of music in. I brought in Schubert’s To Music and lo and behold it was appropriate. And I played it. And the examiner enjoyed it.

I do think if my piano lessons hadn’t been cruel and awful I might have been a better player. When I gave up lessons it wasn’t because I wanted to stop playing…and I didn’t..it was because I couldn’t handle Mrs Murphy anymore. I did at one stage convince my mother that I would like more lessons with a different teacher. I had one lesson with a nice young man who was maybe in his mid 20s. My mother deemed it unsuitable for her young daughter to be in a room alone with this young man and so there were no more lessons.

sibeen said:

mollwollfumble said:

• Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at. It was only mid-20th century that the recording of live concerts forced the audience to be deathly quiet – and robbed the life out of the music.

No, just no.

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

You’ve got me hooked now. I want to add a laughter track to Beethoven’s Ninth, just to see what it sounds like.

mollwollfumble said:

sibeen said:

mollwollfumble said:

• Classical music is hilarious. It was written to be laughed at. It was only mid-20th century that the recording of live concerts forced the audience to be deathly quiet – and robbed the life out of the music.

No, just no.

If anyone had laughed whilst I was attending Beethoven’s Ninth I would have snotted them.

You’ve got me hooked now. I want to add a laughter track to Beethoven’s Ninth, just to see what it sounds like.

Challenge accepted. I’ve added a laughter track to Beethoven’s Ninth.

Result. Not great, but not too bad.

https://youtu.be/WP6N2rRWuxY