Say Something Nice About Your Band Director/Lesson Teacher Thread

rs2sensen · Sep 28, 2006

I saw a thread similar to this on saxontheweb, and it was rather interesting to see what people replied. It was also interesting to see who knows and/or has heard of your teacher. I got some messages from old students who had my band director as a college prof. I'll start out...

My main band director, Mark Greer, is an absolutely awesome guy. He's a sax player, and really knows his stuff (taught at the University of South Dakota for a while). He was a student of Trent Kynaston in High School, and Larry Teal in college. He does a great job of inspiring all of us... of a high school band program of 200 students, at least 10 high school seniors, myself included, have decided to pursue some sort of a music major in college. That's a pretty good percentage, considering that there are only about 60 seniors. He's really easy going, and he doesn't have to yell or push at us like I've seen too many directors do. We respect him, and we love what we do, so we work our butts off.

My other band director is Richard Anderson. Also a sax player, Anderson was a student of Teal, and then worked with Kynaston when he got his Master's degree. A very nice guy who's had a lot of personal problems. He hasn't inspired me so much, but he's definitely a nice guy.

My private lesson teacher is Professor Trent Kynaston, professor of saxophone and jazz at Western Michigan University. Man, this guy knows his stuff. He's pleasant, but definitely all-business during lessons, which is something I appreciate. He has helped to improve my sound tenfold, and has been a great resource.

Bobby G · Sep 28, 2006

Thank you Jamie Aebersold 😉

Cheers, Bob (self-taught, not in a band.... yet)

lee_ · Sep 28, 2006

"Thank you Jamie Aebersold"

Ditto that.

oliver_bentley · Sep 28, 2006

well... my first ever teacher was a guitar teacher who taught my brother and also taught piano to me (he was only grade 4/5 himself, and I've never become a great piano player but thats not the point) I loved his lessons. I only had him till he decided I needed to go and learn piano off someone who could take me a bit further, but in those 3/4 four years he got me enthusiastic about music and especially jazz. He got me listening to brubeck - blue rondo a la turk was the first ever piece I heard, it blew my mind! and continuing the blowing of the mind, Michel Camilo a french pianist who does some amazing jazz.

Since then I went to a decent school for music and had some good teachers, but without those first few years I'd never have been still playing now - He made music fun and exciting and something I wanted to do, and it was less about technique (and not just cos his wasnt so hot) and more what music was all about.

We need more teachers like him, who kids can look up to and be inspired by not just taught scales, reading and changes. While all of this is vital, it all comes easy second to instilling a passion in someone. Pete Laffan was his name. One rocking guy.

My sax teacher up until I moved to Carlisle (Molly Anderson) last year also deserves a big shout, she was only a perapetetic (SP? :blush:

) and hadnt played with anyone great or well known (apart from Tony Christie) but she took me right from not being able to play a note in first year, to getting my grade 8 (distinction - sorry but I was very proud :S) in my final year at school. And in my book that makes for one great teacher (getting paid diddely squat and having to put up with all sorts of sh*t pardon my french.)

I'm very greatful to both of them, and cheers for the oppertunity to rant in a possetive way for a change Rs2, Oli

suethesax · Sep 30, 2006

Well I never did music at school and only when I reached the very young age of 40 (7 years ago) did I decide to embark on a musical journey. I was living in Cornwall then and bought a sax in a shop in Truro - no clue what I was looking for/at and was a bit ripped off in hindsight - you know that wonderful thing most mothers have 😛

Anyway I found a guy called Phil Fisher who was in his early 80's and he had been a pro musician way back when. He taught me the basics - reading music, scales etc then he got too sick to teach so I was left alone for a while until I found Larry Johns who is an awesome player and a a great jazzer. He taught me patterns and licks and blues scales and how to 'feel' what you are playing.

Sadly I had to move so again was left to my own devices and bad habits until I found my current teacher - Debbie Scherer who is a fantastic player, although more classical than jazz and she is a great help and a good friend. She introduced me to music grades and I took my 1st ABRSM grade 5 in June and passed with distinction and am now getting ready for grade 6.

I have a lot of fondness for all 3 who have very different styles and approaches but each are very effective in their own field. Here's to all you gutys and gals for helping me in my little journey. 🙂

Pete Thomas · Sep 30, 2006

I had no lessons until i went to college at the age of 20, where I had the privilege to be taught by a couple of the best players from the UK big dance bands, Bill Charleson from Ken Macintosh's band and Red Price from Ted Heath's band (also session players, Red was the frog in Pinky and Perky and .25 of the Lord Rockingham's 11 horn section).

Neither were really great at conventional teaching, the lessons often adjourned to the pub half way through. But after a couple of years Bill got me a job at Batley Variety Club for a week on lead alto with him on tenor sitting next to me. That's when I suddenly learnt everything.

Bobby G · Sep 30, 2006

Really, I'd like to thank Margaret Sargent who taught me piano through junior school years - not only for the piano-playing, but also for the theory behind it and for bringing out my love of music into a place where I could make music myself. This training helped bring out my mjsical ear, for sure, when it came to self-teaching on other instruments. I'd always loved music from as far back as I can remember which is about age 3, playing it was wonderful even though I found the practising a bit of a chore.

When I took up guitar at 13, I was taught some basics, like chord shapes & sequences (the ubiquitous 12-bar) by a very patient guitarist, a school friend called Pete Cornish, and I really took to it, especially during one jam session where, as the least experienced guitarist, I got to go on the bass (a far inferior instrument in the eyes of all the budding Claptons and Hendrixes in the room) which is where I found my true mucal vocation for about tge next 25 years.

Since that day, although I've never had any more formal teaching, I've learned from every musician I've ever played with or listened to (or discussed things with in a forum like this) and for that I would like to thank you all.

Cheers, Bob

tvj · Oct 3, 2006

My first Sax Teacher, Rasmus Hansen off the danish conservatorium, taught me to feel and love the music, and, in general, taught me how to play the sax, sight-playing etc. No Theory, but I loved this guy, patient as a rock and skilled as only a few I know in person.

My first band leader ("Jan") led a group at my music school for jazz playing, and introduced me to the genre. He had no holds barred for weird experiments, accepting my then complete lack of improvising ability and in general just being a friendly, alive teacher.

It wasn't until I got my first own sax a few months back that Aebersold started teaching me, in absentia, the theory, and I'm only just starting to get a hang of that.

RedBottom · Oct 4, 2006

I picked my first clarinet/sax teacher from a list given to me by the music shop, because he was within travelling distance and had vacancies. A total beginner, I had no idea how good (or otherwise) he was. I struck lucky, because Bob Greenlees has one hell of a reputation in local music circles as teacher and musician. He taught me what I wanted to learn, not what he thought I should learn (unless I wanted to learn something I wasn't ready for). I don't have lessons anymore, but I still see Bob occasionally when he's playing with the orchestra, and he's always interested in how I'm doing.

Moving on, our last band director was Mike Cooper, an ex BSM who did wonders for everyone's confidence - "Don't 'not play'. If you've got something written, play it. If you get it wrong, we can sort it out afterwards."

Mike was succeeded by Dave Coble, another ex-military bandsman, who carried on where Mike left off. He's a trombonist, but we'll forgive him that. Again, the band has gained much confidence during his short time with us and we're all finally learning that playing quietly can actually be a good thing. Dave's byword is, "Don't start - join in."

ken_aust · Oct 4, 2006

The difference between a band director/ conductor and a bull ?
the bull has the horns in front and the%$^&*@ at the back.

Ken Aust

robaldo · Oct 7, 2006

Only one teacher has ever managed to inspire interest and motivation in me. Ian Tate, my piano teacher when I was aged 9-16. He threw out the Fanny Waterman guide to tedium, and introduced me to Chopin, Satie, Debussy and Ragtime.

number11 · Oct 8, 2006

I had a guitar teacher for a little while. I on'y went for about two months before we moved. Dan Grebe was his name. I think the most important thing he taught me was how to jam, I went for an hour once a week. In the first half hour he would have a lesson prepared on technique or theory or what have you, then in the last half hour we would jam! We would have so much fun that sometimes we went to long and left my ride waiting. He was a really great guy, I don't know what else to say.

Pete Thomas · Oct 8, 2006

I like that
It's more "coaching" then "teaching" which is what I got from my "teachers" (see above).

I recently tried out a drum teacher for my 13 year old stepson who is a natural drummer, he previous to the new guy had a lesson and with 15 minutes practice a week can do what he's set.

The new guy suggested that instead of normal lessons with rudiments and reading, he'd bring his bass or guitar and just have jam sessions. I thought this was a brilliant approach (NB for this particular situation).

I think the good teachers work out the best way for the student. For some the conventional method is best, for others the jam session or whatever (?) is better.

Bobby G · Oct 8, 2006

As I said beforeI was taught music 'properly' from age 7 to about 12, which set me off on this amazing journey, since then I've learned a lot over the years from jamming, or putting myself in musical settings where I had to think more about what I was doing, or use my ears better and adapt my playing (talking mainly about 25-30 years playing bass/guitar, but also applies to my current efforts on sax), but I've now come to the conclusion that maybe I will only get better with professional help.

Cheers, Bob

ken · Oct 8, 2006

My tutor was a graduate of from a music conservatory of Argentina, if memory serves.

He speaks wonderful Spanish and I speak lousy English, I refer to music notes as A-G, he (as the Spanish do) refers to Doh-Ra-Me. Perhaps I'm actually taking a course in motor mechanics 😱