I have a theory that there is something abnormal about children who like to practice instruments They are either geniuses or, more often, completely untalented. I certainly did not like to practice, and the teacher who hit me, and the view of the park, did not help to improve my attitude.
-Georg Solti
(I’m certainly not saying I agree with this one! But it made me laugh.)
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Just received this:
From: raymondpshaw0009@yahoo.com
Subject: Alto Sax,Bassoon,Cello ,Clarinet ,Flute ,Oboe ,Percussion ,Saxophone ,Trombone ,learning for my son
Date: October 6, 2005 11:45:11 AM PDT
To: dadaolaleye@yahoo.comHello Teacher,
Good day to you.My name is Raymond
Printess Shaw based in Netherland.My son(20years of
age) will be coming to the state for a 3(Three) month
holiday but will stay with my elder brother.While he
his there,i want him to attend your teaching class on
any of the instrument you could best teach .I want
you to e-mail me the modalty
of the programme,rate/hr,number of hours a day,your
location ,duration of the lesson and
other things necessary for a smooth learning.Please
get back to asap.Send your reply to my eramail box
<raymondpshaw@eramail.co.za> .Meanwhile,i would be
grateful if you could increase your hours and days of
teaching him.He is just a beginner and i believe three
times in a week will be okay for him so that the rest
of the day could be used for practise.Ramond Shaw.
Part of me would love to play around for a while. I could tell him I charge $500 per lesson. I could tell him I teach triangle lessons. I could … oh never mind! It’s tempting but why bother? I have practicing to do. I have real students to teach. These folks are wasting my time.
(And for new readers: this email is a familiar sight to me. It’s a scam. A lot of music teachers are receiving them these days.)
See if you can tell. (I think it’s fairly obvious.)
—–
This is probably the final review I’ll find on last week’s symphony concert.
Do I agree?
Email me if you want to know.
One thing I do want to note, though; this symphony is extremely part time. We have four rehearsals in three days’ time for the two performances we give that weekend. Our orchestra usually has a good number of substitutes. We don’t play together during the summer, and we don’t see each other between sets. When San Jose Symphony (RIP) was alive we played together much more frequently. It takes some time to gel, and so we do have to work hard to get back to where we were after a long hiatus.
This isn’t an excuse. It’s merely the truth.
