FYI:
The University of Tennessee at Martin seeks highly qualified applicants for the position of Assistant Professor of Music – Applied Double Reeds. The position reports directly to the Chair of the Department of Music.
Specific responsibilities include teaching applied oboe and bassoon, chamber music ensembles and other classes as assigned. Other classes may include theory, woodwind methods, additional applied woodwinds and/or other classes commensurate with departmental needs and individual expertise.
Qualifications: Proficient performer on oboe or bassoon, qualified to teach both instruments. Masters degree required. Doctorate required for assistant professor rank and for tenure consideration at any rank.
This appointment is a nine-month, tenure track appointment commencing August 1, 2011. Rank and salary commensurate with experience.
While I’ve had excellent coaching from oboists (Jim Matheson, Stephen Adelstein), I can’t imagine how I would’ve turned out had they been my only bassoon teachers. I’m sure an oboist would feel the same about a bassoonist as a teacher. I am guessing that this is a money saving idea proposed by someone who doesn’t know much about double reeds?
This sure sounded screwy to me, but then I’m a string player so I thought maybe I was just insufficiently knowledgeable on the subject… but if dk says it’s a lousy idea then I happily resume my initial impression. I’ve never heard of anybody doubling on oboe and bassoon, at least anybody who played at the level one would hope a university instructor teaching instrumental majors would.
And, dk, you know I agree with you. But you’ll find schools that do this on my list. Not many, thankfully.
At one of the schools where I teach another instructor (teaching an entirely unrelated instrument) heard me talking about having too many students one year (I’m only allowed 3 hours of work there) and he said, “Have the bassoon teacher teach them. I could teach them too … I play oboe and bassoon.” He clearly thought like this school in Tennessee does. But he’s not a professional musician, nor does he perform on any instrument at all. I just smiled and said I’d work something out with the students. No use trying to explain to someone like that.