| Author |
Comment |
SW
Registered
User
Posts: 74
(7/12/01 2:55:26
pm)
Reply
|
Richard Aaron
master class
Richard Aaron gave a master class at the Indiana Univ. Summer
String Academy recently. He ALLEGEDLY (I'm putting allegedly in bold
because I don't want to be accused of libel) made statements to the
effect the Leonard Rose was a terrible teacher and he didn't learn a
thing from him when he studied with him. He had to teach himself. (I
thought Leonard Rose taught students to teach themselves.) He also
said some negative things about the Galamian scale book in the
accent of a rather famous cello teacher (whose student recognized or
was of the opinion that her teacher was being mocked.) Personally, I
think strong opinions are out of place in public, especially in
front of young players (all were high school or below). From the
account I heard, I think his remarks were a bit tacky. In the master
classes I've attended for my instrument or other instruments, the
teacher stuck to making comments to improve the players he was
listening to (even if those comments were sometimes harsh or blunt)
and presented his own ideas with regard to playing and teaching
without being negative about other teachers or methods.
|
Tim
Janof
Administrator
Posts: 243
(7/12/01 4:13:54 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Richard
Aaron master class
That doesn't sound like the Leonard Rose I've heard about all these
years. I've come across several Rose students and they've all loved
him, both on and off the record. According to Ray Davis, principal
cellist of the Seattle Symphony, Rose was one of those teachers who
could help to turn just about anybody into a decent cellist, and not
just those with Yo-Yo's talent. Not many can do this.
|
SlavaBilly
Registered User
Posts: 122
(7/12/01 4:38:15 pm)
Reply
|
Richard
Aaron...
I've worked a little with Richard Aaron at a summer camp in
Washington and he definitely takes some getting used to. He has a
very (very!) strange sense of humour that often involves trying to
make someone angry by saying the most impossible things. He wasn't
hired back to this music festival here on the West Coast after
getting into some serious arguments with the festival director and
calling him nasty names in rehearsal. I find that he gets along
better with students rather than colleagues, who are often offended
by his bizarre and irreverent sense of humour.
|
Laura
Wichers
Moderator
Posts: 1064
(7/12/01 8:40:07 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Richard
Aaron master class
Mr. Aaron teaches at Encore, and I've only heard good things about
him from both his students (CIM and just summer students) as well as
his colleagues.
As for Rose, I know several former Rose
students who have less than wonderful things to say about his
teaching, most specifically that they had to teach themselves and
didn't really learn to play cello until they studied with someone
else. I think his paintbrush technique was one particular idea with
which some people completely disagree. I also know two former Rose
students who absolutely loved the man as a person and
teacher.
Laura
|
zambocello
Registered User
Posts: 667
(7/15/01 4:41:18 pm)
Reply
|
One teacher fits
all?
The notion that a teacher can be great for all students is absurd
and proven wrong thousands of times a year. I'm sure Rose was great
for some students, good for some, not so good for some, and terrible
for others. (Now, how smart are the students who stay with a teacher
who is terrible for them?)
Nevertheless, there are teachers
who can build up a wider variety of students. Far be it from me to
generalize, but  there are
teachers who require the student to be flexible enough to accept the
teacher's doctrine, regardless of the student's background; and
there are teachers who are flexible enough to build up the student,
regardless of the student's previous training. I try to be the
latter kind of teacher, but either way can work. Of course with the
doctrinaire teacher there is a much greater chance of a "misfit"
between the teacher and student.
Chemistry is so important
in finding a good teacher. Of course, famous players aren't
automatically good teachers, and famous teachers aren't
automatically good for everyone. The flip side of that observation
is that the "right" teacher for a given student is not necessarily a
"name brand" teacher at a "name brand" school.
|
SW
Registered
User
Posts: 75
(7/16/01 9:07:31
am)
Reply
|
Richard
Aaron
Yo-Yo has commented that Rose taught him to teach himself and I
have to say that that is one of the most important things that my
daughter's teacher (obviously, a Rose student) is giving her. It is
not verbalized in that way, but the techniques she is learning just
allow her to naturally fall into learning things herself both
effectively and efficiently. Another student at the IU String
Academy, whose teacher of Scandinavian decent was apparently mocked,
was more than a tad offended. I personally think his remarks were
unnecessary and it caused students to be distracted from his
message. It doesn't work to tear someone else down to make what one
has to offer seem more valuable. Anyway, my daughter was glad to see
the "real" Richard Aaron in action, and has crossed him off the list
of teahers for college. Notwithstanding his demeanor in the master
class, it's not great to study with someone who has a track record
of offending or bad mouthing other teachers--not great for
networking or moving on to someone new for further study when the
time comes.
|
JuilliardRock
Registered User
Posts: 6
(9/1/01 2:56:00 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Richard
Aaron...PLEASE READ
(This message was left blank)
Edited by: JuilliardRock
at: 9/4/01 12:23:25 pm
|
Laura
Wichers
Moderator
Posts: 1109
(9/1/01 4:08:43 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Richard
Aaron...PLEASE READ
Whoa. Just a minute. Why do you think that both Solow and Aaron
cannot play cello? I've heard both play solos at concerts and they
were EXCELLENT. At a masterclass at my school, Jeff Solow played
bits and pieces of the piece each student played, demonstrating what
he wanted to hear, and even through those little tid-bits I could
tell that Solow is a masterful cellist. Same when I heard his trio
perform later that same week. I've heard Aaron play a few solo
pieces and demonstrate at masterclasses, and he is also a wonderful
cellist. Where did you get the idea that neither of them can
play?
Both of them have students in major orchestras and I
know of at least one of Aaron's students who is well on his way in a
solo career. What do you define as "results"? All of Aaron's
students that I know develop very solid technical and musical skills
as a result of their time with him in lessons. Maybe you don't know
of some big-name cellist who was a student of Aaron or Solow, but
does that mean they aren't good teachers? Of course not. It could be
that many of their students are teachers, performers in orchestras,
chamber musicians, etc. For the big-name teachers like Rose and
Cole, I would bet that only one in every twenty or so of their
students manages to have a high-profile career, if that
many.
Laura
|
CelloBass
Registered User
Posts: 81
(9/1/01 5:32:58 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Richard
Aaron...PLEASE READ
JuilliardRock,
I'd really like to know what those two
cellists did for or against you, but I am sure you won't tell...
your statement simplifies many things. For example, I have never
heard about a public performance of Ivan Galamian or Dorothy DeLay.
However, both seem to be good enough to 'produce results' like Izhak
Perlman, Pinkas Zukerman, Shlomo Mintz...and finally Bettina
Mussumeli, she plays first violin second stand at 'I Solisti
Veneti', a famous Italian chamber orchstra. Not good enough for
being counted as a result? I would count her. There are many good
musicians sitting in all orchestras around the world who had famous
teachers - but they decided for any reason to not start a solistic
career. Do you know how many cellists of those orchestras were
taught by those two cellists you mentioned? Or, for example, Yehudi
Menuhin. Starting in the 70ies, his violinistic abilities were
dramatically reduced by psychological and physical problems he had.
He didn't stay away from performing and making records, with tragic
results, but that's a different story. But he was still good enough
to teach for example Nigel Kennedy, and this guy doesn't play like
Yehudi... fortunately. I hope your mail inflames a real debate, but
a real debate needs facts, and you will have to present facts that
prove your claim that both can't play the cello... just another
hint. This forum is public. I hope you won't receive unfriendly
letters from the lawers of those two cellists. I would be a little
bit more careful... just in case students of Richard Aaron or
Jeffrey Solow happen to read this forum. Have you wasted four years
with Richard Aaron? If yes, why didn't you leave him earlier? If no,
how can you know that it is wasted time?
Horst
|
rosebud499
Registered User
Posts: 9
(9/1/01 6:19:29 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Richard
Aaron and the first two posts
I happen know that the teacher of Scandinavian decent that was
being mocked can turn just about anyone into a decent cellist, one
of his more amazing qualities.
I could say some more. It
would be better if I didn't.
|
mvotapek
Registered User
Posts: 5
(9/1/01 6:42:40 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Richard
Aaron master class
I'll just quickly register that i'm appalled that someone is trying
to trash a committed full-time teacher for expressing harsh and
debatable opinions in a college-age masterclass at a university. I
expect the attendees were fully capable of deciding how best to take
Mr. Aaron's comments, and a teacher SHOULD be encouraged to fully
express themselves in such forums. If one insults other
professionals, it only harms oneself, and if Mr. Aaron doesn't help
students succeed, then they will stop flocking to him in Cleveland
in droves. It's not like anyone is being forced or tricked to go to
a smaller midwest conservatory, and it's not like there isn't
another very good option there in Mr. Geber...yet Mr. Aaron still
has good students.
*steps off soapbox*
|
JuilliardRock
Registered User
Posts: 7
(9/2/01 12:03:27 pm)
Reply
|
Re: Richard
Aaron master class
(This message was left blank)
Edited by: JuilliardRock
at: 9/4/01 12:22:28 pm
|
Xabur1342
Registered User
Posts: 25
(9/3/01 3:05:03 pm)
Reply
|
please be
careful before you attack people
I went to a camp where Richard Aaron taught and took some lessons
with him. I know quite a bit about him.
I found his lessons
wonderful and inspiring.
I don't keep regular tabs on Richard
Aaron but this is what I know.
Many of his students have soloed
with major orchestras. His students have soloed with Philadelphia,
San Francisco, Seattle and other orchestras in the US. I know of two
of his students have performed with the Cleveland Orchestra. They
regularly solo with orchestras in Ohio. One of his students is
having a fairly major career in Canada performing with the likes of
Toronto Symphony, doing recital tours, radio etc. His students have
won first prizes in major national competitions in the US. His
students do well in international competitions. From what I know he
has had at least 3 of his younger students go on to study at Curtis.
One of his students went on to study full time with Rostropovich. He
has only been a teacher in Cleveland for about 10 years after moving
from Seattle. That is a very short time. Remember he is also pretty
young, I think in his early 40s. What he has done in that amount of
time is wonderful. I frequently see the names of his students
mentioned in Strad magazine due to competitions and
performances.
Three years ago one of his students became
Associate Principal Cellist of The Metropolitan Opera.
You
should be careful before you attack and misrepresent the reputation
of a great teacher such as Richard Aaron.
|
JuilliardRock
Registered User
Posts: 10
(9/4/01 2:24:41 am)
Reply
|
Re: please be
careful before you attack people
(This message was left blank)
Edited by: JuilliardRock
at: 9/4/01 12:21:27 pm
|
Laura
Wichers
Moderator
Posts: 1110
(9/4/01 8:08:55 am)
Reply
|
Re: please be
careful before you attack people
Strange, I don't see myself coming to regret learning a system of
scale/arp/interval practice that makes it all seem so easy. I don't
see myself coming to regret anything that any of my teachers have
taught me. Down the line I may re-engineer the ideas to suit my own
personality and style, but I definitely don't think I'd regret
having been taught new ideas in the first place.
You still
haven't told us exactly WHY you hate Richard Aaron so much. What
exactly do you think he did to you? Let me guess: Now YOU are
studying with a teacher who has nothing but bad things to say about
Aaron and has brainwashed you, am I right?
Laura
|
MsCheryl
Registered
User
Posts: 267
(9/4/01 8:30:51
am)
Reply
|
Re: please be
careful before you attack people
yes - well .... I also personally know several wonderful cellists
ruined by famous teachers, so this discussion of who produces more
working cellists is really ridiculous. I love it when people who
have an agenda credit the teacher they like when a student turns out
well, but give that credit to the successful student when it's the
teacher they don't like. It seems to me that no matter what the
result, it's a collaboration of both parties.
|
Todd
French 
Moderator
Posts: 248
(9/4/01 11:14:39 am)
Reply
 |
to
JulliardRock
(I moved the post up to just underneath the main subject)
Edited by: Todd
French at: 9/4/01 11:16:16 am
|
Todd
French
Moderator
Posts: 249
(9/4/01 11:15:39 am)
Reply
|
to
JulliardRock
JulliardRock,
I have read your flames on this board with
some cringing and reservation - not that I know Richard Aaron
personally nor have I ever worked with him, but just that you are so
openly slamming everything about this well respected (outside your
immediate circle) cellist and teacher. I strongly, strongly
encourage you to edit your posts a bit, or erase them entirely,
because slamming of this sort on the world wide web, with its
tremendous and expiditious carrying power, can really be damaging
for you, should your name ever emerge from your otherwise private
persona on this board. There's really no reason for such reaction to
Richard Aaron or any other teacher, performer, or individual, and
you might consider how damaging those remarks can be not only to the
individual you are addressing, but to yourself as a cellist. The
music world is very small, so you'd be surprised what far-reaching
effects your comments will have, and I just wanted you to be aware
of it, and possibly consider amending them.
|
Todd
French
Moderator
Posts: 250
(9/4/01 1:07:35 pm)
Reply
|
Re: to
JulliardRock
Smart move - I noticed your postings have been edited to now be
blank. I think that's the smarter move to make in a situation such
as this
|
Internet Cello Society
Forums
Email
This To a Friend
Topic Commands (Moderator only)