I'm sorry but my english doesn't allow me to make great dissertations... but I agree with David point of view, and I think constructive commentary should be done in private message, and as he said by people knowing what they talk about. I remember very constructive messages shared by Gert de Vries, helping me a lot... ;-) Val
-----Message d'origine----- De : [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] De la part de David van Ooijen Envoyé : lundi 11 janvier 2010 10:32 À : lute Objet : [LUTE] Re: constructive critical commentary There seem to be several subject headers around dealing with what this, I'll stick to this one. I've had my fair share of lessons and I teach. Lessons or commentary from fellow students at a conservatory are not for people with a fragile ego, but all comments are fair. People know what they talk about, can clearly hear and see what's wrong with your playing and will say so. And it's good they do, for that's the only way to become better. The point is the comments are fair and made by people with knowledge. Not everybody posting comments on YouTube is fair or knows what he/she is writing about. Or, if I play a concert, people come to me and say they liked. it. Of course I'm flattered, but what did they like? Probably something completely different from what I tried to put into the music. That's no problem, but the same is true with criticism: what it is they didn't like, is not always a valid point for me. I might lose some of my audience, but I cannot please everybody. It is important to know who is saying something, to be able to judge it well. I had a little girl of six in my audience last Wednesday who thought it was utterly boring what I was doing, but her sister of eight just loved it. Not because of the music, but because I am her guitar teacher, I waved to her during the concert and was playing _such_ a funny guitar! She had a great time despite the boring music. Now for us commenting on each other's YouTube videos. Valery made the point he knows what's there to improve in his playing and he doesn't need to be reminded (sorry if I oversimplify his statement or have it wrong. It is a point I want to make that actually does not need Valery's playing, it is not about his playing at all, but the example was conveniently at hand). Sorry, Valery, perhaps you don't, because I think if you really did know what is there to improve and how to improve it, you'd change it within weeks or months. One of my first videos had too many funny faces, grimaces. I withdrew it. My debut Baroque lute videos of last weekend received kind comments, I thank you all, but I know my tone has to improve, not all is quite steady and some ornaments were downright sloppy. Many of the lute players on YouTube play not legato enough. Or should we blame their microphones? Many don't hold notes to give them their 'proper' length, or is that debatable? Anyway, do I tell them directly? No, because I don't know them. I teach real people. People facing me, personalities I know. I know their ambitions and their sensitivities. Both are needed to find the right touch in making comments on their playing. What use is there if someone hears from me his playing is not legato enough and he should hold the bass, when all he wants is a pat on the back and praise for his brave efforts? Sorry, got carried away. Real theorbo pupil coming in half an hour. David -- ******************************* David van Ooijen [email protected] www.davidvanooijen.nl ******************************* To get on or off this list see list information at http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~wbc/lute-admin/index.html
