Ah, now I see. 62Konrad! It must be a 47 year old German lurker on this list. I believe some of you have met him/her in cyberspace, as his name crops up ever so often. Anyway, for a good example of constructive critisism have a look his remarks at one of my videos. Benign, to judge by remarks he has made to others in the past.
Here's to be found what he wrote: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t93ZI56Vts4&feature=email For those of you less versed in German: it's about my pinky, my joints, and I should take an example of Paul O'Dette. David On Tue, Jan 12, 2010 at 7:26 PM, David Tayler <[email protected]> wrote: > Spaced wide enough or narrow enough, there are several ways to go. > > d > > At 03:46 AM 1/12/2010, you wrote: >> >> spaced wide enough to played without strings slapping together. >> RT >> ----- Original Message ----- From: "Mark Wheeler" <[email protected]> >> To: "'David Tayler'" <[email protected]>; "'lute-cs.dartmouth.edu'" >> <[email protected]> >> Sent: Tuesday, January 12, 2010 2:09 AM >> Subject: [LUTE] Re: constructive critical commentary >> >> >> What exactly do you mean by "optimized for >> tone and playability"? >> Mark >> >> -----Ursprüngliche Nachricht----- >> Von: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] Im >> Auftrag >> von David Tayler >> Gesendet: Dienstag, 12. Januar 2010 01:20 >> An: lute-cs.dartmouth.edu >> Betreff: [LUTE] Re: constructive critical commentary >> >> I think one could offer constructive commentary that is a bit more >> pointed that was of a statistical nature that might be helpful. >> For example, one can say that out of say 500 videos >> >> 50 percent of the lutes do not have the string spacing optimized for >> tone and playability >> >> But even this is sort of bordering on direct criticsim. >> >> dt >> >> >> At 04:08 PM 1/11/2010, you wrote: >>> >>> I appreciate it when people point out mistakes, but it has to be handled >> >> well. >>> >>> For example, there are some videos where people are playing something >>> twice as fast or twice as slow, double or half timing. >>> Now it is obvious in this case that the player is not aware of it, >>> and one *might* send a personal email alerting someone, or then again, >>> not! >>> If I had a glaring error I would probably take the video down and be >>> grateful, or in some cases if it is just a wrong note I would leave >>> it up and say, hey, I played a wrong note. >>> >>> On the other hand, most professional recordings of Dowland's >>> Lachrimae and Johnson's Almaine have a mistake in the second >>> bar--parallel fifths--and there really is no point in commenting or >>> correcting this even in an email, although could post for example a >>> corrected edition or start a discussion topic on the issue--without >>> mentioning any names. >>> >>> No one is aware of all they mistakes they might make, at least as far >>> as I can tell. >>> For some younger or preprofessional players I occasionally consider >>> mentioning some things that might prevent employment, but I have to >>> say the reception for such information, however well--intentioned, is >>> invariably tundra-esque. >>> When I was starting out, I definitely appreciated people mentioning >>> things like that, but I was trying to make a living and that puts you >>> in a different frame of mind. >>> >>> The point is, there is first of all a privacy issue and second of all >>> a colleague issue. >>> When in doubt, say nothing at all. >>> d >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> At 01:31 AM 1/11/2010, you wrote: >>> >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 >> >> > > > -- ******************************* David van Ooijen [email protected] www.davidvanooijen.nl *******************************
