George Y
Instruments: Clarinet
Styles: Classical, Musical Theater, Showtunes
George Y
Instruments: Clarinet
Styles:
Classical, Musical Theater, Showtunes
Where I Teach:
Ages Taught: 12-80
B.Mus, Philadelphia Biblical University Incomplete graduate work at Institute for Worship Studies, Northern Seminary, Lombard Illinois
Performed with U.S. Air Force Band 1967-1971 Won Outstanding Freshman Music Major, 1972 Have several works published
I am sort of involuntarily retired from a 30+ year career as a Worship and Music Pastor in several churches in the Midwest and eastern United States. I began church work in 1976 and left my last position in 2010. I enjoyed the opportunities to perform in several local productions of Broadway shows as well as many church-related solos and ensembles. As a church musician I often found that no appropriate music existed for the group of instruments I had to work with. That spurred me to compose and arrange for various combinations of woodwind and stringed instruments. Some of those works have been published.
My very first clarinet teaching experience was when I was in college. I taught a small class of music majors who were required to earn a woodwind proficiency. Since they were all music majors, there was no need to teach theory - just fingering, embouchure and technique. I was much more into it than they were but I thoroughly enjoyed sharing my experience and love for the instrument. We had a lot of fun and they all passed their proficiency test! Since then, I have not the opportunity to teach in a formal setting. But, now that I'm retired, I hope to augment my income doing something I really enjoy.
For young beginners, I will start with Hal Leonard's Essential Elements. I will emphasize music theory as well as technique and the experience has to be fun. As the student progresses, I will introduce solo repertoire that they will enjoy and that will be appropriate for their first recital performance. Believing that adult students benefit immensely from the discipline of published methods, I will suggest the 32 Etudes for Clarinet by C. Rose and either the Rubank Elementary, Intermediate or Advanced methods, which I really like because I can play the 2-part exercises along with the student.
Since I have such limited teaching experience, it is impossible to define my teaching style. I do love the instrument. It enabled me to get into the Air Force Band and legally avoid serving in combat during wartime. It has also been a source of pleasure for decades. I look forward to seeing my joy in playing the instrument reflected in my students. I will encourage my students to strive for excellence by presenting them with achievable goals and affirming their progress. It is also important that the learning experience be fun so that the student looks forward to every lesson.
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