My final comment on Teachers, before we put this to rest:

I certainly appreciate the feed-back I’ve gotten from Members, regarding my posts: “Teachers 1 and Teachers 2”.

Sometimes, when I post things, I know what I WANT to say, but it doesn’t always come out right in print.

The consensus of opinion is that it’s “O.K.” to have had four different teachers. And I guess the posts are suggesting that “you get four different perspectives” on how to play, and, thus a valuable insight. I don’t know that I can disagree with that dictum.

However, it is, after all, a matter of opinion. Well, if you’ll permit a poor analogy, it’s like going to four different doctors and getting four different opinions.

WHAT I MEANT TO SAY is that, based upon MY experience (and mine, only) is that: There is a differentia between teachers, in that some teachers wish to impose (their) style of playing on a student. (That’s IF they’re flutists). And many high-school band instructors are NOT.

I feel that this is grossly unfair in that, just as it is a VERY personal choice about just WHICH flute you buy --- it also holds that every flutist is an individual, whose artistic style should be recognized.

I never meant to suggest, for the record, that any student ignore scales, exercises and etudes. They’re very important --- especially for beginning students, as well as intermediate students --- and beyond. We all have to suffer through them --- just like any other musician has to.

What I’m taking issue with is the dichotomy that existed (in MY personal experience) between teachers --- and I said I had four. (And that’s correct.)

My four teachers were renowned teachers of the flute.

MY problem was that each successive teacher would renounce what I had been taught, previously. This leads to confusion and “information over-load”, (for those who are computer programmers).

In just whose judgment do you trust? Especially when (each one of them) is VERY accomplished and has attained “lofty” positions?

In closing, I think that every flutist brings an individual style and “voice” to the arena, which should not be ignored. I’d hate to live in a “flute world” wherein we all sound like James Galway. I APPRECIATE the differences in playing style that each flutist brings to us.

Regards, Jim Millen

Dear Alieannie:

Thanks for your e-mail.

As usual, I look forward to your posts.

I agree with what you said, and you carefully articulated your response.

I thank you for your advice and will take it to heart.

Regards, Jim Millen

I have had, of course, some wonderful teachers, but I have learned just as much from great string players, opera and pop singers and other wind players, especially in the realm of phrasing and breathing...one of my best teachers was a physical therapy coach who helped open up my breathing in a dramatic way and who taught me to relax my arms and shoulders...