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jjtrumpet Regular Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2015 Posts: 52
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Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 9:26 am Post subject: What makes Barbara Butler and Charles Geyer so amazing? |
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Let me start off by saying that I have the utmost respect for these two. This isn't a complaining sort of question, more of a question that stems from utter fascination.
They seem to be living legends in trumpet education land, and I was wondering if anyone could put their finger on just what makes them so good. Yes their students get jobs. Yes they're at one of the top schools in the country. But WHY!?
...and I don't mean explanations like "they're just good at teaching." There must be something more! |
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Miketpt Heavyweight Member
Joined: 31 Aug 2004 Posts: 563 Location: Seattle, Washington USA
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Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 10:38 am Post subject: |
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They get the best students.
Their program gets the students performing for each other on a biweekly basis. (studio and excerpt class).
They are excellent at finding the missing/weak parts of each individual student's playing and helping them address it/them.
They instill the fact that you need to be your own teacher.
These are just a few thoughts that come to mind.
Mike |
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ltkije1966 Heavyweight Member
Joined: 24 Jan 2007 Posts: 1229 Location: Chicago
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Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 10:52 am Post subject: |
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Well, I think it's two pronged...
From what I saw at one of their masterclasses at NU, "They're just good at teaching" their students to identify weak spot and target their practicing effectively. But, they developed a stellar reputation early in their careers. So, yes, it must be more than that.
They consistently work at elite schools where they can select top notch trumpet players to start with. I doubt they could walk into a glorified community college and have that same success. They have the luxury that the baseline from which their students start is a lot higher than most teachers enjoy. And, they have themselves to thank for that!
Their playing, students, story, etc. are remarkable:
http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/story/trumpets/
(I know Bryant, he's a fantastic player, too)
http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20110211/entlife/702119889/ _________________ Scott Kuehn |
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Turkle Heavyweight Member
Joined: 29 Apr 2008 Posts: 2450 Location: New York City
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Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 11:29 am Post subject: |
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I read an article about them recently, I don't remember where. One of the things that makes them special, according to the article, is supporting an environment that is both collaborative and competitive, in which every player is helping the others get better while providing enough pressure to be constantly working to exceed the others. That kind of community environment means that it's not just about "are the students world-class" (which they are) or "are the teachers world-class" (which they are), but are you providing an environment in which students and teachers alike can exceed what they could do alone or without that kind of community support?
I think it's clear that they are providing precisely that kind of both supportive and competitive environment. That means a whole lot. I know from personal experience that given the right environment and community, one is driven to exceed one's abilities. (And the opposite is also true - a bad community can prevent one from realizing one's abilities.) _________________ Yamaha 8310Z trumpet
Yamaha 8310Z flugel
Curry 3. |
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jjtrumpet Regular Member
Joined: 20 Oct 2015 Posts: 52
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Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 11:34 am Post subject: |
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Quote: | "Students usually study primarily with either Butler or Geyer, but they receive feedback from the other at group events or critiques. The students and professors both pointed to this teaching method as part of the reason for the success of the studio."
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What a simple, yet important idea. Trumpet professors who don't do this, should!
http://www.northbynorthwestern.com/story/trumpets/
Edit: Formatting |
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stephensontrumpet Regular Member
Joined: 21 Feb 2016 Posts: 16
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:28 am Post subject: |
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What Miketpt said...they actively push their students, and force them to perform mutiple times a week for the studio, and get multiple teaching opportunities a week (rep class, studio class, lessons, etc)
Both Charlie and Barbara have very different personalities and teaching styles, and they are good at reading what kind of instruction each student needs.
Also, their studios have great report with each other, and are supportive of each other. |
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LaTrompeta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 869 Location: West Side, USA
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 10:50 am Post subject: |
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Simple formula
Best Teachers + Best Students = Best Results
I know many great players who were not accepted to their program. It may be the hardest program to get into anywhere. |
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JayV Veteran Member
Joined: 01 Jun 2005 Posts: 305 Location: Pittsburgh
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Posted: Mon Mar 21, 2016 12:31 pm Post subject: |
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Having performed with and/or studied with several trumpeters from that studio, I think the biggest difference is the professionalism they encourage in their students. It seems like every Butler/Geyer student I've played with is a good section player with stable rhythm, excellent ability to blend, good ears, and stable consistent production. I do not hear extreme virtuosity or "outside the box" playing, but deeply competent and stable playing. I think in many cases this stability and deeper competence comes with maturity, but many of the people coming out of that studio sound mature from a younger age. Of course now, yes, they get many of the most talented students who are interested in traditional trumpet careers flocking to them so the effect is compounded. Great teachers, unquestionably. |
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CJceltics33 Veteran Member
Joined: 24 Aug 2017 Posts: 475
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trptcolin Veteran Member
Joined: 11 Aug 2004 Posts: 189 Location: Mundelein, Illinois
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kehaulani Heavyweight Member
Joined: 23 Mar 2003 Posts: 9144 Location: Hawai`i - Texas
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Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2020 7:35 am Post subject: |
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I'm not sure you can get a balanced answer without throwing into the mix, for comparison, Jeanne Pocius, Claude Gordon, James Stamp. etc. _________________ "If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird
"Well, even if I could play like Wynton, I wouldn't play like Wynton." Chet Baker
Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Selmer K-Modified Light Trumpet (for sale)
Benge 3X Cornet |
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LaTrompeta Heavyweight Member
Joined: 03 May 2015 Posts: 869 Location: West Side, USA
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Posted: Tue Sep 08, 2020 11:11 am Post subject: |
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I never met many of those people mentioned, but I have met Butler & Geyer. They are very demanding and have a discerning ear. _________________ Please join me as well at:
https://trumpetboards.com |
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trumpetplanet Heavyweight Member
Joined: 05 Feb 2012 Posts: 543 Location: Bristol, UK
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