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From: Pat Missin
Date: Wed, 23 Jun 1999 18:02:16
Subject: Re: HELP!

At 23:35 21/06/99 +0100, Ben Hewlett wrote:
>
>My impression is that the HTAB qualification is not formal
>enough/acceptable to accept new people onto their council payroll (-when I
>did the HTAB test it was not demanding but perhaps it has changed now?)

Well, the point of HTAB is primarily to put tutors and potential students
in touch with each other, so the tests we have are just to make sure that
we are sending people to tutors with some sort of idea about the
instrument. The only tests we have, at the moment, are basic level tests
and they are basic! In fact, when I was first consulted on the basic
diatonic test, I felt it was so basic that nobody could fail it. I was
wrong. As all the answers can be found in a fairly basic "teach yourself
harmonica", getting the answers wrong not only shows a lack of knowledge,
but also a total lack of initiative.

However, it was felt that it was more import to attract teachers and try to
improve their knowledge, thatn to put them off completely, by having a
harder test. We have planned for higher level accreditation, but to be very
honest, there just hasn't been the demand. In fact, we are hardly swamped
with applications for the basic level accreditation...


>So my question to you all is
>
> "how do I get new teachers and how do I get them qualified to the correct
>level?"
>
>Answers on a direct email please asap!

If I had them, you would be welcome to them...

Of course, for someone seriously intersted in teaching the harmonica, there
are all sorts of courses and associated qualifications, in the general area
of teaching. A council would no doubt recognise these qualifications, even
if they do not prove that you are particularly knowledgeable about the
harmonica.

I also feel obliged to make a comment on one of Douglas's points:

>The very best way to get something like this into a progressive situation
>is to get a local music teacher interested in playing... self interest and
>justification is a wonderful oil in these circs... and the established
>teacher, qualified elsewhere in music gives an authority not readily
>bestowed on a hairy individual in dark glasses with a broad brimmed hat ( I
>quote from American definitions of blues players :)))

It may be worth bearing in mind, that if someone wants to learn blues harp,
they might feel more comfortable with "hairy individual in dark glasses
with a broad brimmed hat", than someone who reminds them of one of their
old high school teachers. One of the things that became obvious when I was
first started teaching at the Blue Saturdays, was that some people felt
reassured by a "formal" teaching situation, whereas others were somewhat
repelled by it!


All the best,

-- Pat.