As a music education major, you have to go through different methods classes to learn how to play other instruments to prepare you for your future career. There are certain people that can get the hang of their method instrument and those who…. Well, they’re trying their best.
The Percussionists.
We’ll just start with this. Percussionists don't require air to play their instruments. You can already guess that when it comes to playing a wind instrument, the instrument isn't really on their side.
Just from my woodwind methods class experience, you can tell how uncomfortable they are. The instrument almost looks like it's attacking them. They're holding it away from them like it's a crying child. It's quite a sight to see.
The "I-Played-This-In-Middle-School" Person.
There's about 2 or 3 people on each instrument you'll play in your methods class that will have past experience on that instrument. You listen to them play "Hot Cross Buns" with the most beautiful tone, perfect dynamics, and was that a little vibrato in there, too!? While they play for the class you just marvel.
You really can't help but be jealous of this person. You're over there just tying to get a decent sound on your instrument and they're sitting next to you ready for the Berlin Philharmonic!
Anyone That Doesn't Play A Stringed Instrument.
Oh my lord. String methods. For the first few weeks of string methods, it's all about technique before even playing your instrument. All non-string instrumentalists look so uncomfortable and we're so afraid to touch anything on the instrument in fear of breaking it. When it comes to actually playing it, it sounds like 1,000 feral cats have been released into the classroom. The screeching, the cringing, it's just awful.
*musically sobbing*
The College Prodigies.
These are the students that just pick up their instruments and are able to play it with no problems at all. How is that even possible? Do they just look at the music and absorb this playing ability that almost mirrors a professionals'? This isn't fair. They're making the rest of us look bad.
Here you are with this foreign object and the prodigy next to you is already playing Mozart concertos and you've only had the instrument for two days. Please teach me your ways College Prodigy. Please.
Methods classes are always fun because it gives that new perspective of what struggles other musicians face. You also get to relive 6th grade by learning a new instrument! There's nothing like getting to experience new instruments with other people that don't know what they're doing either.
