My first week as a freshman in college, I was given the swift kick in the rear that is Dan Bukvich’s music theory and ear training course. 5 days a week. Very intense. No whining. I loved it, though I fell into some of the traps he sets for students early on.
I remember the very first lecture. After no introduction and with 80 students cramped together on the rehearsal room floor, we were taught a rhythm and concentration exercise involving plastic cups. After 30 minutes of this, he gave a short introduction and wrote a few notes on the chalk-board. He quickly mentioned that we would be learning a lot of something called “solfege“, and also said that the Library of Alexandra, which held all the knowledge of the ancient world, was burned in 391 AD as collateral damage when Emperor Theodosius had all pagan temples destroyed. Just an anecdote.
Back for class the next day. Chairs all out in rows. Exam! Test! Your first test of the semester already. This WILL count heavily in your grade. Etc. Take out a piece of paper. Write you name down. The test is pass or fail. One question: What year was the Library of Alexandria burned? OK, times up, hand you test into one of the TAs.
The collective murmer of “oh crap…” that went up from the room was a CLASSIC moment. From then on, my eyes and ears were glued to Dan. You learn to love him. Or not. Within a week, the class was down to about 50. They decided they didn’t really want to study music after all.
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September 19th, 2008 at 7:52 PM
Awesome! As you know I too am a HUGE Dan fan. I’m trying to remember what little trap he set for us on the first day. It wasn’t that one but I am sure it was something very similar.
Dan hates arrogance because when you think you know everything there is nothing he can teach you. I did learn that very early on, you keep your mouth shut because you’ll probably learn something you didn’t know before. Stuff like the date of the burning of the Library. Or maybe some music.
It’s interesting to me that the stuff that he teaches you is more stuff like focus and concentration and the right attitude than notes and rhythms. It’s like you have to combine perfectionism with a deep humility and then you might actually go somewhere. His classes have carryover in every area of life, not just music.
September 19th, 2008 at 8:02 PM
Right on. Teaching you how to work hard is actually the objective. Learning the skills is important, but secondary. I think that’s why his courses are so compelling. You’re not just learning music. You are forced to wrestle with some of the deeper things of who you are as a person.
June 22nd, 2009 at 2:30 AM
[...] Where have I seen something like this before? Oh yes. Dan Bukvich of course. By far the most effective teacher I encountered in university. I’ve written about him before. [...]