Interview with Mr. Mark Aubel of Amador Valley High School

My Dad,  my greatest mentor in business, used to say "if you hear the same thing three times from different people, it's probably true."  Until then, it was just one opinion.  I am fondly remembering his lesson as I read this interview.  I have a set of 4 questions I'm calling Educator Qs and Mr. Mark Aubel has kindly responded in writing.  So much of what he says was touched on in a previous post called Practice Makes Perfect, but if No One's Perfect, Why Practice?  His expertise and experience teaching many students of music at Amador Valley High School in Pleasanton, Calfornia is undeniable.  My family and friends have been the happy receipients of his careful tutelage and enjoy his unfailingly easy-going, supportive manor, so important in regards to performance.  We are all grateful and better for the experience.  We look forward to Aubel concerts, always a varietal tour de force.  You will hear everything from Beethoven and opera to 70's pop songs or a current movie soundtrack and male choral groups singing showtunes, and you will fully enjoy the ride.  His signature sign-off gives a clue to the positive vibes he always projects:  "On the Upbeat" ~ Greatest Gratitudes, Mr. Aubel! 

Mark Aubel, PUSD 1996-97 Teacher of the Year

EDUCATOR Qs for Mr. Aubel

1.  How do you find a balance between imposing your own ideas over the student's creativity?

My job is to help the students be creative and become invested in the process of making music.  I sometimes let them choose one or two of the pieces that we rehearse and even perform.  The more we collaborate, the harder they work.  Certain groups like a jazz combo I will give a great deal of freedom to.  Other groups, like my large orchestra, I has a much more formal structure.

2. A recent book about music education written by a neuroscientist claims: 

Practice + Parent Support = Musical Achievement.  Assuming parent support includes lessons or school classes,  do you see this statement as accurate?

Yes, private lessons can help a student get to that next level.  I have students whose parents pay for expensive lessons and the student doesn't practice.  Without practice, you are just wasting money and time.   Of the two, practice is more important.

 3.  What is your approach to teaching a student a process as intangible and personal as improvisation?

Improvisation is one of the most difficult things to teach.  I try to give the students tools with which they can be successful improvisors.  The tools include: theory, scales, and patterns.  And, of course, the most important thing, is to listen to jazz as much as you can. 

4. What qualities have you seen in students that seem to predict future success in music?

Future success in music can be defined as someone who can gig.  It can also be defined by someone who just continues to play his instrument.  The qualities that help someone achieve either of these would be:

1. a love of music

2. discipline

3. patience - the ability to play something over and over again until you get it right

The person who eventually cures cancer will be a musician. Why?  Because when he doesn't get it right the first 100 times, he is going to try the experiment again.... until he finds the answer. 

4. hard work

5. a love of music... oh yeah, already said that