‘Soviet music teaching is no longer effective’
mainMikhail Khokhlov, director of Moscow’s newly reconstructed Gnessin School, has been calling for change in Russian music education.
He denounces the prevalent method (see here) of hitting a pupil who plays a wrong note and says the Soviet system of grooming talent from the cradle up is no longer appropriate. Read his extensive and provocative thoughts here (in Russian).
“the prevalent method”… someone here is unafraid of generalizations.
As for Khokhlov he should tour China and wonder if little Chinese prodigies get the “western” treatment or something else…
Usual Chinese prodigies whatever the treatment are mostly brainless little
automatons playing fast and accurately.