Several years ago, I was asked to work with a Korean exchange student (He never referred to his country as “South” Korean). Three significant memories:
1) He got out of the car and came running to the HU lobby, instrument already assembled. I asked him why. “I’ve been practicing and don’t want to lose any of my lesson time assembling my clarinet.”
2. The first time I pointed out a mistake (and most of you know I am almost always going to find something, right?) be begins to profusely apologize and promise me he will never do that again.
3. At the end of the lesson, I asked him to put his instrument away. “I’m going to finger through my assignment in the car and then practice as soon as I get home, so no use taking apart.”
At the end of our time, he presented me with a “Dan So”, a personally drawn fingering chart — and a note. I have never been able to produce a sound.
