Choose your teacher

Choose wisely. Avoid the sad old guy that been teaching all his life because he didn’t want to leave the school system. I know teachers like that from when I was a student and I had nothing but contempt for them. They themselves were students that passed everything but never really excelled. They maintained but never shone.

Admittedly, you are often assigned tutors and have little choice in the matter. All I am saying is that you just ignore what these people say. Inevitably they will mark your work at some point. Ignore them.

In fact, its probably best to ignore most of what people tell you.

I remember this burned-out hippy who taught on my course. He looks like a casualty of the 60’s, the Pink Floyd member that never was. In fact, thats exactly what he was. He was involved with them and quit sometime before they hit the big time. This guy was clearly lecturing for the money and his lack of passion was evident. I remember him giving me terrible marks and had no interest whatsoever in my defence. I could have been disheartened, as he was my first lecturer in Sound Design. However, I listened to the contemptuous voice in my head and thought sod him.

One year later I enrolled onto a music production module. This teacher was the real deal. Passionate, patient and open minded. One of the best teachers I ever encountered. The following year, he hired me as a teacher.

This all sounds extremely self-congratulatory, please excuse my vanity. The basic point is this, don’t take everyone’s opinions to heart. Just listen and follow the good teachers.

Whether I am that or the former, that’s entirely up to you.