Idea -- guest posters

[Bob]

People like Bernhard.  I've wondered why there aren't more people like Bernhard (or equal, better, etc.) posting.

Why not hire some or entice some? Give them x-amount for a month with the expectation being that they post.  MENC does that.  I'm not sure if they pay.  You always give them a title.   "Guest pedagogue for ___ month 2009"  Maybe someone trying to build their job credential would post.  Or offer free access to the music resources but I'm not sure if they would be interested in that.  Or flat out pay them.  Then if others see it, maybe they would start wanting to follow suit. 

There are other Bernhards out there.  They must be aware of the site by now.  But there must not be enough to entice them to post.  Like a lab project area.

I bet college students would go for it too.  To get some type of experience and build their resume, esp if they wanted to teach online.

Or partner with a school of music at a college or university to set up something more formal.

Or maybe some online youtube-like videos for the student playing, the teacher posting a video commenting back.  I could see some kind of hip tech music school/student/teacher being interested in something like that.

And the guest mentors tend to have a few topics and speeches ready to go.  It could be way for someone to build that stuff up or reuse their old stuff. 

I wonder if it's possible to flat out create another Bernhard.  Take a handful of topics... wit, charm... apply them to various students... Bernhard wasn't actually teaching anyone regularly on the form.  It was more of a one-shot advice, and probably more indepth and tailored than most people do.  Take an idea, like slow practice, explain it enough.... I have wondered how far a student could go when a teacher just offers lots of ideas and encouragement.  We still never heard Bernhard actually play.  I don't think he posted anything.  I suppose it is possible it was made up... Interesting.  Lot of work though, for sure.  I suppose there's not much incentive for more people to post on here.

[db05]

Bob, I wholeheartedly agree. You are so smart to come up with this. Yes there are many bernhards, we just have to draw them here.

[Bob]

I tired emailing a few piano professors years ago. 

The idea's not mine.  MENC (Music Educators National Conference, menc.org, forums are in there somewhere) has guests come in and post for a month on their site.  It's works fairly well.  Some are better than others.  Some stick around though too.  I don't think they get paid, but those guest posters would possibly get some kind of professional service recognition for it, so that's an incentive.  Or maybe they do it for free, but MENC is huge and national.  Maybe they get a free memership for it.  I'm not sure. 

Otherwise, what's the incentive?  It's giving away free advice, spending time and energy doing that.  Good will, but that doesn't get very far. 

Maybe just requesting someone to come in would be good.  That could be an idea.  Or have people suggest guest pedagogues.  Someone might go for that -- Send an email "So and so has recommended you as a guest pedagogue on the Piano Street site for one month... We would be so honored... blah, blah, blah..."  And if you get one big name to do it, others would too.  IF you can get a big name.  Normal is probably good enough, but name recognition would attract others.  I imagine with so many students on the site, many college or college-bound... they would be willing to recommend their teacher or personally ask their teacher too.  Viola.  (or Violin)

[Bob]

In terms of students, anyone could be a student, but if it were set up more like a masterclass, maybe people could prepare something or get voted/selected to be the few who get personal comments from the guest pedagogues.  Post a video or a sound clip by a certain, have people vote (or not since that would eliminate a lot of beginners), and then those people would get advice from someone.  Everyone else would get the comments, just like a masterclass.

[mike_lang]

We don't need more Bernhards... we need more Mariks and Ramseys.

[db05]

We don't need more Bernhards... we need more Mariks and Ramseys.

Then likewise 

[javacisnotrecognized]

Ultimately, the result of any plan like this is that the people who were hired start posting spam/dividing large posts into alot of small ones so as to keep their count up and get more money.

I also think you might be completely ignoring the objectives of Bernhard, marik, ramsey, etc. in trying to undertake this plan.

[Bob]

I also think you might be completely ignoring the objectives of Bernhard, marik, ramsey, etc. in trying to undertake this plan.

How so?

The people on MENC just post, some better and more than others.  Even if they get paid, it's not for number of posts.

[javacisnotrecognized]

I think their objective is to disseminate useful, practical, and accurate information against the teeming mass of misinformation that is the internet. Since a post, once written, remains for all time (In most cases), all that is needed is to make the information available once; and everyone who reads, understands, and applies (And then passes it on) is already stopping the disinformation. Furthermore; people who pose the same question can quickly be referred to the original topics.

Thus, to attract members who have original, accurate, and useful information, I think the following is neccesary:

* Attract more members who have open minds, and are ready to try out ideas/information suggested, so those who _have_ ideas have incentive to share them.

* Get them to ask questions that haven't been asked before; and weed out topics that have been done to death (We do not need any more "Is Hanon useful or not?" threads, regardless of how greatly the one to post it wants to know).
They could all be gathered into a single topic, but this leads to:

* Large topics can become unwieldy; one thing I think that exacerbates this is page lengths: It seems like a billion post are made before you need to turn the page. Shortening the page length might help because it can give you the illusion you are getting somewhere. (This is just an unverified theory I have, though)

* Alot of posts in those topics are redundant, repetitious reiterations of viewpoints that have been repeatedly resurrected previously within the thread; and refuted with recursive arguments that raise only more ridiculous randomness.

So in short: Eliminate all the redunant information!


Just my two cents.

[scottmcc]

a more useful way of presenting the information from the "guest posters" would be to have them distill the discussion into articles, which are then posted on a separate section.  that way the useless name-calling and other internet drivel is edited out and the real discussion persists.  overall I think it's a good idea.  the other idea would be creating separate areas for the paid guests to put their posts in, so as to make it easier to find them.

anyway, it's worth investigating.

[thalbergmad]

I think we need more posters and posts in the actual piano part of the forum.

The problem perhaps is that so much has been discussed over the years that  people who have been here for a while might not want to contribute, so new & active members would be nice.

The "anything" part of the forum overtook the others a couple of years ago and now it is by far the most popular.

Whilst i consider myself partially responsible for this, i do think it is important to keep the piano part active and it appears we need some fresh blood to achieve it.

Thal

[m19834]

OR, we could have those whom are qualified to do so, teach graduate courses through the forum and have PS become an online-based music school where individuals can earn graduate degrees and such ... *whistles* 

You know, we have some members whom are already qualified for official things like this.

*e'hem*

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,33335.msg389512.html#msg389512

https://www.pianostreet.com/smf/index.php/topic,30259.msg353751.html#msg353751

[db05]

Another idea would be something like in ultimate-guitar.com , where there is a space for columns/lessons by members/guests. There is a board for contributions, and the ones that get approval appear in the columns/lessons pages.

Also note the existence of a board called Archives of the Best Threads.

[giannalinda]

THats a great idea! you should do that! That would be a great addition to the website. Good luck with that.

[tds]

Whilst i consider myself partially responsible for this..
Thal

hahahah, it's all ur fault, mate .

and pianistimo, and db, and java, and tanman, and everyone. 'cept me

[db05]

hahahah, it's all ur fault, mate .

and pianistimo, and db, and java, and tanman, and everyone. 'cept me

I feel honored.

[tds]

I feel honored.

we have always wanted to make you happy hun

[db05]

we have always wanted to make you happy hun

Thanks, sweetie. 

[morningstar]

we have always wanted to make you happy hun

Touching.