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I think the key there is if they asked. Which they didn't.

Yes, but I was asked.

What types of criteria are you looking for when teaching children, who are also closer to the beginner (formative) stage? In terms of what you want to teach them, and what they can handle, what do you want to see in the music you choose?

No one asked of your opinion of the person playing. You asked about a quality piece of work written by Gurlitt, and a link was provided. You then proceeded to comment on the performer in addition to the composition.

No one asked about the performance. Even if/when you are asked about something like that, only specific comments have use and value. For example, if someone asks about their performance you could respond, "I think the tempo was slow and the voicing needs work. All the voices sounded like they were the same volume." That response - although still an opinion - might help someone grow as an artist.

Okay, but it's not an opinion. The performance is rhythmically uneven and phrased poorly, and the voicing in the A major section is careless and bad. Is that better for you?

Yes, that is improved. Now the unfortunate performer could work on their phrasing and voicing. It's hard to just work on being "not awful". One can't just turn down the "awful level control knob"
Also it sounds less mean spirited this way. I hope you'll agree there is importance in how humans interact with each other.

bump

I don't choose music. They will bring in the music they're playing, and I will teach that.

You're kidding.

Young children who are at the early stages will be choosing music for themselves and will have started playing that music, and then bring it in for you to teach?

...No.

I don't teach "young children at the early stages."

That is what I was trying to get at. AZN explained why he liked the music of this particular composer. It addresses the problem of teaching young students who are at these stages, and finding compositions that will suit the needs, limitations, and tastes of that age group. When you criticize the music for the musical qualities you prefer, you are not thinking about these attributes. You have different needs because you are teaching a different age group.

Many other composers wrote far superior music that is just as easy. And I can also. If I needed to teach a younger student, I would find better music than the Gurlitt piece.

Wow. Is there no safe thread on any of these forums anymore?

FYI, the Gurlitt piece I posted was chosen by the RCM to be included in their publications (Celebration Series Perspectives, Book 5), so at least some experts in the field of music pedagogy thought it was a worthwhile composition.

Oh come on. THEY don't have to listen to it over and over again.

But you don't teach younger students, and you don't teach or form beginners. Have you worked out the kind of criteria that are behind those choices for this kind of teaching? The teachers here who do teach that level and age group have done so. When you are questioning their choices, have you thought it through from that angle? I mean, this is also a place for learning from each other, regardless of prior background.

OK. That's funny! Thanks.

Somewhat more seriously, "they" do, since "they" are probably a committee of teachers who DO have to hear virtually everything on the list over and over again.

It's almost a truism, I would guess, that any piece that winds up "pedagogical," whether or not it was composed for that purpose, will eventually elicit that sensation of "groan, not again."