Leon Russianoff :

Abstract

Perhaps the most difficult obstacle that Russianoff had to overcome on his way to success was his pervasive inferiority complex. Russianoff never believed that he had the innate talent required to be a first-rate performer. This severe lack of self-confidence seriously impaired his willingness to risk the potential embarrassment of dealing with the high pressure of auditioning. Ironically, the single most fundamental and valuable aspect of Russianoff's teaching is his ability to instill self-confidence in his students through his use of positive reinforcement.

Despite his lack of impressive academic and performing credentials, Russianoff now teaches the clarinet at a number of highly renowned schools and universities including the Juilliard and Manhattan Schools of Music.

This study reveals that Russianoff did not arrive at his phenomenal success in the presupposed fashion. For instance, Russianoff attended the City College of New York in Manhattan--not one of the other more prestigiously renowned schools in the New York City area. He majored in English and Sociology, and has never taken any college music courses. Russianoff did not pursue any formal academic study beyond his Bachelor's degree. And finally, Russianoff has never held a major or near major performing job on the clarinet.

It is believed that Russianoff's unique teaching approach, which is designed to instill self-confidence and encourage individuality in his students, can benefit not only other clarinet teachers, but all teachers in general.

The primary research for this study is comprised of personal interviews with Russianoff, his wife and daughter, and eleven of his notable former clarinet students. The information obtained from these interviews provides an indepth tracing of Russianoff's philosophical and methodological evolution which spans nearly five decades of teaching.

One of the best indicators of a teacher's effectiveness is the degree of professional success attained by his students. Using this criterion, Leon Russianoff has to be considered one of the most effective and successful clarinet teachers in the world. His former students include some of the world's most outstanding clarinetists.