Gillian Hughes
I started at Guildhall in Sept 1977 but was allocated a different teacher. I think I transferred to Yona after a term so I would have started lessons with him in Jan 1978. I did what was then the Graduate course which I finished in July 1980 and although I went off to do a teacher training year at Bulmershe College in Reading I continued having lessons with Yona.
I did peripatetic woodwind teaching for 8 years then I went back to Guildhall to do the Music Therapy course, finishing in July 1990. Since then I have been working mostly as a music therapist with children who have special needs, and doing some private clarinet/sax teaching at home. I have always fitted in as much playing as possible – only a small amount of professional work but some good semi-pro orchestras and lots of chamber music. My husband is a pianist so we perform together a lot.
I remember feeling that Yona was a very stern man at first, but after a while the lessons felt more relaxed and he smiled more!! Perhaps he was just very reserved. I still have some of his words ringing in my ears “More air Gillian, you need to use more air”!!! In fact I find myself saying it to my own pupils now! I have always felt that he gave me a very good solid technical foundation to my playing, I’m only sorry that I was not able to continue with him long enough to really develop further and to cover more repertoire with him.
Student of Yona Ettlinger: 1978-1981
I did peripatetic woodwind teaching for 8 years then I went back to Guildhall to do the Music Therapy course, finishing in July 1990. Since then I have been working mostly as a music therapist with children who have special needs, and doing some private clarinet/sax teaching at home. I have always fitted in as much playing as possible – only a small amount of professional work but some good semi-pro orchestras and lots of chamber music. My husband is a pianist so we perform together a lot.
I remember feeling that Yona was a very stern man at first, but after a while the lessons felt more relaxed and he smiled more!! Perhaps he was just very reserved. I still have some of his words ringing in my ears “More air Gillian, you need to use more air”!!! In fact I find myself saying it to my own pupils now! I have always felt that he gave me a very good solid technical foundation to my playing, I’m only sorry that I was not able to continue with him long enough to really develop further and to cover more repertoire with him.
Student of Yona Ettlinger: 1978-1981