Teaching Question

[Elionjamz]

I am an American student living/studying history in Tel Aviv. I was at a rehersal today, and the owner of the guitar shop that the rehersal studio was in offered me a job as a bass teacher. I have been playing since I was a kid (I'm 23, I guess I still am a kid), but I've never taught before, especially in a different language. I know I have a bunch of knowledge, skills and techniques that I could pass along to a young bass players, but I have no idea where or how to start with a student. Can anyone give me an suggestions, advice, lesson plans or any help?

Cheers!

[Liko]

First of all, I thought English was at least a common language in Israel, if not the official language. Excuse my ignorance if it is otherwise; I know Arabic and Hebrew are also native languages of the area.

More to your question, I think the best idea might be to find a book on learning bass which you respect as a good source of information, and build your lessons on that. Much like a teacher of almost any other subject builds their course around a textbook, using a (good) bass method book as the basis for lessons will allow you to build on your student's previous knowledge so you won't get any "when am I ever going to need THIS?" questions (if they're asked, just flip to the next lesson or the lesson after that and show them the applications of skills they are learning). It also allows you and your student to measure their progress; it's easier to say "look at how much you've learned!" when you can show them how far they've gone in the book and how little there is left. It's also easier to deflate their ego by showing them how much is left to learn in the book (and if they're almost through the book, plopping down a second, third and/or fourth).

This may sound like I'm saying your "lessons" should be "read this chapter, do the exercises and come back next week ready to play them in front of me". Nothing could be further from the truth. You being there allows them to get feedback and advice, the kind of personalized interaction that a book simply cannot give. Not only can you show them how to position their fingers, you can adjust their fingers and make suggestions for minute changes in technique that one or two pictures in a book simply cannot convey. A book cannot tell your student what he's doing wrong in every conceivable case. A good teacher can.

[Elionjamz]

Thanks for the advice. You are very correct. English is very common here.
I speak Hebrew, but I think I will rely on English for most of the lessons. My only concern is that students may not be able to read lessons in English. But that aside, I think you are right on. I was speaking with my mom, who is a classical flute player/educator, and she said the same thing. Any good books?

[mutedeity]

I personally start at the same place with every student.

My first lesson for anyone is to show them the major scale and explain how it is derived from the piano playing the notes C-C without accidentals and how it translates to the bass playing tone-tone-semitone-tone-tone-tone-semittone. This allows me to assess their theoretical knowledge it also allows me to assess their technical approach with both hands. From there I teach the modes, triads, 7th chords, intervals and so on until they have a good universal understanding of theoretical language. Once that is established I go on to teach different types of techniques styles and theory applications.

As far as reading goes I personally don't introduce charts to the student until they understand the concept of diatonic theory at least as a way to relate musical ideas. I do this for the reason that reading a score can be done verbatum without really understanding what it is you are reading in a theoretical sense, anyone can read and play a G7 chord but that doesn't mean you understand the function of the dominant.

That is not to say that I neglect reading by any means and in particular I introduce reading rhythms very early on. I just feel it is better that the student understands the difference between reading and theory and understands what they are reading rather than just playing a bunch of notes they see on a page.

[luknfur]

Haven't given lessons but I've been a student and owned a store where I had instructors.

One thing I'd recommend is to listen to them in terms of where they want to go and what they want to accomplish. Make the experience enjoyable for them and consistently make them aware of any progress they've made toward their goals. And get them playing with somebody no matter how primitive the level - preferably other students at the store. You'll be happy to the degree you make your students happy and the boss happy - and the students will learn if they play with somebody regardless of whether anybody teaches them or not.