The Bass Collective

[Alaska Bass]

I am curious about anyone's experiences at the Bass Collective in NYC. It used to be a sub-category of the Drummer's Collective, but appears to be broadening. I am interested in attending some short term clinics, mainly because of the reputation of the Collective in its percussion training. What have you experienced in the bass side of things? Anyone?

[Alaska Bass]

OK, maybe anyone knows someone personally who went there?

[Bhuti]

Originally Posted by Alaska Bass

I am curious about anyone's experiences at the Bass Collective in NYC. It used to be a sub-category of the Drummer's Collective, but appears to be broadening. I am interested in attending some short term clinics, mainly because of the reputation of the Collective in its percussion training. What have you experienced in the bass side of things? Anyone?

Their percussion is great. It's manditory for some styles that they teach.

The Collective really depends on what you need out of a school. If you want to learn how to hang and be able to play in MOST situations. Look no further. If you want to read and get your theory up, hook up with Hill Greene and Steve Marks. If you want a drummer's perspective of your playing, Hit up Marko Djordjevic or Pete Retzlaf. And if you want to know how it's done right, hit up Janek Gwizdala or Lincoln Goines. (I dunno if Janek is still doing residency there, but check it out.)

It's a great school, with great staff and an AWESOME Director. This was my experience. It is what you make of it. I'd reccomend it in a heart beat. Changed my playing and my life.

[MarkTAW]

I took some lessons with Steve Marks. I wasn't thrilled. They made me buy a ... 4 lesson (?) chunk rather than a single trial lessons and Steve made me buy his book, which was just filled with exercises - nothing special.

It was everything I hated about piano lessons as a kid all over again. I'd say I was an intermediate player at the time - not a beginner, far from being pro (hell, I'm far from being pro now, but I'm a lot better), and a lot of what he was doing was very basic, very boring, and very non inspiring or motivational. Basic exercises that I probably should have been able to do with more facility, but zzzzzzzz.

These are the only bass lessons I've ever had, and I sort of regret it because now I'm not able to say "I've never had a lesson in my life." I've taken guitar lessons, vocal lessons, composition lessons - all seriously and for extended periods of time and they all helped tremendously because I found the right teacher for me.

Bottom line: It seemed like he was teaching the book & not teaching me. Clinics may be a whole different ball game, plus you get the school vibe with lots of students and jam sessions going on. But then, living in NY that's hard not to find.

Try the clinics, try different teachers. Find someone that will work for you. They may be at the collective or they may not be. Some of my best teachers I found by just talking to them or by answering ads in papers.

[Alaska Bass]

Thanks guys, that is helpful.

[Bhuti]

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

I took some lessons with Steve Marks. I wasn't thrilled. They made me buy a ... 4 lesson (?) chunk rather than a single trial lessons and Steve made me buy his book, which was just filled with exercises - nothing special.

It was everything I hated about piano lessons as a kid all over again. I'd say I was an intermediate player at the time - not a beginner, far from being pro (hell, I'm far from being pro now, but I'm a lot better), and a lot of what he was doing was very basic, very boring, and very non inspiring or motivational. Basic exercises that I probably should have been able to do with more facility, but zzzzzzzz.

These are the only bass lessons I've ever had, and I sort of regret it because now I'm not able to say "I've never had a lesson in my life." I've taken guitar lessons, vocal lessons, composition lessons - all seriously and for extended periods of time and they all helped tremendously because I found the right teacher for me.

Bottom line: It seemed like he was teaching the book & not teaching me. Clinics may be a whole different ball game, plus you get the school vibe with lots of students and jam sessions going on. But then, living in NY that's hard not to find.

Try the clinics, try different teachers. Find someone that will work for you. They may be at the collective or they may not be. Some of my best teachers I found by just talking to them or by answering ads in papers.

Steve isn't amazing, but he's a friggin workhorse. He's there from 8am to 9pm almost 5 days a week beating the stuff that "isnt fun" into kids brains. Granted he's a little boring and his jokes are dated, he gets the job done.

You're very right about having the right kind of teacher though. I had my days when i hated to see certain teacher's faces, no names, but at the end of the day, the goal is to make you better, i think if your open minded and you realize the goals, you can work DECENTLY with any teacher.

[MarkTAW]

Originally Posted by Bhuti

Steve isn't amazing, but he's a friggin workhorse. He's there from 8am to 9pm almost 5 days a week beating the stuff that "isnt fun" into kids brains. Granted he's a little boring and his jokes are dated, he gets the job done.

You're very right about having the right kind of teacher though. I had my days when i hated to see certain teacher's faces, no names, but at the end of the day, the goal is to make you better, i think if your open minded and you realize the goals, you can work DECENTLY with any teacher.

I agree with what you're saying, but there are teachers who will give you exercises and drill you on them, there are teachers that will give you "aha" insights, and there are teachers that will get to know *your* deficiencies and work with you with no pre-planned syllabus - they create the syllabus for you.

I've had all 3 & it's the latter two that I always stuck with.

If you stick with it, you'll make progress with just about any teachers, but I'd rather find one that inspires me, motivates me, gives me goals I want to work towards, and shows me how I've progressed.