Bass Seminar for Youths....I need your inputs!!!

dafunky1 · #1 05-21-2008, 10:21 AM

I'm new to posting on this board but I've been lurking for some time. I'm the main bass player at my church and my Minister of Music asked me to give a Bass Seminar for the youths in the summer for 6 sessions. The sessions will last approx. 1 1/2 hours. I expect to have about 3 to 7 kids ranging from 13 to 20 years old. Their parents will rent basses from a local music store and I'll worry about supplying the amps.

I've been playing bass for a LONG time but this is the first time teaching a seminar like this. I created an outline below and need your inputs. Is there anything I should add, or what else would a beginner like to see? Keep in mind, I only have 6 sessions, so I won’t get heavy with the theory. The first session is for discussion only. They will bring basses for the second and subsequent sessions.

Thanks for you inputs.

-----------------------------------------------
Objectives for this Seminar:

SESSION 1:

• Understanding the Role of the Bass o Harmony
o Rhythm

• Why Do You want to play bass? (class discussion)

• Musical Genres

• Brief Origins/History of Music

• Play CD examples of various Bass Players / and musical styles (discussion)
[I will give each student a CD with examples of these artists]
o Ron Carter
o James Jamerson
o Larry Graham
o Rocco Prestia
o Chuck Rainey
o Jaco Pastorious
o Marcus Miller
o Victor Wooten
o Stanley Clarke
o Mark King
o Michael Manring

SESSIONS 2-6

• Types of Basses
o 4 strings
o Extended Range Basses (5 strings and up)
o Fretless

• Bass Anatomy - Getting Acquainted to your bass
o Fretboard / Neck
o Pickup Configuration
o Active / Passive Electronics
o Truss
o Bridge
o Nut
o Controls
o Body (Woods)
o Strings
o Tuning Pegs

• Tuning Your Bass

• Amplification
o Combo Amp
o Bass Amp Head
o Bass Cabinets (configurations)

• Playing By Ear

• Playing Techniques
Coordinating your left hand and right hand
o Right Hand Techniques
 Fingerstyle
 Thumb
 Palm
 Pick
o Left Hand Techniques

• Keys, Roots, Scales
o Learning Notes (Fretboard)
 Major Scales
 Minor Scales
 Pentatonic Scales
 Note Patterns
• Playing/ Practicing Tips
• Finding a Teacher

Reference Books:

"Bass Guitar For Dummies"

Web Sites:

various youtube videos for beginner bassists

MarkTAW · #2 05-21-2008, 10:45 AM

That's pretty good & probably how I would do it.

I'm not sure what your blanks are - "harmony" and "the history of bass" are wide open topics.

I'd also add rhythm. In section 1 you say Harmony & Rhythm are the two functions of bass, but you only have a later section on harmony.

Since you have 6 sections, I'd also introduce the theory section slowly and combine it with the history of music section. But I've been told that I'm weird when it comes to this stuff...

Lastly, rather than samples of people that are famous to bass players, I'd give samples of music where the bass is prominent in that genre. My lineup might be more:

Mingus / Jazz
John Paul Jones / Rock
Paul McCartney / Rock
Family Man / Reggae
Bootsy / Funk
Larry Graham / Funk
Duck Dunn / Soul
James Jamerson / Soul
Cachao / Mambo

etc.

onlyclave · #3 05-21-2008, 10:47 AM

In a workshop/seminar situation as this for kids of that age let them bring their basses to all of the sessions otherwise it's no fun.

Be prepared for a lot of noodling while you are trying to talk over them.

Try to concentrate on playing and not so much the "bookwork" stuff. I think it's cool to play some CDs for them to hear the different styles but be ready to show them how to play something similar to what they just heard ("Here's how Larry Graham got that cool sound with his thumb!")

Rome was not built in a day an you aren't going to turn these kids into seasoned session dogs over the course of 10 hours of seminar. Just make it fun and concentrate on playing music. Have some examples ready of tunes these kids will recognize and they can play fairly quickly. Some with less interest will fall out and the ones that stick with it will be ready for more of the formalized music training you list.

dafunky1 · #4 05-21-2008, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MarkTAW

That's pretty good & probably how I would do it.

I'm not sure what your blanks are - "harmony" and "the history of bass" are wide open topics.

I'd also add rhythm. In section 1 you say Harmony & Rhythm are the two functions of bass, but you only have a later section on harmony.

Since you have 6 sections, I'd also introduce the theory section slowly and combine it with the history of music section. But I've been told that I'm weird when it comes to this stuff...

Lastly, rather than samples of people that are famous to bass players, I'd give samples of music where the bass is prominent in that genre. My lineup might be more:

Mingus / Jazz
John Paul Jones / Rock
Paul McCartney / Rock
Family Man / Reggae
Bootsy / Funk
Larry Graham / Funk
Duck Dunn / Soul
James Jamerson / Soul
Cachao / Mambo

etc.

Good points!! I will use your suggestions. Thanks.

dafunky1 · #5 05-21-2008, 11:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyclave

In a workshop/seminar situation as this for kids of that age let them bring their basses to all of the sessions otherwise it's no fun.

Be prepared for a lot of noodling while you are trying to talk over them.

Try to concentrate on playing and not so much the "bookwork" stuff. I think it's cool to play some CDs for them to hear the different styles but be ready to show them how to play something similar to what they just heard ("Here's how Larry Graham got that cool sound with his thumb!")

Rome was not built in a day an you aren't going to turn these kids into seasoned session dogs over the course of 10 hours of seminar. Just make it fun and concentrate on playing music. Have some examples ready of tunes these kids will recognize and they can play fairly quickly. Some with less interest will fall out and the ones that stick with it will be ready for more of the formalized music training you list.

Your points make lots of sense, especially dealing with youngsters. I really have to concentrate on making this fun!