Bass teacher woes.

[Mr wiggl3s]

I'm signed up to take summer bass lessons at my college. It'll end up costing $120 + $100 "lab fee" + $80+ in books for 8 weeks of lessons. w00t. Whatever. I really want and need lessons.

Thing is, my only interaction with this guy, over email, is leading me to think he just doesn't give a **** about me, the student. It's starting to worry me if it's even worth taking lessons with the guy. I want to give him the benefit of the doubt, but dude, as an instructor, adjunct or not, aren't you suppose to be doing everything you can to help me?

There is only 1 bass teacher in my location, and this guy at the school. I think the 1 bass teacher teaches at another college. There are just the 2 colleges here that i know of.

So, anyone think it's worth taking the $300 8-week bass lesson investment with this dude who comes off as an a dick?

[dalkowski]

Absolutely not. Visualize your $300 circling the drain....

I think you need to beat the bushes harder for a teacher—I can't believe there are so few in Mpls. Find them, talk with them -- old-school TALK in person or on the phone, NOT email. Discuss your goals (you do have some, right?). Experienced teacher + personality match + clear, achievable goals + practice = success for student as well as teacher.

Good luck.

PS: 80 BUCKS for books?!?!? That's highway robbery, plain and simple. You can do better.

[hdracer]

If you need a GREAT teacher that doesn't charge a arm & leg, PM me I'll give you his name & #

[MysterMunky]

As a private teacher, I get so many one time calls asking about lessons and a few will call back a second time. These people never end up taking lessons with me. When I talk to them, I don't sound excited or enthused at all. When I get a call from an excited bass player that talks about goals and starts "beating my door down", my interest is sparked. Only then do I act like I care about the student.

Plus being a professor, they probably get way more calls/emails like I described above. Professors are usually busy people. Try giving them a call and express your interest. See if you can get the ball rolling to set something up in the immediate future. Ask about audition pieces and other things that they will want you to play for them.

As to the price, looks like hes treating you like a student at the college itself. Have you inquired about private lessons with them that aren't through the college? Let them know the price holding you back but you would like to take lessons and pay them directly.

At my rate, ($25/30 min), 1 hour lesson a week for 8 weeks would total out to $400 and I don't include materials.

[WardEarth]

Yeah, I think I'd look into private lessons. 1 on 1 time is much more valuable than being in a class.

[Mr wiggl3s]

Originally Posted by dalkowski

Absolutely not. Visualize your $300 circling the drain....

I think you need to beat the bushes harder for a teacher—I can't believe there are so few in Mpls. Find them, talk with them -- old-school TALK in person or on the phone, NOT email. Discuss your goals (you do have some, right?). Experienced teacher + personality match + clear, achievable goals + practice = success for student as well as teacher.

Good luck.

PS: 80 BUCKS for books?!?!? That's highway robbery, plain and simple. You can do better.

There are, but i just moved to bismarck north dakota. Ya. None. Funny thing about books, he didn't even know which books were the ones he used. I was going to ebay the books and get them cheaper, in advance, but he just said the blue and white bass book from the book store. He got real specific in saying they were mel bay books though.

Originally Posted by MysterMunky

As a private teacher, I get so many one time calls asking about lessons and a few will call back a second time. These people never end up taking lessons with me. When I talk to them, I don't sound excited or enthused at all. When I get a call from an excited bass player that talks about goals and starts "beating my door down", my interest is sparked. Only then do I act like I care about the student.

Plus being a professor, they probably get way more calls/emails like I described above. Professors are usually busy people. Try giving them a call and express your interest. See if you can get the ball rolling to set something up in the immediate future. Ask about audition pieces and other things that they will want you to play for them.

As to the price, looks like hes treating you like a student at the college itself. Have you inquired about private lessons with them that aren't through the college? Let them know the price holding you back but you would like to take lessons and pay them directly.

At my rate, ($25/30 min), 1 hour lesson a week for 8 weeks would total out to $400 and I don't include materials.

Ya, that's understandable, and that's what i did. I emailed him 8 months prior to me starting school, something along these lines (paraphrased). "I play heavy metal music. Most of the music i listen to, and am looking to play, is completely centered around blues, with minimal jazz influence. I don't know much of music theroy, only the extreme basics, but i really want to learn how to read a staff proficiently, and go from there. Where do i go from here, and what can you do to help?" It was much worded much better, but that's the gist of what i wanted to say. To which he did not respond at all, and 2 months prior i sent a shortened version of that, and he just said (paraphrased) "Applied Bass 145".

I'll try and contact him again, i just sent him an email where i'm trying to bleed him for info because i really need it right now. It wasn't that nice of an email.

Originally Posted by WardEarth

Yeah, I think I'd look into private lessons. 1 on 1 time is much more valuable than being in a class.

He said he teaches out of his home during summer, as it's more flexible. It's all just 1 on 1 lessons.

Originally Posted by hdracer

If you need a GREAT teacher that doesn't charge a arm & leg, PM me I'll give you his name & #

****.

[MysterMunky]

Try calling.

[robboy]

"I play heavy metal music. Most of the music i listen to, and am looking to play, is completely centered around blues, with minimal jazz influence. I don't know much of music theroy, only the extreme basics, but i really want to learn how to read a staff proficiently, and go from there

Ok, I teach at the university level and privately and if you would have emailed me I would have told you that we don't accept students that don't read music and a certain level of proficiency is required. It's not because we want to exclude anyone or that we don't realize that there are many great players that don't read, it's just that in a university setting there is no time to teach the basics to someone. Often there is a set amount of things that a student needs to do in certain amount of time. Accepting a student without the required skills just sets them up for failure. We do grade people. Also, a summer course is usually accelerated because of the time frame. Most regular semester courses are 14 - 16 weeks long. When someone contacts me with the type of message you sent this teacher I try to get them to study outside of the university setting privately until they are ready to go to school. If this guy didn't say anything about that to you I think that that is the real problem. The cost is probably not up to him but the fact that he doesn't know the name of the book isn't to cool either. Maybe a teacher who works thru Skype or something might be better for you.
I also have to admit that I don't always take email requests too seriously because 80% or so never go anywhere and I don't have time to spend answering each in great detail. Good luck finding a teacher and I applaud your decision to study and improve.

[foundation]

Originally Posted by Mr wiggl3s

I'll try and contact him again, i just sent him an email where i'm trying to bleed him for info because i really need it right now. It wasn't that nice of an email.

Well perhaps that's the problem. It sounds as though you are asking for a free lesson before the lessons actually start. Although I commend you for your enthusiasm, the instructor is being paid a set amount for a set number of lessons. He is not being paid to provide you with free instruction whenever you want some information via email. If you "really need" the info right now, then perhaps you should offer to pay the instructor for his time "right now" and ask if you could set up some lessons before the program starts. In that way you are being respectful, and paying for his time and expertise -- that's how he makes a living. Otherwise, you are asking for his time for free, and that's not cool.
Some instructors are very generous with their time outside of lessons, and some are not and in my opinion one should be appreciative of the former, but not unfairly critical of the latter just because they set different boundaries. They should be paid for their time, and by the way....if you live in a place where there are few teachers, sending a nasty email will get you with NO teachers and a bad reputation in a hurry. The bass community is very small and starting off on the wrong foot could have far-reaching implications not only with lessons, but with your professional career.
I sense you are a young bass player who is passionately enthusiastic about playing, and you want to get at it right now....that's great...good for you!!
My advice would be to be patient, make a list of questions, and see how your first lesson goes and then you will be in a position to evaluate if you got your money's worth FOR THE LESSON. Good luck and keep the passion.

[Mr wiggl3s]

It's not like that at all. I need to register for summer classes now before they are full (registration started 2 weeks ago). I need to know if i can take bass lessons in addition to other classes. He told me i should wait until 2 weeks before summer classes start (June). It doesn't work like that, not only will registration be closed but i wont be in it. I want to know what his hours are so i can start looking for a job, and can know what to tell my prospective employers. Telling me to wait for 2 months is not a viable answer. I'm just looking for a bone here is all.

And i completely disagree, adjunct or not, what i want, as a student paying his salary, comes first.

Edit: Sorry for coming off as a stubborn ass, i don't mean to, this is just all i can think of though.

[foundation]

I do agree that an instructor should be available to answer questions regarding registration. If you are having problems registering for a course, you might consider contacting the administration and asking for their intervention. He may not be able to give you the information you are looking for, because he may not know what HIS hours are yet. He may be checking with HIS prospective employers to see what hours he can offer. He may not know what his availability will be until two weeks prior to the start of classes. If that's the case, then you need to make a decision because it sounds as though he is either unable, or unwilling, to set a schedule right now. In any case, I agree, he should be prepared to communicate at least that much to you. Administration should be able to give you an indication of what expectations they have of their instructors wrt their availability and flexibility and also what recourse you have if your schedules ultimately do not match.
I do have to disagree on one point, though...I would say that you are not paying a salary, you are paying for lessons. Even "salaried" workers are not expected to be available outside of work hours, but I do agree, he has an obligation to be accomodating to a certain degree if you are going to be paying for lessons. Good luck, it sounds as though you are in a frustrating situation, for sure.

[mlz77096]

I met my teacher when I went to hear his band play. He was playing fiddle that night, but heard me making some comments to his bass player. He gave me his card, we got together and I've been very happy because he is teaching using the Old Time music that I love, and I know I'm learning.

I think there definitely has to be a connection wtth the teacher. Maybe if I had not disliked my piano teacher so much as a child, I would have made much more progress.

[HaVIC5]

Just a point to make, whoever this guy is hardly is getting paid at all for his time. $120+$100 lab fee equals $220 total going directly to the 8 weeks of lessons (plus 80 dollars for books, which obviously don't go to him). Assuming he gets 70% of that (it could be a lot less), he's only receiving $150-$160 for 8 weeks of private lessons, or the equivalent of charging $10/half hour (20 an hour).

That's a lot less than I charged when I was teaching when I was 17, never mind at the college level. This means he's getting paid way less than he's worth (if he's a professional) and can't afford to dedicate a large portion of his time to scheduling a new student and making them feel good about taking lessons over email 8 months in advance. Either cut him some slack or don't take lessons.

I'll try and contact him again, i just sent him an email where i'm trying to bleed him for info because i really need it right now. It wasn't that nice of an email.

You're wondering why you're having trouble with this teacher?

[PurpleDrank]

Originally Posted by Mr wiggl3s

It's not like that at all. I need to register for summer classes now before they are full (registration started 2 weeks ago). I need to know if i can take bass lessons in addition to other classes. He told me i should wait until 2 weeks before summer classes start (June). It doesn't work like that, not only will registration be closed but i wont be in it. I want to know what his hours are so i can start looking for a job, and can know what to tell my prospective employers. Telling me to wait for 2 months is not a viable answer. I'm just looking for a bone here is all.

Get a job first, then register for the class during drop/add week. If the class doesn't work out with your work schedule or it's full, you have your answer. There will always be next semester for bass instruction, and cash in your pocket is never a bad thing.