I Quit My Lessons...

Waterpilot · #1 04-07-2010, 09:24 PM

I quit my bass lessons last week. The end of May would have been a year and I am having mixed emotions about it...

I'm 39 and bought my first bass last year, while I'm new to the bass, or any instrument for that matter, I'm not new to life and understand how important a good foundation is. So I went into the local music store to get lessons within a week of buying it. They recommended a guy and I was off.

He's a great guy. We get along, he's my age, and has been playing for about 30 years. Started out on Piano, but started guitar soon after (Never quit piano but concentrated more on guitar.) Classically trained but breaks out into some AC/DC as well. He of course is able to play bass...

At the time my goals was simple. Make sure my technique was good and learn to read music. That was it really.

As time went on I felt a little bit neglected. He never really had anything for me to do. He never had anything prepared. It seemed that it was always up to me to bring questions in. Half the time he couldn't remember what we did last week. In the beginning, he had me buy the first Mel Bay book and he basically said start reading that. The lessons were in the music store so he was able to bring guitars in whenever he wanted, which he did. However, not one time did he bring in a bass nor did he ever bring in his own. To show me stuff he either played it on his guitar or used mine. My technique seems to be good but I can only read a little bit (About first half of the book.). Anyway, a few weeks ago I asked myself if I'm where I thought I'd be a year after lessons and the answer was simply... No.

But, and here's why I started the thread, I'm now wondering if the lack of progress has more to do with me. Maybe I didn't do as much as I should have... In these situations I really would like someone with a plan to just tell me what to do. I mean, I don't know what I supposed to do (I tried playing guitar in the 6th grade but it didn't last long), but maybe I should have. Maybe I didn't take as much initiative as I should have...

Should instructor's have some sort of plan for their students, or does it not really work that way?

BigOldHarry · #2 04-07-2010, 09:26 PM

sounds like a bad teacher. Then again, having taught guys your age, I know it is hard for you to find time to practice the right amount of time to actually progress.

elgecko · #3 04-07-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterpilot

Should instructor's have some sort of plan for their students, or does it not really work that way?

Good ones should...sounds like yours wasn't. But you have to ask yourself why you're doing it...ultimately. Do you only want to learn to play bass and read? Do you want to jam with people? Join a band?

pica · #4 04-07-2010, 09:35 PM

It seems to me that you got the wrong kind of instructor for you. But for g-ds sake man don't give up. It may take working with several instructors before you find the one that's right for you. On your first lesson ask him/her how he/she teaches and what they use to teach.

You stated that half the time he couldn't remember what he did last week. Well maybe he taught other people during the week and couldn't remember what he did with you.

I had a problem with my first instructor where he wouldn't even show up for our lesson. I'd wait outside his house and he never showed up. Or he'd be a half hour late.

Look around TB for someone who gives lessons in your area. But just because you had a bad instructor, that's no reason to give up. Cheers

VinKreepo · #5 04-07-2010, 09:35 PM

It's the teacher. I've played for a year without lessons and I would say that I'm pretty good. I know more theory than a lot of people. I play synchopated jazz lines and 16th note based funk. I write music. But I also practice more than anyone at my college (well that's what the music professors say). It's about your heart, sir. Where your heart is.... that's where your talents are. So if you really wanna get good, breath bass like you breathe air haha. Search youtube, search the net for music theory, go to the library, jam with others (or backing tracks), etc etc.

However, I played with bad technique for that year and could have screwed up my hand. So I'm glad you have good technique.

Waterpilot · #6 04-07-2010, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pica

You stated that half the time he couldn't remember what he did last week. Well maybe he taught other people during the week and couldn't remember what he did with you.

It's what he does for a living. I think he had about 40 students or so during the week.

Quote:

Originally Posted by elgecko

Good ones should...sounds like yours wasn't. But you have to ask yourself why you're doing it...ultimately. Do you only want to learn to play bass and read? Do you want to jam with people? Join a band?

Well... I'm old so Rock Star dreams are out. Right now I play because I love to play (try to play haha) and I have a tendency to want to learn as much as I can about what I'm doing. I know I'll want to join a band eventually, but haven't got much further then that...

Buslady7803 · #7 04-07-2010, 10:02 PM

Sounds lame.
Were going thru the Mel Bay book (the red one) and doing well. My teacher plays sometimes, when he does it's usually his 5 stringer, once he had his guitar and the last time he was having fun accompanying me with the Squier. And then sometimes he doesn't need to play, let's me do the work and listen to my own playing. He's great. The plan is working on two pages each week, then we got thru for the lesson, he catches bad habits, go over tricky spots and conquer and usually we do well and go on. When he feels I need to go back over the same stuff, he says so but then we go and do a quick run of the next two pages to get the feel of it and i go and work on that for the week.

I think you should look for another teacher IMO...if you were here in the area I'd recommend Arnie.

Oh yer not old...im 38, a chick and just starting out. i can read notation but playing something with strings is new to me. I want to join a band someday or at least jam for fun with someone...don't let age get in the way!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

progrmr · #8 04-08-2010, 08:05 AM

my lessons sound a lot like the OP - basically my instructor doesn't have a set plan for me. I take what I want to work on to him and we go from there. Currently that's Blues, reading music, and music theory via a college level textbook he recommended.

He does basically the same thing - we get together for an hour a week (a bit pricey...$50 for an hour but he's good) and go over stuff for the last week. It really comes down to how much you practice. I make time every single day - at least 40 minutes, usually closer to an hour and half depending on the lessons for that week. I'm just now getting to rests in music reading so I've learned all the notes, ties, 3/4 time etc. A lot of this also overlaps with my blues - 12/8 time, scale intervals etc. Although my blues book is now a bit ahead of me.

I've been doing hour lessons for a month now and I really feel that I've come much further than I was. BUT I'm also working harder because it's costing me good money and I want to get the most out of my lessons as possible.

My instructor plays guitar mainly, but when we do blues he jams with me - I run the bass line while he rips off some blues guitar. He's won the GC King of Blues contest a couple of time too (state, not sure about national) so he knows what he's doing.

I always have fun at lessons even though it seems most of the work on the direction of the lessons is on me. That's kinda nice too though - at least I'm working on what I want to work on, not what he wants me to work on. Controlling your own path is nice - but don't move on until you know the previous weeks material solidly.

DrewinHouston · #9 04-08-2010, 08:15 AM

You have to find the right instructor for you. Some people might be fine with a guy who's making it up as he goes along. Try another guy [or gal].

rmkesler · #10 04-08-2010, 08:15 AM

My instructor in college had me bring in a notebook that he would write in. He would write in comments about the lesson, things to work on, and my assignment for the next week. I still have those and look back on them from time to time.

killersdude · #11 04-08-2010, 09:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Waterpilot

I quit my bass lessons last week. The end of May would have been a year and I am having mixed emotions about it...

I'm 39 and bought my first bass last year, while I'm new to the bass, or any instrument for that matter, I'm not new to life and understand how important a good foundation is. So I went into the local music store to get lessons within a week of buying it. They recommended a guy and I was off.

He's a great guy. We get along, he's my age, and has been playing for about 30 years. Started out on Piano, but started guitar soon after (Never quit piano but concentrated more on guitar.) Classically trained but breaks out into some AC/DC as well. He of course is able to play bass...

At the time my goals was simple. Make sure my technique was good and learn to read music. That was it really.

As time went on I felt a little bit neglected. He never really had anything for me to do. He never had anything prepared. It seemed that it was always up to me to bring questions in. Half the time he couldn't remember what we did last week. In the beginning, he had me buy the first Mel Bay book and he basically said start reading that. The lessons were in the music store so he was able to bring guitars in whenever he wanted, which he did. However, not one time did he bring in a bass nor did he ever bring in his own. To show me stuff he either played it on his guitar or used mine. My technique seems to be good but I can only read a little bit (About first half of the book.). Anyway, a few weeks ago I asked myself if I'm where I thought I'd be a year after lessons and the answer was simply... No.

But, and here's why I started the thread, I'm now wondering if the lack of progress has more to do with me. Maybe I didn't do as much as I should have... In these situations I really would like someone with a plan to just tell me what to do. I mean, I don't know what I supposed to do (I tried playing guitar in the 6th grade but it didn't last long), but maybe I should have. Maybe I didn't take as much initiative as I should have...

Should instructor's have some sort of plan for their students, or does it not really work that way?

Someone may have stated this already, but...

It sounds like you found a guitar player who thought that he could also play bass. This is all to common, while some of these guitar players can actually play the bass, many just take an ignorant view and believe that since "bass is an easier instrument" they can do it without any formal instruction on one. The fact of the matter is, bass is an instrument of its own. You should seek out an experienced BASS player and get a few more lessons, see how you're feeling after that.

SirGrotius · #12 04-08-2010, 09:27 AM

Absolutely focus on getting a bass guitar teacher for lessons. If you want to learn from a music-teacher, take a music theory course or something at your local community college.

I'd start a new round of lessons with a bassist and make sure you have perfect technique.

Herbie 80's · #13 04-08-2010, 09:40 AM

Depends. I wouldn't work with that teacher, and apparently you don't either. I need more direction and then ask questions.

But I'm also use to upright lessons with University teachers.

dalkowski · #14 04-08-2010, 09:49 AM

A lot of good comments here. I think if you find the right teacher (ask around, get references, make sure he's a REAL bass teacher) and go to him with some goals re the next level(s) you want to get to, then your experience will be 180 degrees different.

If you have goals, a good teacher will create a plan to get you there. Then, it's in your hands to learn and practice your lessons (as a 46yo, married with kids, I know it's hard to carve out time to practice!).

Don't give up -- there's no substitute for quality instruction.

MikeBC · #15 04-08-2010, 10:08 AM

My first reaction is that there is something about the teacher. For example, if he is going to teach you bass, he ought to have one at the lesson appointment to show you how to play and so you can hear how it ought to sound when properly played and reasonably well. I suppose a teacher could use yours but as I recall, from days long gone, there is nothing like playing along with an instructor.

The other thing I feel strongly about especially for the beginner, is there ought to be a lesson plan. How else are you going to pick up the basics and even begin to know what questions to ask?

I also think, given that you have been at it nearly a year, you should be further along in your ability to read music than your comment suggests. Given that you are a beginner, tough to say whether that is on your instructor or you or combo of both.

On the other hand there are plenty of players who can't read music who are very good. Please don't use that as an excuse not to learn to read. All I am saying is there are some players who have a gift. And many of them do go on to learn to read music anyway.

So find another instructor, interview them, ask to see sample lesson plans, and ask them what their goals are for their students at your level. Don't let one experience with one instructor lead you to give it up.

**StrangerDanger** · #16 04-08-2010, 10:12 AM

Dont be a fool, stay in school!

Find a BASS teacher. Bring what you want to work on after he/she is able to assess your level.

I had to change teachers too, because my guy kept cancelling at the last minute. New guy is great. Keep it up!

LowDown Hal · #17 04-08-2010, 10:22 AM

Find another teacher. Your age is not an issue. I started at 50. My instructor ALWAYS has his Bass, and a guitar in the room. He uses the guitar to strum the chord changes while I play along. When he wants to demonstrate something he picks up his Bass.

He has a somewhat generic development plan that he follows with all students. When I have a specific request we deviate from his plan to address it. Then we are back on plan.

So I repeat - Find another teacher.

ThisisCraigP · #18 04-08-2010, 10:34 AM

It sounds like a teacher problem. Just find another one. I went through two over the course of 5 years to find the one that I go to today. I remember one of my teachers made me sing. If I was asked to do that now I would walk out the door but I was only 8. I still rember the horror of strumming Puff the Magic Dragon and stumbling through the words.

Ugh…

Jefenator · #19 04-08-2010, 10:40 AM

Sounds like you could maybe find a more compatible teacher. But IME the student HAS to provide the motivation.

My advice is, get out there and find some jamming buddies and get a project going.

I've always had a lot of trouble just going through some learning regimen just for its own sake. (And I've seen too many people get bogged down, doing lessons exclusively.)

But if I'm in a situation that gives the exercises more context (i.e. a band), I get infinitely more bang for the buck.

roblow · #20 04-08-2010, 10:44 AM

I went through a similar situation. Find a bass player that teaches. Theirs alot of people that play guitar or piano that believe that teaching or playing bass is easy. They dont know the techiques or even care to learn them. It takes a bass player to teach bass.when u get with a bassist you will see the difference in the lessons and the respect he has for the instrument.