I really can't find a teacher...frustrated

[Surly]

I actually just started playing bass after many years of playing drums. I'm not quitting drums, but I wanted to play another instrument, and the bass is way fun. Also my guitarist friends like to jump on my drums, so during a jam session I wanted to be able to switch instruments as well.

Basically..I've been to a few guitar shops and a "music school" which is a bunch of offices where they give lessons. The guitar stores have kids who barely can play guitar teaching bass. I had a lesson at the music school with a "professional". He was really a guitar player teaching bass, again. I went in for the lesson and started playing scales, blues riff, etc. He literally had nothing to teach me. He had me playing open strings in the lesson, insisting I learn every note that I'm playing, and be able to read every note. Ok, .I am all for reading music, however I can practice that on my own without spending lots of money.. and I do own books, have the internet, etc He said "there's too much information on the net".. I'm frustrated but I'm still going to play and keep looking...arrrgh

[Zappstorius]

Be up front when looking for an instuctor. I've found that the majority of "teachers" want everyone to learn to read music.

My theory is, that teaching people to read takes a lot of time, thus less time of instuction in actual technique, thus MORE LESSONS!

During your next search for an instructor, be upfront. Tell him/her where you're at and what you want to learn. If they are down with it, great...if not, keep searching.

[jayp883]

Do you have a dedicated Bass Store in Jacksinville? Most often you will find a very good teacher there, or, at least, one that advertises his instruction.

[Surly]

Actually I'm living in Ft. Lauderdale now, south Florida, I recently moved. As far as I know there's just guitar stores, small ones. Of course there's Sam Ash and Guitar Center which I haven't asked yet. But I believe Sam Ash gives lessons in your home. I would love to find a dedicated Bass shop. Also when I speak to someone about a lesson, they all swear that they can do anything, including slap...

[Jeff Moote]

Originally Posted by Zappstorius

Be up front when looking for an instuctor. I've found that the majority of "teachers" want everyone to learn to read music.

...as they should.

My theory is, that teaching people to read takes a lot of time, thus less time of instuction in actual technique, thus MORE LESSONS!

Wrong! It really doesn't take much time at all - a week or so of self study and the student should at least be able to work it out slowly. It's not a hard task and is rather essential to being able to communicate musical ideas.

[mellofello]

I found my teacher on myspace just by searching my area for music-performance-bass folks. Found a guy who was doing the stuff I was wanting to learn and asked if he'd give lessons.

[BassChuck]

Why look in a store for a teacher? Go see some bands. Talk to the bass player. They might give lessons or know someone who does.

[202dy]

Teachers give instruction in all phases of the instrument including reading standard notation. Standard notation is how musicians have communicated for the last 500 years or so. They have studied the instrument and music and quite often have a college degree in music. They are professionals and understand what is required to make a living with a specific instrument.

Why would anyone wish to be illiterate?

[Surly]

I agree reading music is important, although all of my musician friends, some who are really good, don't read a note!!

[Scottgun]

Simple solution to the reading thing: Fine. Tell him you don't want to spend class time learning to read music which you can do at home as you say. So that means the teacher can send you home with a chart/excercise in standard notation to learn for next time and you will have it learned, right?



Scott

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by Zappstorius

Be up front when looking for an instuctor. I've found that the majority of "teachers" want everyone to learn to read music.

My theory is, that teaching people to read takes a lot of time, thus less time of instuction in actual technique, thus MORE LESSONS!

During your next search for an instructor, be upfront. Tell him/her where you're at and what you want to learn. If they are down with it, great...if not, keep searching.

Teaching someone to read music doesn't take a long time if they actaully practice reading. If they don't practice as I tell student you paying my to watch you practice. They get the point and start coming prepared so I can quickly check their progress and move on to things that are more fun.

Lessons the student and teach need to listen to each other. The teacher needs to listens to the students disires, but at same time the stundent needs to do the work assigned. If a teacher just does what the studnet wants the student is happy for awhile till they realize they aren't learning anything for the long term. They are just getting petting them to keep them coming back for more lessons.

[Surly]

I wasn't deterred by the fact that this teacher just wanted me to learn to read music very well. It was more that he seemed to be dumbfounded by the fact that I could play.

I am a good drummer, not a pro, however, If I was to give a drum lesson (which I have, not for money though), I can easily teach a beginner rudaments, notes, how to hold a drumstick etc.... I know average drummers, who I am better than, making money teaching only young children that's why I'm skeptical. I'm new to the bass guitar, but not a noob to the music world, our the scene.

[tmw]

I have to agree with Zappstorious, tell the teacher what your timeframe is and what you want to learn.

I recently started taking bass lessons after having not played for several years (OK, a couple of decades). My teacher, a Berklee Grad, started with scales, the circle of fifths and now modes. He has not stressed "reading" music in three months, though he intimated that we would get around to it, right after chords! For me he provides a ready reference for what I have forgotten, never learned, or need to know, in order to play well. I was upfront and told him what I already knew (not too much) and what my intentions were relative to my current playing abilities.

Its your money and your time, spend them both wisely. Good luck in your search

[JHow]

http://www.studybass.com/tools/bass-clef-notes/

I find this helpful for keeping me reading. Its quick and rewarding, and it instantly tells you how your doing.

[stretchcat]

Originally Posted by JHow

http://www.studybass.com/tools/bass-clef-notes/

I find this helpful for keeping me reading. Its quick and rewarding, and it instantly tells you how your doing.

That was fun. I'm a Bass Clef Master.

[Drifta]

im in the same boat as you(original poster) and im actually local i live in coral springsm, and i took a few lessons and it kinda pissed me off, they guy was obviously milking the lessons. i wanted to read and i've been playing for lil over a year and i jam with my band so im not a complete beginner to bass. the last session i had with him he didnt even pick up the bass, he was showing me on guitar, and he was sort of an ass .

if you find a real good bass teacher local let me know hah.

[JimmyM]

Originally Posted by Zappstorius

Be up front when looking for an instuctor. I've found that the majority of "teachers" want everyone to learn to read music.

My theory is, that teaching people to read takes a lot of time, thus less time of instuction in actual technique, thus MORE LESSONS!

During your next search for an instructor, be upfront. Tell him/her where you're at and what you want to learn. If they are down with it, great...if not, keep searching.

Yes, and try this at med school, too. Tell them you want to be a doctor YOUR WAY, dammit!

Listen, that was no theory. Theories are unproven conclusions based on evidence and knowledge gathered. What you said was based on not wanting to gather evidence and knowledge. Therefore, you can't call it a theory. What you said was...well hell, I don't even know what to call it, other than 100% wrong.

What good is learning technique if you don't know what to play? You can learn to throw a baseball accurately, but if you don't know the rules of baseball, you're just throwing a ball. Same with bass. It's so easy to learn how to read music that there's no reason not to. My wife recently learned how to read music in a week after getting her a piano for Christmas, and if she can do it, anyone can.

Anyway, you should certainly be able to find a bass teacher in Lauderdale. Shoot, go to Miami if you have to. UofM could certainly hook you up with an instructor. But if I was looking for a teacher, I think the first places (provided you didn't have a college with a bass teacher available) I would hit would be GC and Sam Ash. Not all GC's and Sam Ash stores suck.

[202dy]

Originally Posted by Surly

I agree reading music is important, although all of my musician friends, some who are really good, don't read a note!!

This is an argument that has been made (probably) since the standard notation was invented.

Overheard in a music store many times.
"My uncle Bob was a great player and he couldn't read a note. Chet Atkins said my uncle was a better player than he was!"
"Did he make his living as a musician?"
"Nah. He was a (fill in the blank)."

Uncle Bob may have been a good player. But he couldn't make a living at it because he didn't have the knowledge or the tools to make it. Jeff Berlin once said that the average fry cook knows more about his job than the average bass player. The fry cook is a professional. The average bass player is not. The ability to read gives you the ability to play in any situation. That means you can make money every day in your chosen profession.

Even if you play as a hobby it will give you the ability to explore. Unless you are a rare person, eventually every genre becomes boring. Of course, most people think they are rare persons.

The good news for some of us is that eventually the illiterate quit playing and we get to buy their gear for a song.
The bad news is they usually don't have any cool gear or if they do it is beat.

[Surly]

Originally Posted by Drifta

im in the same boat as you(original poster) and im actually local i live in coral springsm, and i took a few lessons and it kinda pissed me off, they guy was obviously milking the lessons. i wanted to read and i've been playing for lil over a year and i jam with my band so im not a complete beginner to bass. the last session i had with him he didnt even pick up the bass, he was showing me on guitar, and he was sort of an ass .

if you find a real good bass teacher local let me know hah.

Yeah I'm the original poster, close to Coral Springs too. Well I'm glad to know that there isn't anything wrong with me, these people suck.. haha...

[MichaelScott]

Originally Posted by 202dy

This is an argument that has been made (probably) since the standard notation was invented.

Overheard in a music store many times.
"My uncle Bob was a great player and he couldn't read a note. Chet Atkins said my uncle was a better player than he was!"
"Did he make his living as a musician?"
"Nah. He was a (fill in the blank)."

Uncle Bob may have been a good player. But he couldn't make a living at it because he didn't have the knowledge or the tools to make it. Jeff Berlin once said that the average fry cook knows more about his job than the average bass player. The fry cook is a professional. The average bass player is not. The ability to read gives you the ability to play in any situation. That means you can make money every day in your chosen profession.

Even if you play as a hobby it will give you the ability to explore. Unless you are a rare person, eventually every genre becomes boring. Of course, most people think they are rare persons.

The good news for some of us is that eventually the illiterate quit playing and we get to buy their gear for a song.
The bad news is they usually don't have any cool gear or if they do it is beat.

Pretty much the best post ever.

Learn2Read