Need help deciding about bass boot camp or continue teaching myself...HELP!!!

suitlandkid2005 · #1 02-11-2009, 03:09 PM

I have made another post like this; but I am going to word things different because this is a serious matter that is racking my brain. I would like any input from anybody that can help. I would really appreciate it. I am a beginner on the bass. I have been playing since about July of last year just kind of fooling around and practicing when I can. Lately, I have been taking my bass playing more seriously. I have been mainly teaching myself and it seems to be ok. I had a lessons for awhile just to see if I were doing things right and to fill in any potholes so to speak. My instructor says my technique has improved and I seemed to catch on pretty quick when it comes to learning the basics of theory and making bass lines. I had to stop meeting with my instructor because they had to leave the state. The lesson rates were good and I feel I have learned some things from my lessons. I can't really afford new lessons and if I did, I would have to worry about the pain of if I am getting the right instruction since it seems to be teachers who are all about I'll teach how to play your favorite songs which is cool but not really my thing. I would like to know how to do that but I am more into improvising and getting technique down. My instructor who went away really stressed having technique down which I agree because I feel one could know every note but have sloppy technique and that would not be a good thing. Well, to get to the main point, I have come across the Gerald Veasley Bass Boot Camp. It looks like it would help me in more ways than one. I live in the Washington, D.C. area and I know it's in Philadelphia. I see on the faq section of the site that it mentions that one could attend the whole weekend and stay 2 nights for $549. That sounds great; but I would have to find a way down there and back by like bus or train which I haven't seem to found one and when I do..it just give me odd times that I can't make. I am trying to look for another route; but I am wondering is it even worth. I mean I would really love to attend the Boot Camp and have it take my playing to whole new level which could then enable me to really hold my own in a band or attend a music program at at school since I don't have any musical background. I also feel it will really make me a versatile bassist. I am now thinking is it really worth the hassle and should I just stick to teaching myself with the wealth of material that I have from books, dvds, and on this forum. The boot camp is at the end of march and I just need to make a decision. I mean I am now leaning more toward the forget it and just keep teaching myself and try to put myself out there which is hard when everyone wants people with pro chops. I mean there are lot of great musicians who taught themselves. And then I am thinking I don't want to miss out on a great opportunity. What does anyone think? What should I do? Any suggestions would be appreciated. Also, if anyone has attended, let me know what did you think of it and is it really worth all the hassle of trying to get there. By the way, here's a link to the site:
http://www.geraldveasley.com/bassbootcamp/index.htm

Bass_Bear · #2 02-11-2009, 03:45 PM

BAM! Huh, where am I? Why am I laying under this big wall of text?

J

Blah114 · #3 02-11-2009, 03:49 PM

I personally think bass playing takes a long time.. and boot camp could be worthwhile, but not worth $500.. how many others would attend.. 1:1 instruction, weekly, over years of time.. is better than any boot camp..I think finding the right local teacher, weekly, would be best.. just my opinion. Best to you.

kotzman · #4 02-11-2009, 03:56 PM

I think that boot camp could be a great experience, jump start your playing in a big way. But I agree with Blah114 that a teacher is good too. Boot camp would be a good chance to connect with other players though, always a very cool experience. Lots to learn from pears, (thus the value of this forum).. Good luck!

bass player 48 · #5 02-11-2009, 04:20 PM

I think you'd get a lot more out of bass boot camp if you wait a year or two and work on getting the basics down, preferably by working with a good teacher on weekly lessons.

markblasco · #6 02-11-2009, 04:39 PM

If you can come up with the $500 for the boot camp, than you can surely afford lessons twice a month for the next 5 months at least, and that will likely give you better results, since you have time to work things out in between each lesson.

The boot camp may be a great experience, but I have a feeling you will walk away without really getting the most out of it, since you are still in the early stages of learning bass. I have found that when I go to conferences or other similar things, there is only so much you can take in, and if you aren't at a more advanced level, the things you will be really taking in could very well be taught by someone much cheaper.

It would probably be a great experience, though, so if you are looking at it as more of a life experience (instead of the most effective way of learning the most that you can), than it may very well be a great choice.

Blah114 · #7 02-12-2009, 07:42 AM

I also think a boot camp might end up where players watch other players and focus, competitvely, on playing.. instead of learning.. that sounds harsh, but there will be too many varying degrees of ability.. if everyone were a beginner, that would be fine, but you might get kids showing.. adults too.. ..

jmac · #8 02-12-2009, 10:29 AM

So it seems to me that out of everyone who replied, zero have actually attend the bass boot camp.

Classes are held based on level of skill; beginner, intermediate, master, etc. While it is a great hang, that is not the focus. It is not a "sit and watch me play" environment. You must bring your bass,you must have it with you during each class, you must play your bass.

I take lessons from Anthony Wellington. He is not only a great bassist, but he's a great musician and an even better teacher. He'll be one of the instructors. Victor and Gearald are also great teachers. I've attended clinics with both of these individuals. I've learned at every one that I've attended.

Along with learning from the instructors the other campers are more than willing to share their knowledge and experience with each other.

I realize $500 isn't chump change, but if you have it, it will be well spent on this weekend.

froglips · #9 02-12-2009, 11:25 AM

I have never been to a bass boot camp, or any boot camp actually.
Sounds like fun though.

Personally, I can not do the lesson thing though. It starts feeling like work to practice when I take lessons, because you are expected to learn things before your next lesson... And I will be damned if I show up to the lesson without knowing what I am supposed to know, even if that means I do not schedule the next lesson for a few weeks after the previous one.

I know that I have to teach myself, and/or be around other musicians to learn from, rather than taking lessons. I actually practiced less when I took lessons than I did when I did not.

Edit:
I say go to the boot camp if for no other reason just to absorb. It will probably be a little like a Bluegrass festival, where everyone gets to jam together till all hours of the evening. Fun stuff!

paganjack · #10 02-12-2009, 11:37 AM

if you can afford $500 for boot camp, i would say spend it on lessons. i have no experience with weekend seminars, and though I don't doubt it would be fun and informative, i think it would be more helpful to...you know...have time to practice and apply what you learn over time.

lessons have been really helpful for me. it keeps me at least partly on task. in the last few months since starting i have improved massively in both chops and appropriate playing. but your experience may differ. you get out what you put in.

Silas Martinez · #11 02-12-2009, 11:58 AM

IMO, lessons over time would be better than concentrated into boot camp.

Not sure if that answers the question, it was hard to find details in the wall of text....

Spinal Tapper · #12 02-12-2009, 12:03 PM

Boot camp thing sounds cool, probably worth the money if you have it - lessons are great too.

IMO if I were you, I'd just try to form a band or meet some musicians in your area - are you in a band?

Look for (good/better/amazing) musicians who want to jam - people are always looking for a bassist. I've learned all I ever need to know by just playing with people for the past 10 or so years - never taken a real lesson in my life. Sure, I can't do pentatonic scales in the key of Eb (or can I?) but I've never looked at learning/playing bass as work, or a chore of any kind.

We all learn different ways, you have to find what works for you. Good luck!

peter6725 · #13 02-12-2009, 12:07 PM

China called, they want their wall back

Not to be a sheep but as others have said, 500 is alot of cash. Lessons over time with a instructor that suits your needs would be of more benifit to you.

:-D

Krowser · #14 02-12-2009, 12:10 PM

it's up to you really.

If you have the cash and whatnot, go to the camp. It will surely be a great experience but keep in mind that you may not "level up" since it's not a 1 on 1 with a teacher. Thats I term I use (yeah yeah, we all played WoW) to describe making a discovery that will make you a better bassist from this day forward. Example: learning how to slap, getting confortable with a scale, adding another finger to your hands.

If there is one thing I know, it's that no one can make you a better player. You have to do it yourself (HAVENT HEARD THAT ONE BEFORE!)

What I mean here is that I never took a single course. The first day I bought my bass, my guitarist friend showed me the pentatonic scale and he said: Practice that thing up and down ten times in a row, every day. If you screw up, restart! And that's it. I made a vow that I would play at least 15 minutes every day and that was 5 years ago. I kept my word and played much more than that on average. Youtube was my teacher. I upload a few videos from time to time, if you want, check out manulebassiste on youtube.

You just gotta put in the hours!