Running out of lesson ideas - Page 2

electracoyote · #21 07-15-2009, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rudreax

Very nice not getting all pissy from all these replies. Most people would probably blow a casket or something.

Yes, especially if they were dead.

(just funnin' witcha!)

electracoyote · #22 07-15-2009, 11:16 AM

To the OP:

You're only 6 months ahead of your student in terms of FORMAL music education. Playing for 15+ years certainly gives you an advantage with the instinctive, intuitive elements of music, but in a formal lesson setting, it's no wonder you're running out of ideas. I have a formal music education and have been teaching bass for 10+ years, and I still won't take students beyond the intermediate stage. You have to be honest and know your limitations, otherwise you're just taking the student's money without offering anything substantial in return.

One thing you can do is to dump the TABs and keep everything in standard notation. Mix up the genres (and the grooves) and keep your student working and learning. If it's coming too quick and easy, you're only facilitating stuff he could get off the internet. And, being a student yourself, it will motivate you to learn just a little faster than your student and stay at least a step ahead (in FORMAL terms).

narud · #23 07-15-2009, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Give him a pro-rated refund so he can go find a teacher with more experience to undo the bad habits you've no doubt been teaching.

burn!

BahamaBass · #24 07-15-2009, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by electracoyote

To the OP:

You're only 6 months ahead of your student in terms of FORMAL music education. Playing for 15+ years certainly gives you an advantage with the instinctive, intuitive elements of music, but in a formal lesson setting, it's no wonder you're running out of ideas. I have a formal music education and have been teaching bass for 10+ years, and I still won't take students beyond the intermediate stage. You have to be honest and know your limitations, otherwise you're just taking the student's money without offering anything substantial in return.

One thing you can do is to dump the TABs and keep everything in standard notation. Mix up the genres (and the grooves) and keep your student working and learning. If it's coming too quick and easy, you're only facilitating stuff he could get off the internet. And, being a student yourself, it will motivate you to learn just a little faster than your student and stay at least a step ahead (in FORMAL terms).

Thanks for the advice.

I don't read tab. I play by ear but can read a little but really slow. can sight read chord charts.

Going to get my music degree when I get to Australia. might teach later. don't know. got a few job offers. will play it by ear.

electracoyote · #25 07-15-2009, 11:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BahamaBass

Thanks for the advice. I don't read tab. I play by ear but can read a little but really slow.

Your candor is refreshing. You certainly have the patience for teaching. This is a tough, unforgiving forum on which to expose yourself.

If you're not into TAB, and you're a beginner reader, then you've been teaching only the instinctive, intuitive things you have learned over the course of your playing career. While that is pretty substantial, without some book larnin' (for you and your student), you will hit the wall as a teacher.

Now's your chance, and you have the motivation, to take another dive into sight reading. Your experience with the instrument will allow you to learn far faster than your student. Get a good begginer standard notation reading text (research TB, lots of great books out there) and stay a few pages ahead of your student. (Tell YOUR teacher that you want to get back into sight reading, and use that text at YOUR lessons). Then work both reading and the intuitive stuff into the lessons you teach.

It bears repeating that sometimes you do reach a natural limitation with a student. I retain students for 3 years on average, and when I get that special student who learns lightning fast and exceeds my ability to justify charging for lessons, I either stop charging or cut them loose. It's part of the deal.

Good luck with your move to Australia and all your music-related aspirations!

Where there's a will, there's a way.

Asher S · #26 07-15-2009, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asher S

I don't see anything in there specifically about playing a groove.

Get a drum machine or equivalent, and have him play with it without rushing or dragging, then drop out the machine for 1 bar out of every 4, then 2 bars out of every 4, then 3 bars out of every 4. Then change the tempo and/or the beat/time signature and repeat.

Yes, I know I'm quoting myself, but just for emphasis: the main role of the bass player is to lay down the bottom line groove.

As such here is a great exercise that both of you could use to markedly improve your bass skills:

Go to this site: http://www.bassplayer.tv/

--> in the menu on the left click on "Artist Features"
--> scroll down the menu and click on "Victor Wooten"
--> watch "Exercises 1" and "Exercises 2" from start to finish

This is much more fundamental than learning the modes. In fact, we'd all be better players if we practiced scales/modes etc in this way.

Chipsonfire · #27 07-15-2009, 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Asher S

Yes, I know I'm quoting myself, but just for emphasis: the main role of the bass player is to lay down the bottom line groove.

As such here is a great exercise that both of you could use to markedly improve your bass skills:

Go to this site: http://www.bassplayer.tv/

--> in the menu on the left click on "Artist Features"
--> scroll down the menu and click on "Victor Wooten"
--> watch "Exercises 1" and "Exercises 2" from start to finish

This is much more fundamental than learning the modes. In fact, we'd all be better players if we practiced scales/modes etc in this way.

I just listened to these lessons and WOW

Amazing stuff. Wooten is a great teacher.