Should I get a new teacher?

John Webb · #1 07-20-2007, 02:23 PM

I've been studying bass guitarfor a little over a year now. I'm an old school classically trained trumpeter when younger.
Music lessons of my youth consisted of set assignments and music books. Lessons were practiced and then played for the teacher to gauge progress.
I've had two teachers and neither seems to have a set teaching method. They show me bits and pieces but don't ask me to prepare or even play for them at my lessons. They do just about all the playing.
Neither has focused on reading very much if at all.
There are more teachers in my area but I don't want to become a teacher hopper.
Anybody share good teacher practices/programs?
Should I get a new instructor?

redstrand · #2 07-20-2007, 02:45 PM

Yep. a good teacher is the one that helps you to read and play. Ones that play the whole time are just practicing for themselves...I had that problem too. The best ones were the ones that pushed me to play and had the chops to teach.

TheBassBetween · #3 07-20-2007, 04:45 PM

I don't see a problem in asking your teacher about his philosophies on teaching-- why you don't perform things for him (assuming a he), and why you're always playing and not reading. It might just be that he wants you to play first, and read after, which isn't a terrible plan. If you get to hear the notes, then get to see them, that's not a bad approach at all.

DocBop · #4 07-20-2007, 07:59 PM

I would just bring it up to him, that you aren't getting much critic of you playing in lessons. That should open the door to discussing his approach and your wants.

PunkerTrav · #5 07-20-2007, 08:16 PM

The first thing my teacher told me at my first lesson was, "Don't bother unpacking your instrument; we're not going to play today."

Instead, he asked wether I wanted to learn to play some songs or learn to play music.

Having answered "Music" I was immediately sent home with a folder of scale studies, etudes, left hand busters, and chord charts, all of which, to be practiced and played for him next session. It was obvious that I had found the right teacher for my learning style.

Your teacher is working for you. If you are serious about leaning but aren't happy talk to him about how you want to be taught. If he can't, or won't, do it your way then it's time to find another teacher.

owensea777 · #6 07-20-2007, 10:50 PM

A good teacher first asks you to play before teaching you anything. Then he/she helps you unlearn all of your bad habits.
Should you get a new teacher? Hell yes. And ask for a refund!

ba55i5t · #7 07-20-2007, 10:58 PM

Depends on how long you've been playing for and also what you want to play. I know that there are people out there that just play songs casually (like my dad) and don't want to learn all the theory behind it. Your teacher should cater to what you want to learn. Unfortunately my teacher is just a main jazz teacher but he's taught me a lot of stuff that I can use in my style, he helps me with jazz pieces and walking bass lines. It's good to have that too ( I play in a metal band ) because you understand different ways at looking at lines and harmony. Also you get to learn about different patterns with modes and how to assemble them to apply them. Classical teachers are great too...but ultimately it is up to you.

John Webb · #8 07-21-2007, 01:38 PM

My primary hope is to play rock, blues, funk in a part time cover band. I also want to be fairly proficient in reading the bass clef since I was trained only in treble early on.........
I'm somewhat interested in playing classical type solo stuff for my own pleasure......I believe theory and technique is a must for that.......especially chords.

steve66 · #9 07-21-2007, 02:56 PM

I was fortunate that I had very good drum teachers through the years so I knew if a teacher was good or not by the 2nd lesson.

There are my observations. a good teacher

- will identify and focus on your weaknesses, give you more than one option to strenghten them, and combine things that will utilize the good skill you already have.

- can teach boring basics and make it fun.

- will quiz you or have you play something you learned a few lessons ago to make sure you understand.

- will let you know if your doing a good job.

- wont nit pick you to death on technique but will point something out if it will damage your playing

- wont tell you you suck because you played a bad note.

- can read music and teach theory.

- will have teaching material and provide a cd with music or an exercise to learn.

- is happy to see you progess

- Likes to hear that you practiced the lesson material

- A good teacher is hard to find, but you will know it when you found it.