Should I be giving lessons?

phaneo · #1 01-29-2010, 09:07 PM

Ok,
So I'm moving across the country to pursue a graduate degree and leaving the workforce behind for a few years. I'll still need some income flowing in while I'm in school. I will be re-joining a cover band I used to play in so that will bring me some money. I have been asked many times by friends and family why I don't give bass lessons to make extra money.

Well, I don't know if I should be giving lessons...

I have been playing bass since 1992, been in many bands etc etc. I spent about 6 years with a serious cover band learning and playing hundreds of songs. I can figure most things out in a minute or two, you know what I mean. But I haven't spent much time in lessons. The few I have taken didn't really work out whether it was the teacher or the student. I can't read music, I play totally by ear. I'm not that great at slap, can't tap but I can definitely play the bass and pretty good I think. I'm not totally versed in theory, but I could assemble the materials to teach the basics.

I enjoy teaching people at work or in life, but will I be doing my students a disservice?

Thanks for reading, and any responses

RavynWolf · #2 01-29-2010, 09:13 PM

With that kind of experience, why not. You don't have to be a composer to teach people. I would love a teacher who can hear something and figure it out within the frame of a 30 minute lesson, you sound just fine.

Ravyn

jefkritz · #3 01-29-2010, 09:15 PM

i say if a student wants to take lessons from you, go for it.

it's always nice when a teacher give a free lesson or two to a new student - that way the student knows if they want to learn what the teacher can teach.

chrisrusty99 · #4 01-29-2010, 09:18 PM

I'd say yes as long as the you're teaching the things that you are good at and have a lot of experience with. Trying to teach students things that you are fairly new to or not the best at could lead them astray...

Soverntear · #5 01-29-2010, 09:31 PM

learn to read and id be more in to it.

my buddie david is basically in the same boat (only guitar) dont get me wrong great player BUT how can you teach something you do not understand? could you teach someone to be fluent in english with out teaching them how to read?

RavynWolf · #6 01-29-2010, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Soverntear

learn to read and id be more in to it.

my buddie david is basically in the same boat (only guitar) dont get me wrong great player BUT how can you teach something you do not understand? could you teach someone to be fluent in english with out teaching them how to read?

Not to be a smarta$$ but, yes :P

Bassman18 · #7 01-29-2010, 09:45 PM

I say go for it! Teach them what you can, at least you will give them a starting point!
My first teacher was a guitarist at heart, but played bass on the side for extra $$$. He had terrible technique and couldn't slap but his attitude, encouragement and humour kept me keen on learning more and more and going home and learning all the technical things myself. Thats what really helped me become the player i am today.

And if worse comes to worse for the student, they can always find another teacher to teach them how to slap and read as they get their hold on playing the bass.

Jim Campbell · #8 01-29-2010, 10:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phaneo

Ok,
So I'm moving across the country to pursue a graduate degree and leaving the workforce behind for a few years. I'll still need some income flowing in while I'm in school. I will be re-joining a cover band I used to play in so that will bring me some money. I have been asked many times by friends and family why I don't give bass lessons to make extra money.

Well, I don't know if I should be giving lessons...

I have been playing bass since 1992, been in many bands etc etc. I spent about 6 years with a serious cover band learning and playing hundreds of songs. I can figure most things out in a minute or two, you know what I mean. But I haven't spent much time in lessons. The few I have taken didn't really work out whether it was the teacher or the student. I can't read music, I play totally by ear. I'm not that great at slap, can't tap but I can definitely play the bass and pretty good I think. I'm not totally versed in theory, but I could assemble the materials to teach the basics.

I enjoy teaching people at work or in life, but will I be doing my students a disservice?

Thanks for reading, and any responses

if you were to stay within your area of expertise,and try to encourage students to seek out what you cannot teach,like reading etc.....and be on the lookout for any bad habits you may have picked up....go for it

Stumbo · #9 01-29-2010, 10:25 PM

The magic words are: lesson plans. These will organize your lessons and allow you to make/have a plan for each student.

Here are a few links to check out:
Find a teacher
~Teaching Bass
1 Teaching ideas
2
Becoming a teacher

http://hubpages.com/hub/Bass-Fundamentals-for-Beginners
New teacher book of tips and tricks

Check out the links in my sig. for more info that may help you out.

Good luck.

David1234 · #10 01-29-2010, 10:34 PM

You could set yourself a reasonable goal: Buy one lesson from someone awesome for every 8 lessons that you sell. In this time, learn to read and write music (dots) accurately - especially rhythms, - learn to play some scales with really slick technique, and learn to how to place major, minor and dominant chords in basslines as arpeggios. Add that to the mass of experience that you've already got, and you'll be doing some folks a real favour.

Slappingpopping · #11 01-30-2010, 12:18 AM

hmm this could lead to a problem though, well for the student anyway. the school i go to offers bass lessons. which i have been doing for about 2 years and they recently got a new guitar teacher (a guitar player teaching bass) well he's to not bad but he cant really teach me anything bass specific so i just ask to learn theory. he's reffered me to a proper bass teacher.... so what im saying is you might get someone who you wont be able to teach what they want to learn. sorry for the (short story long)

phaneo · #12 01-30-2010, 10:03 AM

Thanks for all of the input and encouragement. Stumbo, thanks for the links I will definitely use them.

phaneo · #13 01-30-2010, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slappingpopping

hmm this could lead to a problem though, well for the student anyway. the school i go to offers bass lessons. which i have been doing for about 2 years and they recently got a new guitar teacher (a guitar player teaching bass) well he's to not bad but he cant really teach me anything bass specific so i just ask to learn theory. he's reffered me to a proper bass teacher.... so what im saying is you might get someone who you wont be able to teach what they want to learn. sorry for the (short story long)

Yeah this is one thing that I have feared a bit. I think it can be avoided with a proper interview discussing the students goals and my ability to help them achieve them.