Teaching children, I need assitance

crockpot2001 · #1 10-03-2010, 08:08 PM

Background: I live in South Korea near a new international school. I am close friends with the music director. He needed someone to give bass lessons to children. These lessons are less about music theory, structure, and progressions as they are about the physical interaction with the bass and learning super easy little songs that the kids can play together in performances. The sessions are only 30 minutes max.

Questions:
What age is too young to start bass? As you might expect, lots of parents are signing their kids up, even kindergarten aged kids. The parents push so hard here. What are your experiences?

Any feedback on smaller scaled basses?

Any other guidence?

Many, many thanks!

HunterBrodt · #2 10-03-2010, 08:19 PM

I started early and I remember that if you start simple for a good amount of time (not too long though) it will pay off. Make them love music, then challenge them. If you are going to teach theory show them how it applies to the songs. Good luck.

BassChuck · #3 10-04-2010, 04:33 AM

Get in touch with a local Suzuki teacher, I'm sure you'll be able to find one. They have a great wealth of material that is enjoyable for young children and its layed out in a progressive curve that is very easy for them (children) to deal with.

A lot of Suzuki bass players start out on re-tuned cellos... it depends on the age and size of your students. If you end up on EB, short scale basses work fine.

Teaching the love of music is far, far, far more important than teaching any one song.

pbd · #4 10-04-2010, 04:40 AM

I have instruments available in house for my kids to "play" with, keyboard, guitars, basses and a set of drums. My oldest was about 9 or 10 before he really took notice and started playing the guitar. My other two mess with the keyboard and actually one of them asked about the guitar over the weekend.

My thought is if they want to do it they will and I will support them however I can but I would like to see a little interest on their part before I start pushing them.

my 2 cents worth,
Todd

MNAirHead · #5 10-04-2010, 05:01 AM

Much of it really comes to when they can stretch thier hands.. I've found about 10 is when they get a bit of span .

MalcolmAmos · #6 10-04-2010, 05:24 AM

I have never taught music, however, I have taught kids.

Kids wake up in a new World each day. Expect to repeat an assignment many times. Simple steps and simple songs so they can go home and show the parents what they have learned. Praise and encouragements work wonders.

Good luck. It's frustrating, but, very rewarding.

Billnc · #7 10-04-2010, 06:57 AM

Bass students are about 12 or so. I've had far more guitar students as young as Kindergarten, if the guitar fits they are usually fine. Most of my really young students are at a private school, smart and disciplined. Pretty easy to teach really. Simple songs, reading (they all get reading) and the blues scale to jam with me.

fdeck · #8 10-04-2010, 10:38 PM

+1 about checking out the Suzuki program, however there may be regional variations. The traditional Suzuki method was based primarily on rote learning. However, most Suzuki teachers in the US today start kids learning by ear, but then introduce reading quite early.

There are different schools of thought about "pushing" kids. I was pushed, and I'm grateful for it. I think it depends on the kids, the family culture, and how the push is administered. Of course if you're not comfortable doing it, that's OK too. I feel that there are some worthwhile activities, which demand a continuity of attention and effort that kids can't supply for themselves. Learning to play classical music at a young age is an example. I know my kids want to play music, and they enjoy it greatly, but it takes some effort to keep them practicing. I doubt that older kids can be motivated in the same way, so I feel that it's good to give them a foundation when they are too young to know what's cool and what's square.

crockpot2001 · #9 10-06-2010, 12:01 AM

Wow, great advice! The project is a smashing success. There will be 7 kids taking these lessons for 8 sessions of one-on-one. They are only 30 minutes so it's gonne ba fast and fun. I'm pretty psyched to say the least.

Thanks again!

jschwalls · #10 10-06-2010, 12:20 AM

I'm a full time bass/guitar teacher with 55+ students ( thank God ).. anyway...

I have had 5 year old students that respond well to simple one string tunes.. twinkle twinkle, happy birthday, Bingo.. etc..

I push my kids and it pays off...

With Bass students I like to get them used to the finger strength it takes to actually play.. then I will teach a simple blues bass line.. the typical 1-maj3-5 pattern... and after they get the hang of it, I introduce moving it on a 1-4-5 progression..
I have found that kids typically WANT a challenge.

sammyp · #11 10-08-2010, 10:20 PM

i'm in the same boat ....i started teaching guitar and bass fulltime this year ....i never expected to have so many young beginners however ..

one of my brightest kids is a little girl about 12 years old with a big ole Epiphone SG bass and a great attitude - she's had about 4 lessons ....just going slow in Hal Leonard Book 1 bass method and working on Stand By Me ...her goal is too play Beatles tunes with her older guitar playing brother .....isn't that nuts!? kids playing beatles in 2010! awesome

you have to give yourself some slack because alot of the results are bassed on how interested the chikd is! i have lot's that don't care and don't practice from week to week.

for little kids nursery rhymes work best ...stuff they have in the heads and ears already - i don't know what that is for korean kids but for north americans it's twickle twinke little star, happy B day, old Macdonald etc ....

PhiDeck · #12 10-08-2010, 10:27 PM

An alternative to the Suzuki method is Carl Orff's:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orff_Schulwerk

Stick_Player · #13 10-08-2010, 10:28 PM

My son started on a 1/10 scale Double Bass - 28" from bridge to nut - with a 1/8 scale German bow. He was 8. He's now 10 and still playing it.

He also plays short scale bass guitars (fretted and fretless). Those are 30" nut to bridge.

crockpot2001 · #14 10-12-2010, 06:42 PM

Again, many thanks for the feedback. Ended up with 14 kids getting 30 minute sessions each week for 8 weeks. The music director is really stressing having fun, pushing the kids, and the demonstration of progress. I'm pretty psyched about the program and hope the kids are too.