Two Questions for the College Instructors

[jdepriest]

I teach at a small university with a growing music program. We currently do not have Music Ed or Music Performance degrees. We do offer Music Ministry, Music Minor and Music Business degrees. Our Dept. chair has asked all of the vocal and instrumental instructors to put together a list of standard solo or chamber works repertoire that the music majors should encounter during 6 semesters of required private lessons before they graduate. If they were music Ed/performance majors this would be an easy list but the majority of my students in the Music Ministry/Music Business programs are electric players and currently 1 that doubles on upright.

#1 – What do you consider standard rep. for electric bass? Most of these students career goal is to be the worship leader/bass player in a church. I’ve been using the Bach Cello suites, Pattitucci, Jaco, and Victor Wooten tunes, and the Parker Omnibook along with whatever else I can think of them keep them moving forward.

The majority of my students come from non-music majors and are just looking to play better and fulfill their Gen. Ed. Fine Arts requirement. They are largely self-taught and don’t read music.

#2 – What book or book series do you recommend for a beginner/intermediate student that keeps them interested but doesn’t include TAB? I’ve tried the Simandl and Rufus Reid books but this type of student seems to get bored with them quickly.

Thanks!
Jim

[Art Araya]

The majority of my students come from non-music majors and are just looking to play better and fulfill their Gen. Ed. Fine Arts requirement. They are largely self-taught and don’t read music.

Most of these students career goal is to be the worship leader/bass player in a church.

Then working on their jazz chops with a heavy dose of Pattitucci, Jaco, and Victor Wooten tunes along with the Parker Omnibook may be overkill? Truly, how many worship bassists need to be that notey in their playing. That kind of playing will distract from worship rather than support it. Unless they're playing in a gospel music setting and doing songs like Israel Houghton's, I don't see a need for this.

I say this as a bass player, worship leader with a music degree who studied all those sources you site. I've had to learn to play MUCH less over the years.

Paul Baloche has a wonderful video series - rudimentary but much more helpful to the aspiring worship leader.

Leadworship - Paul Baloche Modern Worship Series DVDs

They need enough theory knowledge to play thru chord charts and compose songs. They need ear-training to be able to learn songs from CDs and to come up with tasteful appropriate parts for songs. They need ensemble experience so they understand the role of the bass in a band and how to play bass lines that support the song and the parts the other musicians are playing... They need some improv skills to be able to flow musically during a live worship moment that takes an unplanned for journey...

[Art Araya]

Now I'm not saying that a person looking to use a musical instrument as a tool to serve God should not strive to be EXCELLENT and be the best they can be for Him. I believe in the message of Psalm 33:3 - "Play skillfully for Him"

I would still stress this point and provide the opportunities for those that want to pursue this. Expose them to the EXCELLENT bass players so that they can see what is possible on their instruments. Encourage them towards this.

But jazz chops at that level are certainly not a requisite skill set for them to be able to lead worship. Also, I'm concerned that you may discourage your amateur musicians with the heavy load and extreme level of virtuosity that you are asking them to work on.

[carl h.]

Reading music. Can't do it = don't pass. They don't have to be proficient sight readers, but they have to be able to read standard musical notation well enough to be able to talk to other musicians about the charts they are reading/ playing from.

I never taught my students how to play songs, I taught them how to play their instrument. Songs and etudes were a means to the end. Proper technique, knowledge of the instrument, how to take care of basic service needs, and how to read notation used - and why they need to know this stuff. If they know why, they are more apt to really incorporate what I'm selling to them into their playing, as opposed to thinking they need to know it to pass and promptly forgetting it when the test/class/lessons are completed.

(yes, I am selling it to them, I don't give it away for free)

[jdepriest]

Originally Posted by carl h.

Reading music. Can't do it = don't pass.

I agree. I should have mentioned they are also required to take 2 years of Theory and 1 year of Sight-Singing/Ear Taining. I then build on those lessons on the instrument.

[jdepriest]

Originally Posted by Art Araya

Then working on their jazz chops with a heavy dose of Pattitucci, Jaco, and Victor Wooten tunes along with the Parker Omnibook may be overkill? Truly, how many worship bassists need to be that notey in their playing. That kind of playing will distract from worship rather than support it. Unless they're playing in a gospel music setting and doing songs like Israel Houghton's, I don't see a need for this.

I say this as a bass player, worship leader with a music degree who studied all those sources you site. I've had to learn to play MUCH less over the years.

Paul Baloche has a wonderful video series - rudimentary but much more helpful to the aspiring worship leader.

Leadworship - Paul Baloche Modern Worship Series DVDs

They need enough theory knowledge to play thru chord charts and compose songs. They need ear-training to be able to learn songs from CDs and to come up with tasteful appropriate parts for songs. They need ensemble experience so they understand the role of the bass in a band and how to play bass lines that support the song and the parts the other musicians are playing... They need some improv skills to be able to flow musically during a live worship moment that takes an unplanned for journey...

I agree with you as far as the needs of a worship band bass player. Over playing bugs me too, they have all heard me say K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid. As majors they are in ear training and theory clases. I suppliment those skills during lessons. I aslo work with them on transcribing and transposing skills. I was asking for suggestions for solo rep. They all already play in the university bands, praise teams, and understand the concept of playing within the ensemble.

[Roy Vogt]

If you can locate the 5 volume University of Miami Electric Bass method it's good stuff. I also use Standing in the Shadows of Motown for reading. You're already using lots of good material. If a student comes to me with serious deficits I will use the 3 volumes (Beginning, Intermediate, and Mastering Electric Bass) by David Overthrow. It has TAB, but you can supplement with written material that has none.
I'm working on a standardized method over the next year for publication. I'll keep you posted.
Not really a method book per se, but Norm Stockton's videos sound like they'd be helpful.

[jdepriest]

[quote=Roy Vogt;11110519]
I'm working on a standardized method over the next year for publication. I'll keep you posted.
QUOTE]

Awsome!

[Art Araya]

+1 on the Norm Stockton recommendation. Great bass course - covers lots of ground. He's also got worship leading experience.

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by Roy Vogt

I'm working on a standardized method over the next year for publication. I'll keep you posted.

I did release this course about a year ago, but it's really designed as a self-teaching method and not a college text. Still, it's pretty thorough and I feel I at least need to mention it.
Learn Bass Guitar w/ Professional Lessons - Teach Me Bass Guitar
My intention is for the standardized book to take up where this course leaves off. I'll be writing it over the course of the next year and using the curriculum with my Belmont students. I'll keep you posted on progress, of course.

[Art Araya]

Your video course looks to be really well done Roy. Congratulations.

[Roy Vogt]

Originally Posted by Art Araya

Your video course looks to be really well done Roy. Congratulations.

Thank you!