what to look for in a bass teacher?

vincentpghpa · #1 08-24-2006, 05:12 PM

Other than the fact that they should live near me (norfolk Va)

I have posted this on other forums but I am also trying to get other opinions on this.

If I don't get a guitar for christmas then I am going to have my wife spring for a few lessons. My birthday is in April so I can always ask for one then. Plus I have a 4 and a 5 for now.

So I have been told that I should look for someone who is strickly bass. (no guitar teacher moonlighting)

one who want's to teach me the basics of playing and reading music. not just tab and playing other songs I dig.

Any other advice?

Byron Santo · #2 08-24-2006, 05:35 PM

I would look for a teacher that not only focuses on Reading & Theory but also one that can instruct you in correct technique and by correct technique I don't mean, "Alternate your index & middle fingers when playing". You want someone that will instruct in the micro-motions of techniques, i.e. where does the fingers move from when playing a note, etc. This is your foundation.

Just consider this, for every incorrect motion that you do it takes 7 x's the amount of time to correct it once you are aware of it. This can lead to years of no progress or even injury.

I would ask the instructor what is their definition of correct technique. My definition is it allows the musician to play whatever their minds ear hears and the most important, it allows one to play for year’s injury free! Being able to play extremely fast for 2-3 years then later suffering from damaged muscles & nerves is not correct technique!

jimbob · #3 08-26-2006, 11:32 PM

Yes theory and technique and good habits and a bassist!

Also, since you are hoping to spend your wife's money, be sure you get what you pay for.

I would tell your instructor how serious you are about practicing what they teach you...that you will practice 30 minutes a day and be prepared for the next lesson.

Also, explain what you want out of your instructor...that he/she will be there at their scheduled time every week, that they will be sober (you are paying so if you are sober it's up to you

and ready to give you their best!

Good Luck!

iplaybassguitar · #4 08-28-2006, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vincentpghpa

Other than the fact that they should live near me (norfolk Va)

I have posted this on other forums but I am also trying to get other opinions on this.

If I don't get a guitar for christmas then I am going to have my wife spring for a few lessons. My birthday is in April so I can always ask for one then. Plus I have a 4 and a 5 for now.

So I have been told that I should look for someone who is strickly bass. (no guitar teacher moonlighting)

one who want's to teach me the basics of playing and reading music. not just tab and playing other songs I dig.

Any other advice?

+100 to that strictly bass part, my current teacher plays guitar, and he knows a buttload of theory, but he cant really help me with my technique, my lessons are purely theoretical now...im looking to switch soon.

TrooperFarva · #5 08-30-2006, 08:59 PM

What you should look for is a session musician who teaches well and has an open mind. By teaches well, I mean conveys their ideas so that others can understand them easily. You'll have to take at least one lesson from them to see if they teach well and have an open mind, but if they have a website or something, you should be able to see their credentials and if they've played on any recordings. Session musicians are good, very good, they have to be, otherwise, they wouldn't be session musicians for very long. They know how to read music, and they know proper technique. It took me a while to find a teacher with these qualifications, but when I started taking lessons from him, I improved more in my first 2 months with him than my first 2 years teaching myself.

labgnat · #6 08-30-2006, 09:22 PM

sexy eyes

IotaNet · #7 09-03-2006, 11:45 PM

This is a topic that is especially near and dear to me because I have been looking for a bass teacher for well over a year. I've run into a number of bassists who have wanted to teach me but they either don't know how to teach or they don't enjoy teaching.

A couple of weeks ago, I came across a gentleman from my area over the Internet (via a bass review in Harmony Central, of all places!) and I sent him a note. What follows is an excerpt from his response:

Quote:

I'm all about getting back to basics. I think that the best players in the world are the players with a firm grasp on the basic elements of playing - scale theory, technique, and most notably, TIME. I'm a stickler for excellent time so a metronome is a must. The exercises and principles that I'd teach you, if practiced on a regular basis with diligence and love, will turn you into an even more solid, tasteful player.

My goal as a teacher is to provide you with the fundamental tools that you will need in ANY playing situation. By studying things like modal scale theory, triads, ear training, reading, jazz theory, advanced techniques, etc, you begin to demystify music – questions like “Why does that sound so good?” or “Why doesn’t this work here?” can all be answered with a little probing into these issues.

But theory is no good without application – that’s where I feel like a lot of teaching falters. So you learn a few scales and modes – so what? Then what? I try to use theory as a tool for understanding music I like. For example, we could take a song that you love, and “unlock” it – talk about the progressions, the composition, the melodies – and not only does this help your playing, it helps your songwriting as well.

Another thing I love to do is to take a record that you love, and learn the whole damn thing – front to back, inside and out. And not KINDA learning it – really learning it. This is HUGE for your ear training. I’ve done this with several records and it always blows me away. You see how your favorite bass player/band uses theory to do what they do – awesome stuff. And of course, if you want to, we could check out techniques – slapping, tapping, muted grooving, etc. This stuff is a guilty pleasure for me! But I don’t stress it because I don’t think that great slapping makes a bass player great.

Really, what I’d like to do is get an idea of where you are and where you want to go on your instrument. At that point, I’d custom tailor a program for you that would really push you but also really inspire you to improve.

Needless to say, I called him right away! We vibed very well over the phone and we have our first session next Sunday!

My point here is that you need to find someone who you can work with and who understands what you are trying to achieve. It may take you some time to find the right one but believe me, it's worth the effort!