What should I expect from a teacher?

[scootron]

I realize I have done this the wrong way...I'm self taught, playing for about 15 months. Our band has been gigging once or twice a month for the last six months, making $300 to $800 per gig playing covers. I don't read music, play by ear, but according to my band mates do a fine job of holding down the low end. I was pretty scared at first, but it got better as we went along, sort of faking it until I was making it. It was sort of a lark to take up bass at 50, but it has become a passion.

I'd like to move to the next level, and I think that involves working with a teacher. What should I expect/look for? Should I expect to start at the beginning? Will I be required to learn to read music? I know a couple of scales, but most of the bass lines, including the walking lines, just seem to "come to me" as I'm playing.

How should I select a teacher? I am in a very rural area, and there are not a lot of people giving lessons. What minimum qualifications should I require?

How much input will/should I have in shaping the lessons? I want to get the most benefit possible from the lessons, since I will have to drive an hour or so to the nearest teacher. Any words of wisdom?

Thanks.

[dulouz]

In your situation, reading skills aren't a high priority. Don't get me wrong, I beleive it is very important to know how to read.

You need a teacher who can teach you about technique. That will help you with speed, endurance, and general flexability.

Also look for someone who knows about music theory. Knowing how scales and chords work is very helpful in creating lines. It also helps you identify, and remember, the songs you are learning note for note.

Try calling some of the local music stores to see what teachers they have. I would warn you not to study bass from a guitar player who claims to teach bass. A teacher that plays bass in a band would be better for you than one who doesn't.

When you do find a teacher, tell them your what you what to accomplish by taking lessons. The teacher should be flexable to your needs.

Best of luck...

[Shovelbone]

Originally Posted by scootron

I realize I have done this the wrong way...I'm self taught, playing for about 15 months. Our band has been gigging once or twice a month for the last six months, making $300 to $800 per gig playing covers. I don't read music, play by ear, but according to my band mates do a fine job of holding down the low end. I was pretty scared at first, but it got better as we went along, sort of faking it until I was making it. It was sort of a lark to take up bass at 50, but it has become a passion.

I'd like to move to the next level, and I think that involves working with a teacher. What should I expect/look for? Should I expect to start at the beginning? Will I be required to learn to read music? I know a couple of scales, but most of the bass lines, including the walking lines, just seem to "come to me" as I'm playing.

How should I select a teacher? I am in a very rural area, and there are not a lot of people giving lessons. What minimum qualifications should I require?

How much input will/should I have in shaping the lessons? I want to get the most benefit possible from the lessons, since I will have to drive an hour or so to the nearest teacher. Any words of wisdom?

Thanks.

It sounds like you are off to a good start. I would highly recommend getting a teacher. Someone who can help you work on you technique as well as helping you with theory. I cannot over emphasize the importance of the theory.
As for driving distance, I drive over an hour each way once a week to my lesson and it is well worth it when you find a good teacher. Good luck!

[DudeistMonk]

I had lesssons back in the day and all the guy did was print out sheets with scales on them, I did it for 3 months before I got bored and left.

Make sure who ever you go to actually understands and is willing to teach you the theory behind the scales and chords it makes it much more interesting. You could learn every scale there ever was and if you don't know how to use them what good are they for? stretching your fingers?

-Chris

[corradoc]

I think it's important to first define what your goals are - theory, technique, branching out in different styles, etc. Once you figure that out, you can dictate to your potential teahcer(s) and find the person who can help you the most.

[Stealth]

Things to look for in a teacher?
Patience, so you can iterate till you reach a level needed.
Affinity, so you can concentrate on what you think matters for your style - but including a few tricks of your teacher's.
Most importantly, decent teaching skills. If you don't have a teacher who *really*, really knows how to convey knowledge, it's all for naught.

I was lucky enough to nab all three with the same teacher - and I'm already reaping benefits.

[Deacon_Blues]

Find one that is good at teaching, and makes you work on the edge of what you can do, in terms of technique, ear training, bassline improvisation skills etc etc etc. It would also be beneficial if it's someone who can teach you about basslines in different styles of music, like rock, funk, soul, jazz, latin and country.

Reading is not crucial in order to play well, but reading skills facilitates many things. You don't not have to learn to become fluent at playing primavista to be a good bassist, but to know the basics about music notation and where to find the notes on the bass would be very important nonetheless.

[mantelclock]

Originally Posted by dulouz

I would warn you not to study bass from a guitar player who claims to teach bass.

+1 A few years ago, I went to a music shop to inquire about bass lessons because I wanted help with my right hand technique. They set me up with a guitarist who played mediocre one-finger bass. I never went back. He was decent guitarist though...

[mutedeity]

I will give you some dos and don'ts as far as what to look for in a teacher.

Look for a teacher that does:

- Teach relative theory. That is, the major scale, how modes are formed from the major scale, and how modality works for any scale. How triads and 7th chords are formed. How to analyse chords and chord progressions and so on. I'm not going to go into giving you a lesson on the subject but your teacher should be able to explain basic theory, since that seems to be what you want to learn here.

- Look at both your left and right hand technique and concentrate on posture and hand position. Your teacher should always be mindful of your wrists. They should look out for things like curling your thumb over the finger board and thumb pivoting on the neck.

Look for a teacher that does not:

- teach you a few scales without explaining how modality or diatonic harmony works. For that matter make sure they don't just show you chords without explaining how to analyse them either.

- teach you songs without giving you any theoretical context for them or analysis.

- ignore your technique without analysing it to some extent. A good teacher should at least comment on what the student is doing right in that regard. At least that way you know they are paying attention to what you are doing.


As far as reading goes, I generally start students off by giving them static melodies (one note) as rhythmic exercises to start with, including clave and so on and then introduce more dynamic melodies as they develop a sense of reading rhythm. I think developing reading can take many different approaches, but it really comes down a lot to the student practising reading in their own time for them to be good at it. This goes for any aspect of music though.

In terms of qualifications, I would say that some people have great CVs and are accomplished players but this doesn't always mean that they are great teachers. There is no foolproof way of knowing whether any particular teacher is going to be right for you or whether they are going to be any good at teaching, unfortunately. The best you can do is, in my opinion, go by the dos and don'ts I have posted and ask them over the phone if they teach relative theory or just a bunch of scales and how they approach technique. If you get a vague response on either question you know they are probably not going to give you what you seem to be asking for here.

Anyway there is my advice. Some people might agree or disagree especially about my opinion that you should be taught relative theory right away, but the way I see it, you can learn to "play by ear" or "feel" in your bedroom and save a lot of money rather than pay someone to teach you a few scales you don't really have any context of and therefore no use for.

Good luck.

[scootron]

Thanks, everyone, for the thoughtful and helpful replies. I feel much better armed in my hunt for the right teacher.