bass lessons?

[azfryguy]

I am thinking about giving bass and guitar lessons. Seems simple enough right, WRONG! I am 17 and have posted numerous adds on CL but everytime someone ask my age and they 17 years of age they think oh no this kid must suck @$$. So i uploaded a video of myself playing slap bass. Im going to upload a video of myself playing as many styles and techniques as I can then I will post an add on CL and have a link to my youtube videos. This is the only one I have now

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kgO8I-jZj7M

But do you guys think I am mature enough to give lessons?

[amosjones]

You have the skill to play. What cannot be seen from the video is if you have the skill to teach.

[Jayhawk]

How knowledgeable are you about music theory? Do you have any formal training? Can you teach someone more than techniques such as slap?

These are questions I'd want to know the answers to before I paid for lessons.

[tZer]

+1 ^^

Post your lesson plan and a description of what a student can expect to learn from you and you'll probably see more action from people looking for what you are offering.

Here are the bullets from David Karns a teacher I studied with (a really good teacher and player, by the way):

Studies include:

* Left and Right Hand Techniques
* Timing and Groove
* Music Theory (scales, arpeggios, modes and their application)
* Styles (Funk, Motown, Afro Cuban, Rock and Jazz)
* Sight Reading
* Improvisation
* Recording
* Performance
* Bass setup, intonation

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by amosjones

You have the skill to play. What cannot be seen from the video is if you have the skill to teach.

thank you thats very nice

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by Jayhawk

How knowledgeable are you about music theory? Do you have any formal training? Can you teach someone more than techniques such as slap?

These are questions I'd want to know the answers to before I paid for lessons.

semi-knowledgeable in theory however i would teach technique first

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by tZer

+1 ^^

Post your lesson plan and a description of what a student can expect to learn from you and you'll probably see more action from people looking for what you are offering.

Here are the bullets from David Karns a teacher I studied with (a really good teacher and player, by the way):

thats very helpful I would teach students to play basic finger stlye teach them tab so thay can learn songs at home and after there comfortable with that i would teach them to use a pick and after there comfortable with that id teach them taping harmonics and so fourth

I could also teach them to set up there own bass how to change string what bass to buy and so on

[Febs]

Originally Posted by azfryguy

semi-knowledgeable in theory however i would teach technique first

I respectfully suggest that if you are serious about teaching, you need to give a better answer to the type of questions that Jayhawk asked you. He asked you three very relevant questions. You gave an answer to one of those questions that is, at best, incomplete, and ignored the other two. If I were looking for a teacher, and received those answers to my questions, I would keep looking.

[Beginner Bass]

You have to be able to relate to your student. You have to be able to teach from the beginning.

[tZer]

Originally Posted by azfryguy

thats very helpful I would teach students to play basic finger stlye teach them tab so thay can learn songs at home and after there comfortable with that i would teach them to use a pick and after there comfortable with that id teach them taping harmonics and so fourth

I could also teach them to set up there own bass how to change string what bass to buy and so on

And I would steer people clear of you as a teacher not because of your abilities, but because you're putting the fact that you'd teach 'tab' and don't even mention teaching actual music.

Don't get me wrong - that's my opinion and I am rather sure that you'd still get lots of students and you'd do a fine job teaching them to play and read tab. But I feel strongly that music teachers, even if all you teach is bass, should teach music. It's harder and requires more effort on your part as a teacher, but it's better for the students.

But again - there are PLENTY of teachers who do just as you describe - so go for it and best of luck to you!

[Staccato]

A couple of comments from a long-time student, and teacher...

If you don't teach some students one-on-one in a live setting, you'll miss important (teacher) tools.

• You're never too young to teach, if you have the chops, and can motivate others;
• Park your ego at the door, before the student walks in;
• Get them playing several songs they like-not just parts of songs, and quickly;
• Don’t show ‘em, or demonstrate everything, get them to do it, and if necessary, break problems into small steps-and make sure they understand 'how to' correct something;
• If you don’t get the student (started) playing songs in the first few lessons, and pulling same songs out again-and-again to help/encourage them to master some licks, you’re moving too fast, or forgetting what nearly-every beginner wants;
• Reinforce to them that bad technique or tone can improve through practice and more lessons-it takes time & learning patience!

[mat b]

Music should be the bulk of what you teach... Technique will happen as time goes by. Beginners need to learn the fretboard... Notes not tabs or frets #'s or other crutches that can later become a hard to break bad habit. They need to learn the notes on the staff, rythm, scales and modes, and harmony. Theory allows you to become a better more well rounded musician. It allows you to better explain different styles of music. It can only help. Never hurt.

[mat b]

Originally Posted by tZer

+1 ^^

Post your lesson plan and a description of what a student can expect to learn from you and you'll probably see more action from people looking for what you are offering.

Here are the bullets from David Karns a teacher I studied with (a really good teacher and player, by the way):

+1 zillion

[tZer]

The worst thing you can do for a student is to send them on their way with a boatload of bad habits to break. If they move on to a new teacher down the road who then has to undo all sorts of stuff, you're name will quickly become mud.

Don't underestimate what being someone's teacher means. If what you want to do is show other players how to play like you, then open up an offer for people to come over and jam. Share all you want, but don't take their money or give them the impression what you're going to show them is any more useful than being able to play some lines and apply some techniques.

[mat b]

You cannot teach someone what bass to buy. You must be respectful to your students wants, needs, and mindful of what they have to spend. It's all personal preference as well. Whether they buy a 4 or a 10 string is up to them. you can give your opinions and let them play what you own, but what you play is never what's best for someone else. From bass to setup.

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by Febs

I respectfully suggest that if you are serious about teaching, you need to give a better answer to the type of questions that Jayhawk asked you. He asked you three very relevant questions. You gave an answer to one of those questions that is, at best, incomplete, and ignored the other two. If I were looking for a teacher, and received those answers to my questions, I would keep looking.

to answer the other questions yes and yes

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by tZer

And I would steer people clear of you as a teacher not because of your abilities, but because you're putting the fact that you'd teach 'tab' and don't even mention teaching actual music.

Don't get me wrong - that's my opinion and I am rather sure that you'd still get lots of students and you'd do a fine job teaching them to play and read tab. But I feel strongly that music teachers, even if all you teach is bass, should teach music. It's harder and requires more effort on your part as a teacher, but it's better for the students.

But again - there are PLENTY of teachers who do just as you describe - so go for it and best of luck to you!

i taught numerous friends how to play and i tried to teach them to read music and they hated it so if someone comes to me asking to read music i shall teach tham . . . nevermind ill ask them if they want to learn to read music

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by Stacatto

A couple of comments from a long-time student, and teacher...

If you don't teach some students one-on-one in a live setting, you'll miss important (teacher) tools.

• You're never too young to teach, if you have the chops, and can motivate others;
• Park your ego at the door, before the student walks in;
• Get them playing several songs they like-not just parts of songs, and quickly;
• Don’t show ‘em, or demonstrate everything, get them to do it, and if necessary, break problems into small steps-and make sure they understand 'how to' correct something;
• If you don’t get the student (started) playing songs in the first few lessons, and pulling same songs out again-and-again to help/encourage them to master some licks, you’re moving too fast, or forgetting what nearly-every beginner wants;
• Reinforce to them that bad technique or tone can improve through practice and more lessons-it takes time & learning patience!

i have taken lessons from lytel rieffer for almost 6 years and my bro took them for 4 and i went with him almost everytime so i know how i should behave

[azfryguy]

Originally Posted by mat b

You cannot teach someone what bass to buy. You must be respectful to your students wants, needs, and mindful of what they have to spend. It's all personal preference as well. Whether they buy a 4 or a 10 string is up to them. you can give your opinions and let them play what you own, but what you play is never what's best for someone else. From bass to setup.

if a student says "ey this guy is selling me a squier for 500 bucks should i get it?" I would say "no" then explain why

[mat b]

That's not really what I meant... But great playing by the way!