Formal musical education

[88persuader]

How many of you have had formal musical education and if so how extensive was it. A year of private lessons? A college degree in music?

I play 5 instruments and have been playing professionally my whole life. (I'm 50YO now) I've had some DRUM lessons and some piano lessons. I've learnt bass and guitar on my own and am currently learning the Chapman Stick on my own. My chart reading skills are low but I can follow the REAL BOOK no problem and am comfortable playing with very educated musicians. So that's my story ... what's yours?

[Chipsonfire]

Umm, none of those apply to me >_> I'm a self taught bassist, but I've had a few classes in music theory.

[88persuader]

Originally Posted by Chipsonfire

Umm, none of those apply to me >_> I'm a self taught bassist, but I've had a few classes in music theory.

You'd probably fall into the "less then a year of private lessons." I checked off less then a year of private lessons but as you can see my lessons were on piano and drums, not bass. If it were stricty bass I'd say SELF TAUGHT but I think ANY musical education has an impact on the poll. Guess I could have added "Lessons on something other then bass."

Self taught, my first 5 years I really studied a lot of theory while working on my technique. I learned listening to Steve Harris and it rubbed off, I needed my own identity which I believe I have now.

[markjazzbassist]

Self-taught. I would still learn it myself too if I had to do it over again. Sure I don't know theory and can't do crazy stuff like Vic Wooten, but dang can I get Funky and Groove like a mother and that's something you can't learn in school.

[steddy2112]

Self taught.

Almost no theory at all...I understand structure and what not...I just listen to what's in my head and make my fingers talk...

[rfclef]

BA in Music Ed. Several years of private study on Tuba, Euphonium.

A couple months of lessons on Bass.

[masmasbasso]

I went to a performing arts high school in Dallas and then I was a jazz major at the University of North Texas. I think it is important to really understand music and the language of music. This can learned on your own, and the most important skills are learned by playing. Musical instincts are mostly learned by applied knowledge. So I learned more by being around sick players than in classes BUT I can also read music, have a refined ear, can get around in any key, can improvise over hard changes and know a bunch about our history of music. School really helped tie that all together. Plus I made a ton of connections at UNT.

I've been on the same tour as some famous rock bass players that were intimidated by school and theory and were afraid that learning it would ruin their style. Fearing they would over analyze music and not feel it anymore. I never really got that. Seriously, I rarely think about anything when I play. I just listen and feel it. Sometimes in the studio I'll substitute a third for a root note or come up with a descending line substituting notes over 1-4-5 chords but I usually just hear it that way and never over-analyze like the guys in question thought I would.

So I think the way to go would be lessons or school and LOTS of self discovery. There is no point in trying to reinvent the wheel. Take some lessons and get the fundamentals down and then go for it as an artist.

[Deacon_Blues]

Voted less than a year of private lessons. I've had 4 or 5 bass lessons in my life (private lessons).

However, I did study music theory and played the flute in music school at the age of 8-14, approximately. Never became any good though. Studied electric guitar in the same school at the age of 16-18 with a jazz guitarist who taught me lots and lots of chords. I didn't know how to use them directly though, it took me a few years to become familiar with them and how to build up chords yourself.

The guitar background was really helpful when I switched to bass. I guess that's why it took me a 4 years before I realized I might need some private lessons. That was about 2 years ago. I was in need to improve my technique and the lessons I had really helped me, and made me aware of how important technique actually is.

[Chipsonfire]

Originally Posted by 88persuader

You'd probably fall into the "less then a year of private lessons." I checked off less then a year of private lessons but as you can see my lessons were on piano and drums, not bass. If it were stricty bass I'd say SELF TAUGHT but I think ANY musical education has an impact on the poll. Guess I could have added "Lessons on something other then bass."

The thing about that is I've never had private lessons for any instrument, but I've had more than a year of schooling in theory... So there really isn't anything I can logically choose

[keb]

I took music theory and composition classes. But as far as the mechanics of physically playing bass, self-taught. I just learned on my own to get the notes under my fingers and I carefully watched what other players did technique-wise and learned from that.

I can't recommend enough at least some theory classes. Or at least grab yourself a copy of Music Theory for Dummies or something.

[82Daion]

I took a couple years of private lessons when I still played tuba, and taught myself the fundamentals of bass before taking about 6 months of lessons for that.

I might resume taking private lessons in the fall; I'm also minoring in music at college.

[MysticMichael]

I actually don't fit into any of these categories. I'm self-taught on the bass. But I've had years of school band experience during grades 5-12, where I played tenor sax. Plus a little music theory in college. I can read.

MM

[BellBottomBlues]

I'm self taught in most everything. The closest I've come to lessons is concert DVDs

I have a better than average ear and can play most things note for note after I hear them the first time if my chops are up to it. There are some things I acknowledge I can't do, like tapping double thumping, etc but to do those things I'd have to learn some more tricks and change the way I play bass (I have HIGH action and jamerson flats)
I don't know many bass chords but I'm learning.
I can sight read pretty well and I can come up with my own lines to songs.

I've been playing for almost 4 years now, and bass is just one way I focus my creativity. I play banjo, classical harp, violin, viola, cello, learning EUB, harmonica and I sing a bit.

Playing banjo actually helped me a lot in playing bass.

[jasonbraatz]

I got a B.A. in jazz performance along with one in history from UW-Madison.

Thank goodness I know lots about computers!

[IconBasser]

about 4 years of private lessons. My teacher had a music degree though, and he would pull out old lessons he had in college. As a result, I'm reasonably well versed in theory... it could be better though...

[CamMcIntyre]

I'm in my 3rd year towards a BM in Jazz Performance. On electric-i started off self taught, but got lessons as soon as high school hit. Upright bass-i've been studying it heavily for going on 3 years now-i took lessons on it before but i didn't put enough into it to get past just learning what i needed to to get by.

Where i go after my BM depends a lot on what's goin on financially. I'd like to head out to either Musicians Institute, Berklee, or the Abersold Camps for a summer session. Maybe work on a Masters in Education after i graduate.

[ibnzneksrul]

A few years lessons as a kid on clarinet, played in school bands, pretty much self-taught on bass.