Fun but effective teaching

[MisterBeagle]

Hello all.

I'm a sophmore in high school and have begun to give bass lessons to a 12 year-old 6th grader who has recently switched from cello to bass (I don't know why failed cellists think that they can suddenly pick up a bass and be Gary Karr). He seems to have the interest and passion of a musician, but I don't think my teaching method is really appealing to him. He is a middle schooler, after all.

I would really like to condition and train him to make him a prodigal player. The thing is, I'm totally new to the teaching profession. My lessons tend to be very structured and factual, and I'm not sure how to communicate to somebody how to do something that I learned to do myself, such as reading basic rhythyms and pitch. I'm always nagging him about his left thumb and his finger posture, and sometimes I feel like I'm being a bit too boring or coming on too strong, giving too much for a 6th grader to focus on at once.

To all the double bass teachers, are there any fun activities or practice methods to help young students learn efficiently but have interest and look forward to the instrument? I know that it's impossible to make somebody have passion, but I would really like to help him direct the passion he already has into his playing.

Secondly, are there any specific methods that anyone can suggest for reading music, both pitch and rhythym?

Thanks in advance to anyone who responds!

[Marc Piane]

MB - I think part of the reason there has been a deafening silence is you are just 16 yourself. I wouldn't worry about the "condition and train him to make a prodigal player" part.

Many to us have spent years in college and on the pro circuit developing ideas about how to approach teaching beginners. Be careful. There is the technique stuff that can make the bass no fun to play.

You also need to nurture the human spirit. You have to help him be excited about music.

Don't worry about coming on too strong if you feel strongly about something. Make sure the stuff you feel strongly about is important.

Do you have a teacher? What books do you use that you like? What books are you using now with him?

I personally have no single method I use. I pull from several. I always look for tunes and etudes that students will either recognize or be able to hear. I pull stuff from All For Strings, Essential Elements, as well as Simandl and others. The big thing with kids is to find something that they connect with but also works on whatever concept is at hand.

As a teacher you need to have a plan though not just flip pages in a method book. Unfortunately that's what goes on in too many school music programs but that is another thread.

[Sam Sherry]

Aw, man. What Marc said.

Teaching is hard. Many people have the tendency to be Joe Expert; they talk and don't listen.

Great teachers, like Gary Karr, are just the opposite. I'm not talking about false humility; I'm sure it takes a healthy knowledge of your own self-worth to teach successfully. But great teaching, like great musicianship, is a gift which is worthless if it is not shared.

I'm no good at teaching. I get to be Joe Expert pretty quick. I don't have the patience and I hate repeating myself. "Yo! I told you to play in tune last week! This week you're still out of tune! Feh!"

So I just don't do it. I'm OK for coaching and clinics, not ongoing lessons. "Work on space. See you next year!"

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Sam Sherry

I get to be Joe Expert pretty quick. I don't have the patience and I hate repeating myself. "Yo! I told you to play in tune last week! This week you're still out of tune! Feh!"

Zoot Sims supposedly once did an appearance at a high school, the day after a gig in the same town. Someone had to go drag him out of bed, of course. So he sat down and listened while the band played a tune. The song finished, and Zoot stood up and headed for the door. The band director said "Wait, Mr. Sims.... don't you have anything that you can say to the band?". Zoot's reply; "Yeah... play better".

I have to subvert my inner Joe Expert from time to time. I hope I'm becoming a better teacher, but I think in the early days, I tended to forget that not every student wants to do what I do; that is, play for a living. Most don't, they just want to have some fun with it.

Each one is different. I have one student who just eats up the technical stuff; scales, arpeggios, he just loves the math of it. Another one is the opposite; we do a lot of singing, learning melodies and applying them to the bass, and so on. It usually evolves as your relationship with the student grows. And inevitably I end up learning something from every student who comes to my house.

[Marc Piane]

Originally Posted by Marcus Johnson

And inevitably I end up learning something from every student

Amen. That is my favorite part of teaching.

[Jake deVilliers]

"And inevitably I end up learning something from every student who comes to my house."

+1 That's the secret bonus.

Student: What's that you're doing there?
Me: I'm not doing anything.
Student: Yes you are, right before the five.
Me: Oh that..........

[Marcus Johnson]

Originally Posted by Jake deVilliers

"
Student: What's that you're doing there?
Me: I'm not doing anything.
Student: Yes you are, right before the five.
Me: Oh that..........

Ah yes, the chromatic approach note. We'll spend 45 minutes on that next week...

[hdiddy]

Me: umm... it's a feature not a bug!