A Question for Old School Jazz Cats

[anonymous02282011]

I think Ray Brown was once quoted as saying "it's 10% talent and 90% hard work".

You just gotta keep at it.

Personally, given what I've read I'd encourage you to just start taking private lessons. When I was in college I would practice 8 -12 hours a day. I'd walk right past my teachers as they were starting class and they'd ask me where I thought I was going. Well, it was off to the practice room. I have no regrets.

Granted, there is much to learn in the classroom, but I'd learned theory in high school. I'd go in to class for exams, take the test and pretty much ace it every time.

I'm not bragging -- there is a reason for college, like Ed said, to get that diploma. It's also a great place to network and play with some great musicians.

If you're not interested in that diploma, I'd reconsider finding a great private teacher.


So, anyway, hows it going at CUNY? Who are you studying with?

 

[Bassman8416]

Its going good...I studied with Lincoln Goines and this really good player/teacher Kyle Nixx.
Very good professors there as well. It all takes time and a lot of listening and transcribing so on.
Thanks for all the input!!

 

[Bassman8416]

We are required to take private lessons. I have brought those questions to them about 7-3 resolution etc...it seems listening, transcribing, checking out the Parker omni book are recommendations, which I do . Just looking for other insight.

 

[251]

This. ^^^

I'm 46 and played rock exclusively since HS jazz band. I don't have the time, $$$ or inclination to go to school, but I DO want to learn jazz. I met a great teacher last summer and have been studying with him since. He's a Berklee alum and he's loading me up with theory, walking, modes, etc. But it's at my pace and tailored to my individual goals. I love it.

+1 - I am tutored + ensemble lessons give me a weekly dose of listening, responding, occasionally conversing, experimenting & dealing with "mistakes", on both new & familiar tunes. I often gather the player's I have met in my living room, for a jam.

 

[Bassman8416]

Well, it depends on what you want to get out of it. Studying privately doesn't get you a piece of paper. But nobody on the stand has ever asked to see my diploma. Studying privately is good at covering material at YOUR pace, cause its all one on one. If you have a good teacher, they will be able to approach conveying specific skill sets and knowledge in a way that lines up with how you learn things, classroom/ensemble kinds of situations have to adapt to the middle - not fast enough for those who pick things up quickly and too fast for those who don't. Plus classroom/ensemble type situations built on semester formats tend to teach easily quantifiable "units" that can be somewhat objectively graded. But if you get a B- in ear training, what does that really mean? When you get on the stand, you'll only be able to hear 82% of the harmony? A private teacher will stick with the goal and approach it in many different ways until you get 100% of what you're working on.

These are excellent points. There are times I feel that I am not getting some of the material down yet we have to plow ahead. I am learning but the whole academic thing wears me down at times. Guess I will evaluate things at the end of the semester.

 

[Chrispurchase]

I'm in the same boat, i started at the beginning of this year and am in my late 20's everyone else is in pretty much 18 and it's intimidating. I've had a few deer in headlight moments and I've thought what am i doing a few times.

I decided to stick at it as although I'm not going to learn everything it's teaching me a lot, putting me way out of my comfort level & I get to play with people regularly, most of whom are at a much high level than i would feel comfortable playing if i wasn't forced too.

 

[4Strings46]

Check out Visionmusic.com Mark Stefani is a great teacher and he has alot of old school jazz cats publish and write lessons and articles for him.

 

[JimmyM]

that's really cool you're doing all this studying and getting it together. almost makes me want to do it my own self. bebop's always been my downfall, too. that's a tough type of music to crack. salut!

 

[Bassman8416]

It has been tough Jimmy.....The soloing is the toughest part. I tend to try to get every chord tone in instead of using the target and approach method. I had a combo performance yesterday and had to do a solo over Donna Lee...it started out pretty good then lost its direction and became meandering nonsense. I will continue to try though. Some of these young cats are quite good.

 

[nic salsus]

It has been tough Jimmy.....The soloing is the toughest part. I tend to try to get every chord tone in instead of using the target and approach method. I had a combo performance yesterday and had to do a solo over Donna Lee...it started out pretty good then lost its direction and became meandering nonsense. I will continue to try though. Some of these young cats are quite good.

I'm the same age as you and looking at getting back to studying the bass full time at the end of this summer. I've spent time in NYC and lemme tell you it may be intimidating but you're pretty fortunate to be doing it there! Good on ya for doing it!