Do I need a new teacher?

[pcake]

i play fingerstyle because i really like it, and my sight reading is dismal, yet i can play hundreds of songs, a mix of covers (including plenty note for note) and originals. more recently i learned with tab, many others i just figured out or learned to play by ear. you really don't need to read notation to play. in fact, paul wolfe from how to play bass has tons of "how to play" videos on youtube including some for beginners howtoplaybassdotcom

Has your teacher actually taught you good.. (as in..SAFE..)...technique ? I would have assumed it would have been covered in the first one or two lessons.

i had two guitar teachers when i was a tween and teenager. neither taught me anything about safe technique or about guitars in general, and these weren't guys with signs on lampposts - they were both highly recommended teachers at two of our larger local music stores with extensive teaching.

It's not you, it's her: those are all absolutely ridiculous choices as first songs for a novice player.

Even Crazy Little Thing is at a fast tempo with triplet runs and requires fairly advanced feel in order to actually groove.

Normally I'd suggest talking with the teacher about making a change, but she's so far off base that firing her and finding someone who actually knows how to teach is probably a better idea.

i see lots of people saying talk to the teach, but i'm with MDBass. she may be a good player, but i think she's pretty dismal as a teacher. a song like "i love rock and roll" would have had you playing your first full song in a couple weeks, and you could have worked up to the songs she gave you by learning full songs you could play. you shouldn't NEED to tell her these are advanced songs if she's a teacher.

 

[SLO Surfer]

I always got taught, and taught my students with technique and theory stuff (including songs and etudes that help those things) for the first part of the lesson. Then a song the STUDENT wants to learn for the second part of a lesson. Gotta keep the student engaged and interested in having fun with their music. Ask her if you can have some help you with songs you're interested in learning as part of your lessons.

 

[Jeff Sarsippius]

I think it's time to TALK: she will probably appreciate it too. We often are unaware of the pressure new teachers feel when they get a student; often teachers feel they have to show how "fun" and "cool" the song choices are, because they think that's "what the student wants," but teacher and student haven't really established what works.

As she is a "schooled" musician, she may also be thinking Rock is the most basic and accessible FOR HER, but not for you. Unless you have someone lined up, I really disagree with ending instruction.

 

[funkymonk13]

I say communicate with her before ruling her out. If you're a complete beginner I know it's hard to figure out the things you want to learn but you should give her an idea. Most good teachers are willing to work with you if you tell them you want to learn certain songs, styles, techniques, etc.

As you said, you're a busy adult dude with two small kids and not enough time to practice. Might not be the teachers fault. I understand you're frustrated with the progress you've made, but we don't have all the details. IMO it sounds like you're relying too much on the teacher. Victor Wooten says in his book that a teacher can't teach you anything. A teacher can show you things, but you have to learn them on your own.

Also in the context of your specific situation I think it's completely ridiculous to think you'd be gigging in 10months.

 

[Carl Hillman]

Am I just a slow learner, not practicing enough (45-60 mins 3 or 4 times a week), or do I need a new teacher with a more gradual approach?

30 minutes a day, 6 days a week is better than 60 minutes a day 3 days a week.

I think you'll notice more rapid improvement if you have the bass in your hands almost every day.

Also, keep a written record of what you work on every day. Buy a metronome if you don't have one and slow down what you can't play. Mark in your log the fastest tempo you can perfectly play your songs. The next day, start them a couple of notches slower than that, and gradually get them up to your last tempo and beyond.

 

[DavC]

i've had several older students ... around my age ,59 , give or take a decade ...

usually for me , it's hard to get people to do very basic muscle building very boring - finger exercises ..!

if your brain and fingers aren't in sync ... it's rather hard to learn more musical things ...

try some very basic finger exercises for 10-15 minutes before bed ... bass can be unplugged , it's more about muscle memory ... like a golf swing ... practicing a small movement repeatedly , to get your brain & muscles working together on just mechanics .

i've found that when students suddenly realize their hands are stronger , and they have much more control and coordination .. then they can pick up the more musical parts and apply them with more ease .. then soon practice will become more fun and fruitful .. !

 

[Nickweissmusic]

OK, rookie question but I've been playing 10 months and think I may need a new teacher. I'm totally new to bass but love it. I'm 50 and before this could play about 6 chords on the guitar and that was it. Never had a guitar lesson. I don't get to practice bass as often as I should but 2 small children and a full time job take up a lot of my time. I've had a lesson every 2/3 weeks for the last 10 months. I found my teacher through my wife's drum teacher. She's young but a music graduate and multi instrumentalist who majored in bass. She has great knowledge, great taste in music and is really encouraging. I'm learning to read music with her and we've covered the scales, circle of 5ths and she's challenging me to learn the fretboard (no tab) which I like. But, my technique sucks. In 10 months we've only really focussed on 4 songs, 3 of which have been too much of a stretch for me (Higher Ground, Hit me with your Rhythm Stick and Crazy Little Thing Called Love -all too fast for me). I'm finding it really discouraging and after a while I just don't want to practice. I just pick up my bass and mess around or resort to playing simple stuff from YouTube instead. Am I just a slow learner, not practicing enough (45-60 mins 3 or 4 times a week), or do I need a new teacher with a more gradual approach? I realise that she is trying to challenge me but it just feels like I suck all the time. I struggle with damping and the string noise I get with my fingering technique seems really bad. What do you think?

Don't want to crap on a young teacher, or pretend I have all the answers, but 4 songs over 10 months is not a good way to keep students motivated. Of course, there will be students here and there that like to work like that, but that is very few and far between.

After a week or two of going over the absolute basics, I have my students make a list of 10 to 15 songs they want to learn. I don't guarantee that we are going to get right into them, but often we do, and in many cases, I simplify the basslines to make that possible. If none of their suggestions are within reach, at least I know the direction the student wants to go in, and I have plenty of suggestions myself. Typical easy basslines I'll start with are things like, Undone (the sweater song), 7 nation Army (yeah I know it's a guitar with an octave pedal), Hey Joe, TNT, Come Together, Crosscut Saw and countless other blueses, among many others. Crazy Little Thing Called Love is a concerto compared to those Yes, it's a great bassline, but there are many, many stepping stones you can learn on the way to getting there.

As a teacher, the most annoying thing is when a student quits in frustration, without letting me know that they are frustrated. Let your teacher know that you would like to dial back the difficulty, and bring some more music into the mix to keep you motivated. If she is unwilling to do that, or doesn't want to cut some corners and simplify things to help you progress, then yes, it's time to look for a new teacher. You are a motivated student, who can pay for your lessons, and practices. A teacher can't ask for much more than that, you're pretty much the ideal student, she probably just doesn't know that yet. She hasn't had enough snotty kids, or advanced shredders who say they want to learn theory then get pissed when we don't pick up the instrument for half a lesson. Luckily I get to weed those out nowadays

Bottom line is, let your teacher know you're unhappy with your progress and let her know you want to change directions. It's easy to be nice about it, simply say you'd like to work on some more, easier music, because you're getting bored with what you're working on. You don't sound like you're asking for anything unreasonable at all, just be honest.

 

[Cropduster]

I'm 48 and very much a beginner, perhaps 3 months in and while i experiment with different songs, trying to pick up the intro or chorus bass line etc to keep interested i'm following along on "Study Bass". the lessons are very well laid out and start with the assumption that the student has no idea, perfect! once the lesson is complete it's marked so and next log in brings me to where i left off, there's exercises and quizzes along with the very well explained theory and videos.

I do this to develop my technique and theory knowledge as well as to help me learn notation. I have a teacher who assesses my progress as well as setting me tasks and i follow along with his tasks/lessons as well as using Study Bass to either follow the exercises developing my coordination and technique or reading and learning theory while my wife watches TV that doesn't interest me.

Practise as often as you can, even 20 mins at a time is better than nothing, and i'm with you on the notation, i'm learning because i want to be proficient and understand the language of music the best i can, nothing against Tab, i just want to know notation.

 

[Yonni]

Thanks again everyone. It's reassuring to know that these songs are not easy to play.
Catfish - that list is helpful and I'll check out Rocksmith

 

[Yonni]

In the last 10 months I've also had the free trials at Scotts Bass Lessons and Study Bass. I was overwhelmed by the amount of information on both sites but found the structured approach on SB good. I may sign up later but for now I think I need to focus in on my goals and work on a plan with my teacher.
Question for the teachers out there - do you outline a plan for what your students will cover in the coming months or do you just take it a lesson at a time and adapt accordingly?

 

[Honch]

No need for new teacher. It's only up to you. Some learn fast some learn slow. It's only up to your patience and stamina and that you're not a "quitter". It evolves in slow steps. You should not really (ever) compare to other bass players, or your fellow students (that has her as a teacher too) progress. You should ONLY compare to yourself. Are you better than last month? If ever only by such a tiny amount? It reaches a plateau and you may be in need for longer resting periods for your muscles or anatomi to learn and settle these patterns. It's just like a small kid: Giving TOO much stimuli, and playing with toys that are geared towards too much older kids, the kid will give up and loose motivation, hunger, urge. If the toys are JUST a tiny bit above the kids level, he will have wetted appetite and go on exploring things and play with the toys way more.
It's hard to find the exact balance when the stimuli provided will put you off, or that you yourself will have wetted appetite. The other way around too, if it's way too simple, you'll loose the urge to practice.

 

[Schlyder]

I think you should find a different teacher. I am getting the sense that your present one doesn't have much teaching experience.

 

[swafran]

Talk to your teacher. She probably won't mind if you suggest your own songs, in fact that helps her. It's easier to teach a person who talks to you than just a passive recipient. She'll probably welcome the interaction.

 

[Yonni]

I think she is reasonably experienced but it's just that most of her experience seems to be with young kids. This is a hobby for me. My ultimate goal is really nothing more than playing to a crowd of people who are up for a good time. Maybe, by the time my boys are more independent, I'll get to meet some like-minded musicians and we can mess about with composing. I'm doing this purely for the kick and the music. No big expectations.

 

[fearceol]

i had two guitar teachers when i was a tween and teenager. neither taught me anything about safe technique or about guitars in general, and these weren't guys with signs on lampposts - they were both highly recommended teachers at two of our larger local music stores with extensive teaching.
.

Highly recommended or other wise, IMO any decent teacher worth his/her salt who is teaching a beginner, will start with basic and safe technique.

 

[Yonni]

Swafran - she has been making a list of songs I mention but that are too hard for me just now. We're both into Rush but to tackle that and struggle at this point would probably really put me off. Luckily, I have very broad musical tastes. If I had to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star I'd be happy as long as I could see the improvements.

 

[fearceol]

I think you should find a different teacher. I am getting the sense that your present one doesn't have much teaching experience.

There may be some truth in this. Being a great all round musician is one thing. Being able to convey your knowledge and expertise to a beginner is quite a different thing altogether.

 

[5544]

OK, rookie question but I've been playing 10 months... I'm finding it really discouraging and after a while I just don't want to practice. I just pick up my bass and mess around ...

Yep, it is all the teacher's fault.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

OK, rookie question but I've been playing 10 months and think I may need a new teacher. I'm totally new to bass but love it. I'm 50 and before this could play about 6 chords on the guitar and that was it. Never had a guitar lesson. I don't get to practice bass as often as I should but 2 small children and a full time job take up a lot of my time. I've had a lesson every 2/3 weeks for the last 10 months. I found my teacher through my wife's drum teacher. She's young but a music graduate and multi instrumentalist who majored in bass. She has great knowledge, great taste in music and is really encouraging. I'm learning to read music with her and we've covered the scales, circle of 5ths and she's challenging me to learn the fretboard (no tab) which I like. But, my technique sucks. In 10 months we've only really focussed on 4 songs, 3 of which have been too much of a stretch for me (Higher Ground, Hit me with your Rhythm Stick and Crazy Little Thing Called Love -all too fast for me). I'm finding it really discouraging and after a while I just don't want to practice. I just pick up my bass and mess around or resort to playing simple stuff from YouTube instead. Am I just a slow learner, not practicing enough (45-60 mins 3 or 4 times a week), or do I need a new teacher with a more gradual approach? I realise that she is trying to challenge me but it just feels like I suck all the time. I struggle with damping and the string noise I get with my fingering technique seems really bad. What do you think?

Those songs are pretty ambitious for a beginner; Perhaps she thinks that you're pretty talented... But you have to let her know that you want to ratchet down the goals a bit. Start with some old Stones tunes (that's what I'd start my students on when I was teaching) - Brown Sugar is a good song to learn - easy but moving and fun. While learning what she' teaching you about reading / theory is GREAT - you do need to get comfortable with the fretboard, and that really does mean playing songs you can handle (aside from scales). I found that if a student enjoyed playing along with an album, they would do it over and over until they got it nailed, provided it was straight-forward enough (say, like, any given Stones album). So I suggest you pick three old songs you like - you're 50, so let's say a stones song, a SRV song and maybe some punk song, if you like. Just work on them to get used to *playing*.

 

[swafran]

Swafran - she has been making a list of songs I mention but that are too hard for me just now. We're both into Rush but to tackle that and struggle at this point would probably really put me off. Luckily, I have very broad musical tastes. If I had to play Twinkle Twinkle Little Star I'd be happy as long as I could see the improvements.

Maybe then talking to her about it could help. Did you try that? What was her response? Chances are she wants you to be happy with the lessons.