I am finally making the decision to pick up a beginners j-bass and find a cheap but good practice amp to go along with it. At this point though, I really want to spend money on a teacher to have someone guide me on this instrument. I just moved to Fort Collins where there are a ton of instructors and after talking to many of them I find myself wondering what to look for in a bass instructor: 1. Price per half hour? 2. Style to try and learn first (I love blues, classic rock, and jazz most)? 3. Learn to read by ear first or work through a book? 4. Credentials of the teacher? These are just a few of the many things that set the teachers I have spoken to apart. I desire the ability to play with others and want to learn to play like a bassist, not a guitarist (I am going to put the tele on hold for awhile...wanna really immerse myself in bass). I have found teachers that are just starting to teach, those that have been teaching for years, those with degrees in music, those that only teach students to read music, those that train by ear, etc. What do you guys suggest? ~Nick
i think most of all is how you relate with him, if you go to a serious teacher who just teaches to you for the sake of doing it then you wont enjoy it as much. If you go to a teacher who really enjoys teaching you and you know you have fun too, thats more important, you learn better when you enjoy it.