I believe if you've been getting by on basics, all this time, you will blow your own mind in a year of dedicated learning.
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I respectfully disagree, as I don't think it's just that easy to say "no" in the OP's context. A bass player with a good sense of the instrument, after years of basic playing, who is taking up music lessons from a serious pro can excel 10 fold (or more) of what they already know/have made routine with their instrument. Will they be a master of the instrument? No. Not at all. Will they be "mind blowing"? Not necessarily, but the potentially large amount of criteria they can have learned in the span of a year can be totally mind blowing whence they came. I have zero doubt about that. I encourage it 100%.
To me, "mind-blowing" is Jamerson, Entwistle, Pastorious, McCartney territory. You ain't going to be mind-blowing after a year, especially when the year is age 50 to 51 (15 to 16 might be a different thing). But will you be better? You bet, and really, isn't that the only goal that matters?
i have started on the same process with guitar ...
played piano since 1963 , bass/gtr since 1973 ... took piano very seriously ... and was usually considered better than average on bass ...
can i get good on guitar ... before i die .. ?? not sure
at 58 , i have the time to practice , ... but i've been practicing other instruments every freakin day since i was 6 yrs old ... !
they say it takes 10,000 hrs of quality practice to get really good at something .. !??! that's only a little over 27 hrs a day to do it in a year .. !?!!
played piano since 1963 , bass/gtr since 1973 ... took piano very seriously ... and was usually considered better than average on bass ...
can i get good on guitar ... before i die .. ?? not sure
at 58 , i have the time to practice , ... but i've been practicing other instruments every freakin day since i was 6 yrs old ... !
they say it takes 10,000 hrs of quality practice to get really good at something .. !??! that's only a little over 27 hrs a day to do it in a year .. !?!!
I'm in the camp that mind blowing has serious chops and patterns along with the cognition to connect these things musically. At 50 (even at 40 for me) , breaking through takes a LOT wear in the hands. But that facility is key, not that you should use practice patterns as a basis for fills and solos but as a way to know you have that in your back pocket and can concentrate on being musical at the time instead of regurgitating licks. If that is what you are going for, best of luck. I think it can be done but definitely gonna take a good bit of commitment, and I'm sure some ibuprofen lol.
But if it's just about being more musical than you are now, then that is huge as well.
But if it's just about being more musical than you are now, then that is huge as well.
It's doable provided you're able to maintain focus without allowing yourself to become impatient.
Old Zen story illustrates what that's about:
Old Zen story illustrates what that's about:
Matajuro Yagyu was the son of a famous swordsman. His father, believing that his son’s work was too mediocre to anticipate mastership, disowned him.
So Matajuro went to Mount Futara and there found the famous swordsman Banzo. But Banzo confirmed the father’s judgment. “You wish to learn swordsmanship under my guidance?” asked Banzo. “You cannot fulfill the requirements.”
“But if I work hard, how many years will it take to become a master?” persisted the youth.
“The rest of your life,” replied Banzo.
“I cannot wait that long,” explained Matajuro. “I am willing to pass through any hardship if only you will teach me. If I become your devoted servant, how long might it be?”
“Oh, maybe ten years,” Banzo relented.
“My father is getting old, and soon I must take care of him,” continued Matajuro. “If I work far more intensively, how long would it take me?”
“Oh, maybe thirty years,” said Banzo.
“Why is that?” asked Matajuro. “First you say ten and now thirty years. I will undergo any hardship to master this art in the shortest time!”
“Well,” said Banzo, “in that case you will have to remain with me for seventy years. A man in such a hurry as you are to get results seldom learns quickly.”
So Matajuro went to Mount Futara and there found the famous swordsman Banzo. But Banzo confirmed the father’s judgment. “You wish to learn swordsmanship under my guidance?” asked Banzo. “You cannot fulfill the requirements.”
“But if I work hard, how many years will it take to become a master?” persisted the youth.
“The rest of your life,” replied Banzo.
“I cannot wait that long,” explained Matajuro. “I am willing to pass through any hardship if only you will teach me. If I become your devoted servant, how long might it be?”
“Oh, maybe ten years,” Banzo relented.
“My father is getting old, and soon I must take care of him,” continued Matajuro. “If I work far more intensively, how long would it take me?”
“Oh, maybe thirty years,” said Banzo.
“Why is that?” asked Matajuro. “First you say ten and now thirty years. I will undergo any hardship to master this art in the shortest time!”
“Well,” said Banzo, “in that case you will have to remain with me for seventy years. A man in such a hurry as you are to get results seldom learns quickly.”
Sometimes a great teacher can really bring out the best in you, even if you have played for a while. Andrew Pouska basically discovered how I learned and taught me that way. It really felt like the dots were connecting much easier since he explained and implemented concepts in a way I understood. I really wish I could go back to lessons with him, but the money and time just aren't in the cards. Best of luck on your journey, you may be surprised at how much you can grow in one year of dedicated playing.
Or....
It means they're excited to share that they are taking on being better at bass with their peers. Just saying.
Yes. But there always the opportunity to fix that once it's pointed out. And who am I to say he won't?
As T.S.Eliot so neatly put it:
Do I dare
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
For I have known them all already, known them all:
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?
Disturb the universe?
In a minute there is time
For decisions and revisions which a minute will reverse.
For I have known them all already, known them all:
Have known the evenings, mornings, afternoons,
I have measured out my life with coffee spoons;
I know the voices dying with a dying fall
Beneath the music from a farther room.
So how should I presume?
I totally agree!
I was always dreaming of playing in a rock band. I'm now nearly 50, and have joined my first band. And what I thought that I wanted way back isn't what I'm doing now. It's 'better'! I wanted to be a rock star, but now that I'm in a band, it's the musicianship and working together with the whole band that is fun. I'm much more realistic now and I'm not out to be the best bass player out there, to me it's all about being part of a band and having fun.
That's already a good positive policy approach. Follow your new teacher instructor and try at the same time to think outside the box when it needed.
Keep in mind that most of the time is the teacher that make the difference inspiring you but is VITAL use a good learning schedule.
If you need any other suggestions feel free to contact me, I will be happy to help you.
Ciao. Enrico
Keep in mind that most of the time is the teacher that make the difference inspiring you but is VITAL use a good learning schedule
.If you need any other suggestions feel free to contact me, I will be happy to help you.
Ciao. Enrico
