Funk University Disappointment

[bassmonkeee]

Like I said those who get it get it.

That's a copout. And, as an excuse for a supposed SCHOOL, it's a ridiculous copout.

I would give Boosty, Skeet Curtis, Billy Bass or Cordell "Boogie" Mosson more credit as a teacher of funk that some wanna be professor with some papers who claims to be an authority on the genre just because they got a fancy title before their name.

I'll give them credit as players. But, it's evident their teaching skills are apparently lacking from the criticism in this thread. Fancy title, or not. If that "wanna be professor with some papers who claims to be an authority on the genre" can actually produce a coherent class on a subject, he is more of a teacher than someone who arbitrarily added the word "professor" in front of their name. And, a degree from the School of Life doesn't count....



So, what happened in the class on the 26th that was supposedly so mind blowing?

 

[JAUQO III-X]

That's a copout. And, as an excuse for a supposed SCHOOL, it's a ridiculous copout.

If you say so.

I'll give them credit as players. But, it's evident their teaching skills are apparently lacking from the criticism in this thread. Fancy title, or not. If that "wanna be professor with some papers who claims to be an authority on the genre" can actually produce a coherent class on a subject, he is more of a teacher than someone who arbitrarily added the word "professor" in front of their name. And, a degree from the School of Life doesn't count....

Some of you guys are taking the titles attached to the school a little to seriously. We all know that they are not professors in the since of having it on a piece of paper but they are teachers in every other since of the word.


Their teaching the funk while many here do nothing but nit pick.


Real petty if you ask me.

So, what happened in the class on the 26th that was supposedly so mind blowing?

Did you go to class that day?


Guys stop the complaining and put your own school together. Since some of you seem to think that you are better teachers while at the same being students at the school.

 

[NickyBass]

Like I said those who get it get it.


I would give Boosty, Skeet Curtis, Billy Bass or Cordell "Boogie" Mosson more credit as a teacher of funk that some wanna be professor with some papers who claims to be an authority on the genre just because they got a fancy title before their name.

Sometimes the best players aren't the best teachers, and vice versa. If I were to take a lesson from Bootsy, I would want to discuss his philosophies and any abstract thoughts that he has on music and bass playing. I wouldn't want him to 'show me know to play funk.'

There are alot of great ways to learn 'the basics.' I firmly believe that a one on one lesson with a qualified teacher is the best way.

 

[bassmonkeee]

Some of you guys are taking the titles attached to the school a little to seriously. We all know that they are not professors in the since of having it on a piece of paper but they are teachers in every other since of the word.

Not according to some of the people paying for the classes.

Their teaching the funk while many here do nothing but nit pick.

Apparently not.

Real petty if you ask me.

No one asked.

Did you go to class that day?

I guess it's a "mind blowing" secret. That'll certainly build interest and legitimize the "University."

Guys stop the complaining and put your own school together. Since some of you seem to think that you are better teachers while at the same being students at the school.

So, "shut up and pay." Gotcha.

 

[lamarjones]

Maybe it's just me but I didn't think the Funk University would have been an accredited university at all? Did anyone think that?

I definitely don't think it's a bad idea, just when you are shooting for a money proposition then people are and have a right to be less patient than someone who is just trying to help.

So that said, there is a lot of good feedback in this thread, some of it you have to read between the lines because not only is good communication critical for teachers, it's critical for students to convey what they need and some of that is struggling up here. Or, it has a hint of anger, and anger leads to hate, and hate leads to the dark side.

So, I guess from here, the only question is can FU learn and turn around like most of the Korean car manufacturers that are thriving today when we used to consider all of them crap, or will they turn out like a Merkur or a Conquest.

PS as for my previous rant, the connection is when a player can't get out of character in order to convey real and useable info, it's a waste of time for everybody. I make no claims that FU is guilty of such, but certainly there are people who are.

 

[wade_b]

I will say this for Dan, he is open to ideas and seems to be genuinely interested in making Funk U something that the students have input in. I was the one that originally brought up the lack of standard notation in the learning material and others also mentioned it. Dan began offering it this week and he's done a good job on the transcriptions.

I just thought I'd highlight this to maybe offset some of the piling on that is happening in this thread.

I agree with Dan: If any of you all have a problem, question, or complaint - take it up with him on that site.

Doing so here serves no useful purpose, comes off as mean spirited and inflammatory, and can't possibly be expected to affect change and improvements on the site.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

I just thought I'd highlight this to maybe offset some of the piling on that is happening in this thread.

I agree with Dan: If any of you all have a problem, question, or complaint - take it up with him on that site.

Doing so here serves no useful purpose, comes off as mean spirited and inflammatory, and can't possibly be expected to affect change and improvements on the site.

EXACTLY. The F-U is a new business and I guarantee you, they WANT feedback. They WANT to sell the product, they WANT good buzz on places like TB - so if you bought the product and aren't all that happy - help them get better instead of just bitching!

 

[wade_b]

EXACTLY. The F-U is a new business and I guarantee you, they WANT feedback. They WANT to sell the product, they WANT good buzz on places like TB - so if you bought the product and aren't all that happy - help them get better instead of just bitching!

And I can't help but wonder if some of these cats are expecting some kind of magic pill or instant improvement with minimal work.

That's pretty common in music education at all levels: cats think that if you just "show me this or that", then you can get all the benefits of the years of experience and sweat that the teacher has put in.

It doesn't work that way though, does it? Once you've been given the tools - you have to work with em, over and over again.

 

[sonofabass]

And I can't help but wonder if some of these cats are expecting some kind of magic pill or instant improvement with minimal work.

That's pretty common in music education at all levels: cats think that if you just "show me this or that", then you can get all the benefits of the years of experience and sweat that the teacher has put in.

It doesn't work that way though, does it? Once you've been given the tools - you have to work with em, over and over again.

The Funk University just isn't any good. Sooooo true about alot of cats wanting "insta-funk" which doesn't come overnight. This is the instant gratification, push-button society that we live in.
I love checking things out from a pedagogical stand point because I teach and am also a student...always a student.

I signed up to see just how the lessons would be taught, how they would utilize the internet as a teaching tool, etc.

What I found was a months worth of 2 min clips of Bootsy having a conversation that could have probably been taken up in one 10 minute youtube video.

Jamerson "isolated bass tracks" ripped from youtube (why would anyone pay for something that they can get for free)

Silly-ness of "Thee Ram Jam"

And a whole lot of talk about "the one" which , as a fundamental aspect of music (not "funk" music....but music period) , which could be taught in one lesson and, I don't know, age 5. (excuse my sarcasm , please)


I hate to be negative but they're just isn't any value in this.

Playbassnow (Thomas has done an awesome job with this site)
MusicDojo

are two that come to mind that I think are much much better values than FU. I just don't think it's going to be around very long. Too little. Too late.


Above all of that, I think that we can all agree that there is no replacement for

1. having a relationship with someone who can teach (not just demonstrate licks

2. listening and playing along

3. getting out there, falling on your face, dusting yourself off and trying again.



that is my respectful 2 cents.

 

[Angus]

And I can't help but wonder if some of these cats are expecting some kind of magic pill or instant improvement with minimal work.

That's pretty common in music education at all levels: cats think that if you just "show me this or that", then you can get all the benefits of the years of experience and sweat that the teacher has put in.

Except nobody is complaining about that, or that they aren't improving fast enough. It's that the quality of material isn't good. That's a very different complaint- I haven't seen anyone making the claims you suggest.

In case it isn't clear, btw, I'm not a "student", I just think the way they portray themselves is really not good and hurts their message. I did, however, go to a friend's house (who is a member) to see the content. So I'm not speaking blindly.

Guys stop the complaining and put your own school together. Since some of you seem to think that you are better teachers while at the same being students at the school.

There is no student of this course who has posted here who said that "they can teach better". Not a single one- you are completely missing the message here, or are filtering it into something it isn't.

 

[wade_b]

Except nobody is complaining about that, or that they aren't improving fast enough. It's that the quality of material isn't good. That's a very different complaint- I haven't seen anyone making the claims you suggest.

Right. So let's say the material isn't "good".

Again, why come here and talk about it? Sure - I can see how some may see this a "public service".

Others, such as myself, see it as the typical internet mob rules mentality.

A lot of bitching and moaning and at the end of the day, it just comes off as self serving and maybe even a bit self-righteous.

I would hope that Funk U would be willing to accomodate those that are not satisfied with the courses, either by way of a refund or by extending their allotted time to include new, improved lesson materials.

Some of these complaints on the surface do seem to have merit.

 

[bass12]

I'm still waiting to hear about what happened on the 26th.

 

[SanDiegoHarry]

And I can't help but wonder if some of these cats are expecting some kind of magic pill or instant improvement with minimal work.

That's pretty common in music education at all levels: cats think that if you just "show me this or that", then you can get all the benefits of the years of experience and sweat that the teacher has put in.

It doesn't work that way though, does it? Once you've been given the tools - you have to work with em, over and over again.

Yup. When I was teaching, I don't know how many kids came through my room thinking that if they A) bought the bass and B) listened to metallica, they'd suddenly be great and lessons were a formality. Many were VERY bummed when I explained the whole concept of practice, investment of time and energy, etc etc.

Kids these days...

 

[mulchor]

Yup. When I was teaching, I don't know how many kids came through my room thinking that if they A) bought the bass and B) listened to metallica, they'd suddenly be great and lessons were a formality. Many were VERY bummed when I explained the whole concept of practice, investment of time and energy, etc etc.

Kids these days...

I think the same thing applies to teaching. Some people think it's easy to be good at teaching without learning how to teach and practicing it.

 

[Basshoofd]

I'm pretty sure people don't actually think that Dr. Dre has a medical license.

Who cares about a name, it's about the product. I don't know anything about FunkU but it seems like it isn't as great as some people have hoped, but there's no real point in trying to defend FunkU to the people that are simply disappointed with it. Focus on the ones who do like it so your efforts won't be wasted.

 

[wade_b]

I think the same thing applies to teaching. Some people think it's easy to be good at teaching without learning how to teach and practicing it.

I've already seen one example of where that site took user feedback and implemented changes in what they are doing.

That in and of itself should cause people to be willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

But it's certainly much more entertaining I suppose to comiserate and moan with "like minded people" - unfortunately that is all too easily enabled in Internet forums such as this one.

People will say things in this forum context that they would never say in a face-to-face conversation. Also, there does seem to be a general populist trend these days: tearing down "heroes" and exposing weaknesses in word and deed is all too easily accomplished on Internet forums.

It seems to empower a certain class of people to do this - I can't quite put my finger on it but I do see this all the time on forums. People can't just let things be: all of the armchair quarterbacks and self-appointed experts tend to want to come to the forefront.

Just look at how some cats treated Jeff Berlin around here for an example of what I'm talking about. There was some outright disrespect and big-time trolling going on - who would dare do that to him in a face to face setting?

First of all he's a former boxer and would probably knock a lot of cats' block off, but second of all he would have a bass in his hands and no doubt would have plenty of things to demonstrate which would shut up all but the most dedicated poser.

And you know what - I'm still ticked off big time that people goaded and trolled him into showing his a**. That deprived me and a lot of others the chance to actually get some useful insight from a monster bass player.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

For the complainers. I understand what you don't like or want.


But what is it that you want?



For the few who have issues it's interesting when there are over 200 satisfied customers.





From the Huffington Post.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/07/08/celebrity-universities-co_n_639954.html

 

[MisterV619]

Silly-ness of "Thee Ram Jam"

C'mon bro, just because you don't like FU doesn't make it right to attack someone's character or persona. That's all a part of funk just like Garry Shider's diaper, George Clinton's Mothership, Buckethead's bucket and mask. If you really look at the big picture, it's pretty genius. Only a stalker or paparazzi would know who he really is. Thee Ram Jam can be a celebrity on stage performing, but can go home to his family or out in the public incognito. Everyone knew who MJ was, so he never had the ability to enjoy a private life walking the earth among us. Is it really silly to want a normal life away from the spotlights?

You say "It pays to have a + Balance in your "Karma Bank". Well don't let your mouth or in this case keyboard write a check that Karma is going to collect payment on later. Increase your Karma profit margine. Pay if forward my brother. That's the only way.

bassmonkeee
Just being a hater isn't going to help

Be a part of the solution and not part of the problem. Dan seems very open to addressing complaints and helping to tweak and fine tune things.

 

[JAUQO III-X]

It's interesting how the haters keep hating. And they profess to be about the funk. Makes you wonder if they really understand the culture of funk itself.

Check this track out from Thee Rams Jam.

A nice modern spin on real funk.

 

[NickyBass]

For the few who have issues it's interesting when there are over 200 satisfied customers.

Have you been watching Bootsy's FU classes? What are your thoughts?