Double Bass Jazz Bass Class

[Eric Hochberg]

Hey teachers -

I have been asked to teach a weekly group class for four high school jazz bassists and am looking for any suggestions, ideas, etc. on how to run/what to include in a class such as this. While I have many ideas, I have never taught a bass group class, other than in the master class format, or participated in one, so I have no model to go on. Any jazz bass quartet music available?

Thanks for any help!

 

[Matt Ides]

Eric, I am not a teacher but I do know they have done arrangements for multiple basses for Richard Davis bass camp. Would be for a similar age group as well.

 

[Treyzer]

Eric,

Congratulations, sounds like a wonderful opportunity. Although I've been a teacher and understand many concepts of pedagogy, I'm not a bass teacher. I have tried to mentor a few people but they were all highly motivated and would have succeeded with or without me.

Two ideas or concepts that might be very helpful; differentiation and providing the (why); Differentiation simply means teaching the same material a number of different ways in order to appeal to the varied learning styles of your students. Some students are primarily auditory; some primarily kinesthetic "hands on" and some are typically visual. Learning styles can be broken down even more but these are the three basic styles of learning.

Typical Western style teaching almost always involves teaching the (how); i.e. how you actually physically or mentally accomplish a task. If you can also provide the (why) it might also be helpful as well as providing some differentiation. The "why" would involve the history of jazz bass playing and some of the great bassists that have contributed and developed the vocabulary that we have come to know/accept as "how to play jazz bass". I would think documentaries and U Tube videos would be a great help. Parts of "The Triumph of the Underdog" regarding Mingus might be good as well as anything on Ray Brown, Scott Lafaro and Jimmy Blanton just to name a few and I know you know lots of the history so these are just a few suggestions. Hope these suggestions help and I this tome didn't bore you with teachery stuff!

Best,

Trey

 

[Eric Hochberg]

Thanks for your thoughts Trey and Matt. Went pretty well today covering some basics.

 

[Bijoux]

I wouldn't worry too much. You'll know what to do
make sure you have a notepad with you so when something comes to mind you can write it down.
For me that helps a lot, especially when I am away from the class room, and I might me talking to another musician, watching youtube videos, in the elevator hearing some annoying music, etc. always have something to write on...