Jeff Berlin Discussing Music Ed

[engedi1]

I I told you all that music is the "Great Exposer", the number one clear way to identify one's ability in music and as a player either for better or for worse.

Run, do not walk, to the nearest great jazz teacher and let them help you to de-mystify the music that plays havoc with some here. I said it for years, but with a lot of non-acceptance from a lot of people when I said that music is a hard road. It is the Great Exposer of us all. It is also the number one way to improve as a player in academic methods, and today maybe some can now see this. Celebrate your confusion because mistakes and lack of knowledge are the beelines toward great musical improvement. That is what they show to anybody who is truly dedicated toward musical improvement.if you have the cajones to improve that which you may not know today, then in one year, you will be three times the bass players you are today.

Let me just add that taking this advice is hard on the EGO. I have done just this, and ran to a great local jazz teacher, and even though I have a degree in classical studies on the upright, studying jazz on the electric is kicking my butt! Definitely has exposes my weaknesses and the vast gaps in my musical education/knowledge. And the improvement is slow to see, because some of these concepts are new to me. I am working on "celebrating my confusion" which let me tell you, is a real thing when getting into jazz.
I do hope however, to be three times the player this time next year!

 

[JeffBerlin]

Let me just add that taking this advice is hard on the EGO. I have done just this, and ran to a great local jazz teacher, and even though I have a degree in classical studies on the upright, studying jazz on the electric is kicking my butt! Definitely has exposes my weaknesses and the vast gaps in my musical education/knowledge. And the improvement is slow to see, because some of these concepts are new to me. I am working on "celebrating my confusion" which let me tell you, is a real thing when getting into jazz.
I do hope however, to be three times the player this time next year!

BRAVO! BRAVO! I am totally proud of you! You are clearly a lover of music because you are willing to get down and learn it. Yes indeed! Music exposes everybody's weaknesses and deficiencies and most, repeat, most bassists cannot deal with this much reality. Music is a fantasyland to many players and it is also a lie because most players who are GOOD may not find some kind of success in this insane business. But the good players have way more of a chance than the guys who are dreaming about musical success in whatever for they are dreaming about it.

You are exactly the kind of guy who I admire, a guy who knows his limitations, accepts them even if begrudgingly (so what) and is doing something about your musical holes. Again, I say to you BRAVO! Believe me! You are in a great minority of bassist, a guy into it for the music and then come what may.

 

[Mark Wilson]

Over 1,000 posts.

Part II here : http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?p=8507563#post8507563