Lesson frequency

[WrapRough]

Hi all,

I'm interested in how people approach their lesson frequency. Do you do weekly, fortnightly, monthly, ad-hoc for specific challenges/goals?

I've been doing weekly, which has been fine. But some concepts can't be cemented in a week, so I often find myself moving on to something else while still working on the previous week's stuff.

I'd to love to get thoughts from students and teachers!

Obviously available practice time is a big determinant!

What works for you?

 

[SteveCS]

I think it depends on where you are in terms of level and what specifically ypu are wprking on. I can give you my daughter's schedule. Up to grade 5, she had 45 minutes every week 1-2-1, plus 2 hours ensemble and 1 to 2 hours per day practice. From 5 to 7 it was 1 hour per week 1-2-1 tuition, 7 hours per week ensemble plus 1 to 2 hours per day practice. At grade 8 and beyond it is 1.5 hours 1-2-1 once a fortnight plus 1 to 2 hours per day practice. Ensemble has been severely limited due to the pandemic - get it whilst you can.

 

[two fingers]

Hi all,

I'm interested in how people approach their lesson frequency. Do you do weekly, fortnightly, monthly, ad-hoc for specific challenges/goals?

I've been doing weekly, which has been fine. But some concepts can't be cemented in a week, so I often find myself moving on to something else while still working on the previous week's stuff.

I'd to love to get thoughts from students and teachers!

Obviously available practice time is a big determinant!

What works for you?

You answered your own question. It's all about available practice time. If you're learning a LOT from each lesson, and don't have a ton of practice time,, I would space them out every other week. There's no need to go back every week if you're not able to nail down everything you talked about last lesson.

 

[weird_hermiston]

Every other week because I work full time, but also cause that’s all I can afford!

 

[WrapRough]

You answered your own question. It's all about available practice time. If you're learning a LOT from each lesson, and don't have a ton of practice time,, I would space them out every other week. There's no need to go back every week if you're not able to nail down everything you talked about last lesson.

I guess this is where I'm wondering how "down" something needs to be before moving on...

 

[weird_hermiston]

I guess this is where I'm wondering how "down" something needs to be before moving on...

I’d ask my teacher what they think- if you need to keep focusing on last weeks lesson or not. Just tel them what you’ve posted here and see what they say.

 

[JRA]

I think it depends on where you are in terms of level and what specifically you are working on.

per the OP: i voted "ad-hoc" because (IMO/IME) that style is more appropriate if you're a seasoned player who brings a certain amount of reliable self-discipline to the game. newbies (apprentices) may need more 'hand-holding' or 'prodding' to learn some discipline and to make lessons count.

I guess this is where I'm wondering how "down" something needs to be before moving on...

"down" = mastery. "moving on" = seeking the next level of competence (more stuff to master!). how is it possible to "move on" if you haven't mastered something in the first place? e.g., you're not really "moving on" if you're still trying to sneak something past your instructor, right?

re: frequency of lessons: it depends!
- as an amateur/novice: i needed regularly scheduled lessons to get some music fundamentals and some discipline.
- as a professional: i needed 'consultations' when mastery seemed more difficult/'elusive' than expected.

IMO: if the "student player" is mature enough to be honest with him/her self = easy to determine frequency!


FWIW: my best teachers taught me what/how to practice to accomplish "moving on."

 

[Spin Doctor]

Hi all,

I'm interested in how people approach their lesson frequency. Do you do weekly, fortnightly, monthly, ad-hoc for specific challenges/goals?

I've been doing weekly, which has been fine. But some concepts can't be cemented in a week, so I often find myself moving on to something else while still working on the previous week's stuff.

I'd to love to get thoughts from students and teachers!

Obviously available practice time is a big determinant!

What works for you?

When I took lessons, I did them once a week for 4 straight years, barring unforeseen events and holidays, etc. It's not really about having stuff "down" before moving on. It's about having access to information you can work on at any time. Otherwise, you'll never "move on". Some concepts take literal months or even years for get into your hands so you can do it without thinking about it. Do you really want to wait that long until you take another?

I recorded all my lessons, and even today, I find things I missed while it was actually happening. But 4 years of recorded Anthony Wellington lessons is a pretty good resource.

Overall, it depends on how dedicated to the learning you are, and how well you know yourself. If you honestly know you're not going to really work on it, take fewer lessons. Some people worry about the cost, but even with a day job, over the past 11 years or so since I've been playing, those lessons allowed me to gig enough to pay for all the lessons, all my gear and a brand new truck. So it's a resource you can capitalize on, if you try.

 

[Spin Doctor]

IMO: if the "student player" is mature enough to be honest with him/her self = easy to determine frequency!

Man, you and I were of like minds on this one.

 

[Rilence]

1hr lesson fortnightly, I try to do 75-90 minute practise sessions (have tried more frequent/shorter sessions; doesn't work for me) 5 days out of 7 depending on how shagged my left wrist/hand is at any given time.

 

[JRA]

@Spin Doctor, i think your take is a good one and i could have clarified that lots of learning takes place when concepts and skills "overlap."

 

[Spin Doctor]

@Spin Doctor, your take is a good one and i could have clarified that lots of learning takes place when concepts and skills can "overlap."

Absolutely! I can't say that I "know" any of this stuff. But, it's a brick by brick process that builds on itself, and over time you just get more competent and confident in what you are able to do. The lessons save years of time where otherwise, you'd just be wandering in the wilderness, guessing at what you should be doing.

 

[HolmeBass]

I guess this is where I'm wondering how "down" something needs to be before moving on...

Well, nothing is ever “down” enough that you should never practice it again. My students have trouble facing the reality that they need to keep practicing *everything* they’ve learned so far.

I feel like beginners through intermediate players should shoot for weekly lessons.

Advanced intermediate through experienced should go to fortnightly or even monthly to allow enough time to practice the more advanced concepts they’re working on. Especially considering that part of their practice includes continuing to practice their scales and arpeggios and really anything that is still challenging from previous study.

 

[lfmn16]

Practice time is definitely relevant, but so is how much is packed into a lesson. I took some lessons with Johnny Hiland and he showed so much in a lesson, it took me a month to transcribe the lesson and absorb what he was teaching. In general, when I was starting out though, I took weekly lesson, but I also practiced at least 3 hours a day so I had time to really work the material.

 

[G On Bass]

Even though I had been playing a while before I ever took lessons, when I did start, I did them weekly. This served its purpose well in 2 different ways.
With the first instructor, it gave me motivation to practice to show notable advancement by the next week's lesson.
With a different instructor, it rapidly showed me that he was wasting my time by just handing me fake book sheets to play through every week and not really 'teaching' me much. Since I went weekly, I didn't waste a lot of time finding out it wasn't the best use of my time.

 

[BishopHastur]

Back in the before pandemic times I did a half hour lesson once a week.

 

[Freekmagnet]

What is the frequency, Kenneth?

 

[Killing Floor]

Jaco didn’t need a lesson frequency

 

[bass12]

Jaco didn’t need a lesson frequency

If Jaco had taken the right lessons he might still be here to tell us that himself.

 

[s van order]

My teacher urges all her students to periodically go back and review earlier material, in my case from earlier etudes and pieces I studied. I’ve found that this pretty clearly tells me what I have down solidly and what is still a weakness. Hearing that the earlier pieces sound a lot better and are easier to execute is pleasant.