Im trying to draw up a lesson plan book for my students. I just started teaching a couple of months ago and have 5 students. I cant help but feel like I'm jumping around frantically trying to find something for them to do. Im pretty advanced but i dont have any serious theory under my belt. So what would you guys think would be the logical progression for lessons?
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Lesson Plan for Bass Teachers
- Thread starter tumpinjahosafat
- Start date
come on man.... you shouldn't be taking on the role of a "teacher" unless your ready to craft the young minds of Americas future groove men!
You know what i mean?!
Read victor wootens book, The Lesson, thats a good start for learning the difference wbetween Teaching someone and Showing them.
You know what i mean?!
Read victor wootens book, The Lesson, thats a good start for learning the difference wbetween Teaching someone and Showing them.
There's no magic to teaching. Just do your best to prepare and become a good teacher. This is a great resource, and I do remember some posts on what others do, so make sure you do a search.
I'd recommend (not a bass teacher, but studying to get a teaching certificate) finding an overarching goal and then setting up sub-goals. Maybe recognize the different things that are important to bassists (e.g. time) and then organize your teaching around them.
My own lesson plans (not music-related) follow the same basic manner - relate to the student, present the material, interact with the material and go deeper. This might be something like playing a sample of recorded music, teaching about the theory behind it, playing the line and discussing other choices the bass player could have made and why, then setting up an assignment.
Good luck, have fun.
I'd recommend (not a bass teacher, but studying to get a teaching certificate) finding an overarching goal and then setting up sub-goals. Maybe recognize the different things that are important to bassists (e.g. time) and then organize your teaching around them.
My own lesson plans (not music-related) follow the same basic manner - relate to the student, present the material, interact with the material and go deeper. This might be something like playing a sample of recorded music, teaching about the theory behind it, playing the line and discussing other choices the bass player could have made and why, then setting up an assignment.
Good luck, have fun.
I kinda fell into it too when I started and felt overwhelmed at first.
Try to put your mind in their headspace, and recognise the next step they have to take in their playing. Then do everything you can to guide them there.
I'd recommend learning theory as it is an important aspect to music and sooner or later a student is bound to tell you "I want to learn how to read" or "I want to learn how to walk bass" or "I want to know how I can make basslines" or "I want to know how to improvise" etc. Then you'll need to be able to start showing them scales, how chords are built, circle of 5ths, arpeggios, modes etc. especially harmony too.
1st and fore most asses their ability. What do they already know.
Then plan accordingly. If they are a very 1st time player address hand position right and left. Do they hold the instrument in the correct manor are they able to use two fingers on the right hand, can they keep time with a metronome on open stings, do they know the names of the strings. Teach them the musical alphabet from every starting point. Add the left hand make sure the thumb is in the correct spot not coming over the other side of the neck and holding the bass like a bat. Once basic technique is covered address the notes on the neck have them play up each string 5x in a row and name the note while they play it, this helps them to 1. know where it is on the string and 2. they can attach a name to a sound. Quiz each week after.add modes up the neck start in the key of C. add in simple sight reading Xmas carols work great they already know the song and can hear where they are going a stray , as they progress add the blues and Real book tunes.
This is just one way I modify it for each student but it works.
Good luck and never stop taking lessons yourself it will help keep you fresh.
This all very basic stuff, but its where you start. Most of my Students are into Jazz so we go off the deep end with theory after a while.
Then plan accordingly. If they are a very 1st time player address hand position right and left. Do they hold the instrument in the correct manor are they able to use two fingers on the right hand, can they keep time with a metronome on open stings, do they know the names of the strings. Teach them the musical alphabet from every starting point. Add the left hand make sure the thumb is in the correct spot not coming over the other side of the neck and holding the bass like a bat. Once basic technique is covered address the notes on the neck have them play up each string 5x in a row and name the note while they play it, this helps them to 1. know where it is on the string and 2. they can attach a name to a sound. Quiz each week after.add modes up the neck start in the key of C. add in simple sight reading Xmas carols work great they already know the song and can hear where they are going a stray , as they progress add the blues and Real book tunes.
This is just one way I modify it for each student but it works.
Good luck and never stop taking lessons yourself it will help keep you fresh.
This all very basic stuff, but its where you start. Most of my Students are into Jazz so we go off the deep end with theory after a while.
Yeah that's great advice. I teach guitar more than bass (just seems to be more work for it) so it's a little different, but most of the approach is the same.
My loose guide to approaching your students, from the start:
1) assess their playing ability. What can they do, what they can't, and find out what they want to do. Get them to play something; most of the time they're pretty hesitant to but encourage them to do so and use positive reinforcement to build rapport and their self esteem.
2) assess their technique and point out what they're doing well and what they have to improve upon. Explain why they need to improve and the benefits so they in turn understand the reasons why you'll keep pulling them up on correct technique for the 100th time.
3) ask them if they can play any other instruments. A few times I've had beginner bassists who were grade 8 violin or piano, or have played cello or flute etc or drums. Any previous musical experience, skills and knowledge is all beneficial to their learning process.
4) I ascribe a lot to the motto "you can put a kid in school, can't make him learn/lead a horse to water can't make it drink" with my teaching, so go in a direction they have some interest in. Sometimes they can be pretty picky so you kinda have to persuade them and put things in front of them. If they're young, find material they'll think is cool to play so they can impress their mates. Sometimes I'll ask if they've played Guitar Hero, though more often than not it's the other way around. Kids love that.
5) keep in mind where they are in their playing and encourage them that what may be hard now, you once found it just as difficult yet through practice you can now play it with ease. Make them understand if they practice daily they too will achieve similar results. You've got to keep practice in the forefront, in my experience anyway.
6) use correct terms for everything and always pick them up on poor technique. If they make the odd mistake here and there let it pass, but if they start making the same mistake, stop and go back through very slowly, identify why they're making the mistake and what they must do to overcome it.
7) above all, try to keep it fun whenever possible. Some aspects are tedious, like theory for a lot of people, but give them the information, guide them through it and then find something that's relevant to them incorporating the theory so it has some 'real world' application for them.
These are all just thoughts and things I've picked up over the past few years, and I'm always learning about music and how to present it better as often as I can. So if anyone has anything to add, I'd be more than happy to hear it
My loose guide to approaching your students, from the start:
1) assess their playing ability. What can they do, what they can't, and find out what they want to do. Get them to play something; most of the time they're pretty hesitant to but encourage them to do so and use positive reinforcement to build rapport and their self esteem.
2) assess their technique and point out what they're doing well and what they have to improve upon. Explain why they need to improve and the benefits so they in turn understand the reasons why you'll keep pulling them up on correct technique for the 100th time.
3) ask them if they can play any other instruments. A few times I've had beginner bassists who were grade 8 violin or piano, or have played cello or flute etc or drums. Any previous musical experience, skills and knowledge is all beneficial to their learning process.
4) I ascribe a lot to the motto "you can put a kid in school, can't make him learn/lead a horse to water can't make it drink" with my teaching, so go in a direction they have some interest in. Sometimes they can be pretty picky so you kinda have to persuade them and put things in front of them. If they're young, find material they'll think is cool to play so they can impress their mates. Sometimes I'll ask if they've played Guitar Hero, though more often than not it's the other way around. Kids love that.
5) keep in mind where they are in their playing and encourage them that what may be hard now, you once found it just as difficult yet through practice you can now play it with ease. Make them understand if they practice daily they too will achieve similar results. You've got to keep practice in the forefront, in my experience anyway.
6) use correct terms for everything and always pick them up on poor technique. If they make the odd mistake here and there let it pass, but if they start making the same mistake, stop and go back through very slowly, identify why they're making the mistake and what they must do to overcome it.
7) above all, try to keep it fun whenever possible. Some aspects are tedious, like theory for a lot of people, but give them the information, guide them through it and then find something that's relevant to them incorporating the theory so it has some 'real world' application for them.
These are all just thoughts and things I've picked up over the past few years, and I'm always learning about music and how to present it better as often as I can. So if anyone has anything to add, I'd be more than happy to hear it
In your mind, what are the common factors that all good bass players have? Regardless of style, playing situation... what is IT that makes a bass player worth hiring? With that picture in mind, add to it the personal goals that a students has, and then plot your course to those goals.
Don't be distracted by the songs or fun techniques that a student might want to do, add them in, but DON'T lose track of what you feel make a good bass player.
And for yourself, if you don't have a clear answer for the first questions, get some lessons/playing experience. Learn theory. Be at least marginally convincing in as many styles as you can be. Read music.
Don't be distracted by the songs or fun techniques that a student might want to do, add them in, but DON'T lose track of what you feel make a good bass player.
And for yourself, if you don't have a clear answer for the first questions, get some lessons/playing experience. Learn theory. Be at least marginally convincing in as many styles as you can be. Read music.
First off, thanks alot for all the tips guys. I really appreciate it. Second i have something else to propose here. One of the problems i find myself running in to is time management. For example, i will give the student an exercise to try out. Now, my problem is deciding how much time to spend on that exercise. Because alot of the time, with newer or less experienced players they wont get it right away, and even sometimes they wont get it all lesson. So how long do i harp on something like proper right hand fingering if they aren't getting it. I know alot of the stuff needs to be practiced over the week but should i give variations on the same theme if they aren't picking up on one exercises im giving them?
When I give my students excersises to practice, I usually run through it a few times with them to make sure they have it under their fingers and in their head. Then leave them to practice it over the week.
There's no point drilling excersises in a lesson they're paying for when they can do it just as easily at home.
If they don't practice, then of course it can be run through in the lesson, but not for too long.
There's no point drilling excersises in a lesson they're paying for when they can do it just as easily at home.
If they don't practice, then of course it can be run through in the lesson, but not for too long.
Ya see thats my problem, is pinpointing what exercises demand more time and whatnot. Albeit, it depends on the student. I figure teaching bass is about the same as learning it, through repitition i will be able to guage on the fly what is needed. Thanks for the help guys. If anyone else has any other tips your welcome to share. Who knows maybe this could be a lesson guide sticky.
Well said.
Remember that as as teacher your job isn't to get them playing it perfectly (not at first anyway), your job is to give them something that challenges them but can grasp, both physically and mentally. It's up to them to perfect it in practice. As a general rule, if they can play it and understand what's going on, but need to work on it, that's when it's time to move onto something else. Come back to it the next lesson as this gives you a measure of the amount of practice they're doing. If they haven't improved at all then spend some time on it and identify their problems. If it's simply just lack of practice, I make them practice it in the lesson for a while, then identify any improvements they make to the practice they've done right now and then make them see that if there's improvement in a few minutes imagine what they can do every day over a week... doesn't always work though...
Jim Carr
Dr. Jim
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In teaching bass you are teaching a part of music so teaching music should be your ultimate goal. teaching theory comes in a specific steps, you must understand the first step to understand the second and when you understand the second you can move to the third and so on. Theory is the law of music and must be fully understood before it should be taught by the teacher
The first part of playing bass is physical and this is the part that needs most attention. Lessons with beginers should focus on getting them phyisically prepared to play without injuring themselves, how to use their hands. Most students drop out because they never master this first step as it is boring so you have to make it fun and informitive. When you set up a plan and you perfect it for your way of teaching you will find that in years to come you can gauge new students abillitys on your past experiences of previous students following what you have set out. So you also learn from your plan, as it has structure and it is a bench mark in which you can gauge a students progress and yours.
The hard part of teaching is to be impartial and teach the facts of music theory and technique. Theory is easy as it has been there for hundreds of years. Technique on the other hand is reletively new as the electric bass guitar is only fifty seven years old. We are now finding problems with repeditive strain injuries and carpal tunnel problems in older players and other injuries with muscles, back, and joints suffering through bad technique.
Being a teacher is more than just bass, its about music, the role of bass in music, its disiplines, and how best to understand and interprete what we hear, and what we want to play.
For me it is a blend of teaching the physical side with the very basics of theory that apply to bass guitar and make it fun, then take it forward from there.
The first part of playing bass is physical and this is the part that needs most attention. Lessons with beginers should focus on getting them phyisically prepared to play without injuring themselves, how to use their hands. Most students drop out because they never master this first step as it is boring so you have to make it fun and informitive. When you set up a plan and you perfect it for your way of teaching you will find that in years to come you can gauge new students abillitys on your past experiences of previous students following what you have set out. So you also learn from your plan, as it has structure and it is a bench mark in which you can gauge a students progress and yours.
The hard part of teaching is to be impartial and teach the facts of music theory and technique. Theory is easy as it has been there for hundreds of years. Technique on the other hand is reletively new as the electric bass guitar is only fifty seven years old. We are now finding problems with repeditive strain injuries and carpal tunnel problems in older players and other injuries with muscles, back, and joints suffering through bad technique.
Being a teacher is more than just bass, its about music, the role of bass in music, its disiplines, and how best to understand and interprete what we hear, and what we want to play.
For me it is a blend of teaching the physical side with the very basics of theory that apply to bass guitar and make it fun, then take it forward from there.
Buy "Bass Guitar for Dummies" book and use it to design your lessons
http://www.amazon.ca/Bass-Guitar-Dummies-Will-Lee/dp/0764524879
In addition, throw in a little "Music Theory for Dummies"
http://www.amazon.ca/Music-Theory-Dummies-Michael-Pilhofer/dp/0764578383/ref=pd_sbs_b_4
http://www.amazon.ca/Bass-Guitar-Dummies-Will-Lee/dp/0764524879
In addition, throw in a little "Music Theory for Dummies"
http://www.amazon.ca/Music-Theory-Dummies-Michael-Pilhofer/dp/0764578383/ref=pd_sbs_b_4
When teaching, there are a couple of pointers I hold to:
1. be able to discern what the students WANT vs. what they NEED, and try to balance the two.
2. on the latter subject, there tends to be some sort chronological order, so adhere to it (I probably picked this one from Ed Friedland). In practice it means, that a command of certain aspects of playing will help and support the other ones, and also lay the foundation for the next step.
3. learning an instrument is a cumulative effort, hence it may not be necessary for a student to master or perfect a lesson, but to learn it well enough to move on, as the later work will probably enhance the previous lessons, too (this one is my interpretation of Jeff Berlin's writings)
1. be able to discern what the students WANT vs. what they NEED, and try to balance the two.
2. on the latter subject, there tends to be some sort chronological order, so adhere to it (I probably picked this one from Ed Friedland). In practice it means, that a command of certain aspects of playing will help and support the other ones, and also lay the foundation for the next step.
3. learning an instrument is a cumulative effort, hence it may not be necessary for a student to master or perfect a lesson, but to learn it well enough to move on, as the later work will probably enhance the previous lessons, too (this one is my interpretation of Jeff Berlin's writings)
Make them practice it until they do get it. There's no sense in moving forward until a student can successfully play the current exercise. If they continually can't play it, then they aren't practicing enough, and it's your job to tell them so.
Also, every student will be different and will need to start at different levels, learn at different speeds, and may need to hear a concept worded in another way before they "get" it.
