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Double Bass Lessons? No!

J

Joe Ergle

May 8, 2005
84
1
Gainesville, Florida
#1
Upon reading through these threads, most of you highly suggest getting a teacher. I was completely self taught for two years, and finally joined beginning orchestra this year. I have corrected a lot of what I have been doing wrong just by reading the book we play from.

Now to cut to the chase, I'd really like a teacher, but there simply isn't one around here. Upright bassists are extremely hard to come by. I took electric bass lessons for about four years, and have been involved in the "music scene" in this town for about five years now. I have only stumbled across two upright bassists. One is old, and very lazy. He doesn't even show up for orchestra practice, much less devote his time to lessons. The other is scarcely older than me, and is also self taught.

Is there a comprehensive video and/or book that you all would reccomend to me? Maybe even online tutorials?

Crap... third post I ever made was in the wrong section. Can someone move this? I'm really sorry. </embarissing>
 
#2
I would try to find out if anyone comes through your town, then try to get a lesson. Also, if you ever make trips to bigger cities, try to schedule a lesson.
Try to get every method book, working out of Simandl, Billie, Rabbath, Pettrachi and other great methods is not exactly self taught.
Keep your left elbow up and both hands in an "Eagle Claw" and things should work out.
I would really look in to semi-regular lessons in any larger city you might go to.
 
#3
You've been playing for 3 years and decided you don't need lessons. I've been playing for a little over 30 and decided I do.

Rufus Reid has been playing longer than me, he quit his job as head of the jazz department at William Patterson so he could devote more time to studying with his teacher.

You'll excuse me if I give more weight to my own and Rufus' experience than yours.
 
#4
If you want a teacher you will find a teacher. There is no excuse. There isn't one in my town is not a valid excuse. Go to a different town.

I can't afford the travel isn't an excuse either, get a job.

I know its a lot easier said than done but if you want a teacher you will get one and thats it.

Last year during my auditions, I worked 25 hours a week at Eckerd Pharmacy to be able to afford Juilliard Pre-College, while having a full schedule in school because I was graduating a year early, and practicing 4-6 hours a day.

To quote a great jazz trumpet player, Arturo Sandoval,
"If you love music, and you love what you do, you practice and you find a way, if not you don't."
 
#8
Joe Ergle said:
Upon reading through these threads, most of you highly suggest getting a teacher. I was completely self taught for two years, and finally joined beginning orchestra this year. I have corrected a lot of what I have been doing wrong just by reading the book we play from.

Now to cut to the chase, I'd really like a teacher, but there simply isn't one around here. Upright bassists are extremely hard to come by. I took electric bass lessons for about four years, and have been involved in the "music scene" in this town for about five years now. I have only stumbled across two upright bassists. One is old, and very lazy. He doesn't even show up for orchestra practice, much less devote his time to lessons. The other is scarcely older than me, and is also self taught.

Is there a comprehensive video and/or book that you all would reccomend to me? Maybe even online tutorials?

Crap... third post I ever made was in the wrong section. Can someone move this? I'm really sorry. </embarissing>
Click to expand...

You're within an hour of some other cities including Orlando. There has to be some teachers around.

I counted three players in the union directory that live in Ocala. There's got to be more players who are not in the union. Some of them have to teach.

If you REALLY want a teacher, PM me and I'll find you some names.
 
#9
After three years you don't need a teacher? I was pretty self tought for my first 5 years. I didn't have bad tecnique or anything but you can't learn it all from a book.

First of all you can't learn how to play anything good. Well, you mite learn to play it but not to perform it (there's a difference from being able to play it and being able to perform it). You won't learn how to properly project (hint hint it doesn't all have to do with the bow). You'll get alot of bad habits that will hinder you.

I got into our youth orchestra without a teacher and I was one of the better players. Still I wasn't verry good. What you think is good isn't. And what you think is imposible is decent to good.
 
#11
I'm afraid most of you misquoted me. I never claimed that I don't need a teacher. Believe me, I have nothing to be conceided over.

Second, I can't have a job right now because I have to do tons of community service for college.

Therefore, I definitely can't afford the trip to a bigger town on a regular basis, plus the price of lessons.

I just thought some of you could offer some references to comprehensive books or videos to hold me over. I'm going to college next fall in either Gainesville, Orlando, Tampa, or Ft. Myers, so I'll pursue lessons then. It just seems kind of illogical to me to find a teacher now, then move 100 miles away 9 months later.

Thank you for the comments, and especially to the first guy who named some book references.
 
#13
Are you interested in jazz, classical, bluegrass? There are plenty of videos available for all. Rufus Reid's evolving bassist book and dvd, Rabatth's art of the bow and art of the left hand and his books. I see bluegrass bass videos and books advertised all the time. I'd say start with Simandl book 1. Plus buy a mini disc or some other device that you can record yourself with. Do that for three months and then maybe you'll see what everybody is trying to get at when they tell you to get a teacher.
 

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