So I am 17 and I've been playing bass for around 3 years now. Next year is my last year of high school and I want to go to school for music. The two schools I am looking at are Louisiana State and University of New Orleans. Lsu's jazz studies class requires knowledge of certain scales and, uh, jazzy things. This is where that whole self taught problem comes in. I can play bass, I can play pretty damn good, at least for my age, but actually music knowledge is something I'm not too informed on. Can anyone provide some kind of site or resource I can use to learn what I need to know. And sorry if some of this sounded dumb.
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Self taught bassist problem
- Thread starter Dayjin39
- Start date
A teacher might be of great benefit to you given your goals.
They're not "jazzy things" so much as the fuundamentals of music.
http://www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/download/FQBK-handbook.pdf
http://www.jazzbooks.com/mm5/download/FQBK-handbook.pdf
If you don't read music yet:
https://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bass...=1474571724&sr=8-1&keywords=ed+friedland+bass
https://www.amazon.com/Leonard-Bass...=1474571724&sr=8-1&keywords=ed+friedland+bass
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Most of the Hal Leonard books are good. There are a number of sites you can find by googling. Studybass.com is one that comes to mind.
Reading standard notation and being able to sight read fast enough to play from SN will be a must. If your high school has a jazz band program, sign up.
Music theory - try this. Music Theory Book - Free Download
www.jazzbooks.com will be time well spent.
This is a free E-book and a must have. Jamey Aebersold Jazz: Free Jamey Aebersold Jazz Handbook
Look around once you are into jazzbooks lot of good information there. Jamey Aebersold Jazz
You will need to know the notes in each chord, i.e. R-3-5-7 for all maj7 chords. R-b3-5-b7 for all minor seven chords, etc. This site will help with all that R-3-5-7 stuff. How to get started? And this needs to be in your reference file. Chord Formulas
Good luck.
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If you can find them, I suggest that you buy the Chuck Rainey instruction books. Worth their weight in gold.
Any formal teaching is going to require a certain level of understanding. That's just how it works. At a real university (not a Community College) they are going to expect you to be able to read and understand written notation, write out your ideas in notation, and possibly be able to sight read a piece and play it on the spot.
Again, that's just how it is. If you want to be a session musician or in a backup band, you HAVE to know those things. You need to be able to walk into a studio cold and play what is in front of you. That was never my thing, and have no desire to do that sort of work, so I never bothered. I understand standard notation, scales, chords, modes, etc, and all of that as well as sight reading can be self taught. In my line of work, having a common language to speak in makes learning your parts easier, but I have never once in 20 years had someone in an originals rock band present me with sheet music. Theory and notation understanding is very important. Sight reading? Meh. It doesn't hurt.
As far as resources, I learned theory and notation in school. Some kind of low level band class was common then, and I took a theory class at a JC. A bass tutor helped me apply the theory to the specifics of the bass. I was learning to sight read with this book before I got back into a band.
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Depending on your temperment and/or current level, you could check this out:
ActiveBass - with bass guitar lessons bass tab mp3 music scales gear and other goodies
ActiveBass - with bass guitar lessons bass tab mp3 music scales gear and other goodies
Trying to study music at a university level, without being fluent in theory and reading, is like deciding to major in English while being functionally illiterate.
You've got a year. Time to learn.
You've got a year. Time to learn.
If you can afford $168 (works out to $14/mo.) you could do a lot worse than check out Scott Devine's Bass Academy. It's online lessons, complete with videos and course materials downloads. But it also includes an excellent forum and chance to interact with your fellow students and teachers. There's a huge amount of information and lesson tracks to choose from, all covered by your membership fee. And there's new courses constantly being added.
You can try it out for two werks for free if you like. Might be worth a look. It's not for everyone. But I've been playing for many years (and had formal instruction as well) and I still found it very useful. Find it Invalid Link Removed.
I'm not affiliated. Just a happy customer.
You can try it out for two werks for free if you like. Might be worth a look. It's not for everyone. But I've been playing for many years (and had formal instruction as well) and I still found it very useful. Find it Invalid Link Removed.
I'm not affiliated. Just a happy customer.
@Dayjin39 Nothing dumb about asking for advice about future music decisions here.
In addition to the excellent advice above, RUN to your high school band hall and consult with those folks also. They or some of their advanced students may be able to help you "learn fast and fun".
Question: Are listing those 2 schools because you're in Louisiana or only those for any reason? I'm from NOLA(1960~1989) and of those two, LSU or UNO, I'd go with LSU. Older sister went to LSU for music(now a Phd in music, retired professor, etc) and it appears to have a ton more to offer in the number of courses, instructors, talented and motivated students, and probable real jazz folks. UNO would only add, IMO, possible REAL jazz clubs to visit if they still exist for REAL. They did when I was there but things were different and safer......spent a year of nights and weekends "jamming" and playing with a guitarist who landed a great job of managing a small hotel in the French Quarter. I'd walk to my van blocks away at 2AM to 4AM with a '63 Gibson Thunderbird and have no worries and no problems. No way I'd do that now.
Good luck and give it your best shot.
In addition to the excellent advice above, RUN to your high school band hall and consult with those folks also. They or some of their advanced students may be able to help you "learn fast and fun".
Question: Are listing those 2 schools because you're in Louisiana or only those for any reason? I'm from NOLA(1960~1989) and of those two, LSU or UNO, I'd go with LSU. Older sister went to LSU for music(now a Phd in music, retired professor, etc) and it appears to have a ton more to offer in the number of courses, instructors, talented and motivated students, and probable real jazz folks. UNO would only add, IMO, possible REAL jazz clubs to visit if they still exist for REAL. They did when I was there but things were different and safer......spent a year of nights and weekends "jamming" and playing with a guitarist who landed a great job of managing a small hotel in the French Quarter. I'd walk to my van blocks away at 2AM to 4AM with a '63 Gibson Thunderbird and have no worries and no problems. No way I'd do that now.
Good luck and give it your best shot.
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My ex is a music teacher. Her advice was always to take piano in high school regardless of your instrument It will pay you great dividends
I agree with Johnny in regards to LSU's music program. I didn't study music there, but I took music theory as an elective, and it was incredibly instructive. I also hopped around at the different blues jams that happened 3-5 times per week on Baton Rouge back then. Jamming with those old dudes was invaluable.
I also attended many of the free jazz and classical concerts put on by the music school. All I can say is standards a were pretty high. But if you're 17 and want it bad enough, I think you've got as good a shot as anybody.
P.S. New Orleans ain't SO bad these days. Sheesh.
If you own a smartphone you can get an app to learn chords and scales on. I use SmartChord which also has a decent tuner and is for guitar and bass.
Sight reading and knowledge of music theory and conventions used by serious musicians will be a distinguishing advantage for you for life.
Get a teacher, and not necessarily a bass teacher. I think you should take piano lessons with a focus on learning theory and how to read(in other words, make sure they know you're not trying to become a concert pianist
. You'll learn way more, faster that way, than just focusing on the bass.
. You'll learn way more, faster that way, than just focusing on the bass.
DiabolusInMusic
Functionless Art is Merely Tolerated Vandalism
If you want to get into any kind of musical university in Canada you need your grade 2 RCM to even get by. You cannot just waltz in knowing nothing. I know there is no American equivalent but RCM 2 involves basic reading and theory knowledge.
