Skype Lessons with Carol Kaye

I haven't but I would love to. I got some old books of hers a few years back. I got the play along recordings and some other books off her website. I remember her (well, her staff) including a stack of cool paperwork including paystubs and hand-written notes. It was pretty awesome. I look forward to hearing some stories.

 

Admittedly, I had no idea who she was until recently, or how much she's contributed to popular music. I've never taken formal bass lessons but this seems really cool. I wonder if you can record the lesson.

 

I never knew that she did Skype lessons . The lady is a legend and quite a phenomenol guitar player too .

 

I have her bass DVD course w/booklet. I think there is a lot of good information there, but it is concentrated. I realized I needed more practical theory and music reading skills to get the most out of it, so I put it on the shelf for the time being until I can give it its due. I like her approach with the pick, and 1-2-4 finger fretting. She is chord tone focused, as opposed to scales. Obviously, her teaching is informed by years in the studio trenches and this has given her strong ideas and opinions on what works and she has a real passion for passing on this knowledge. Many of her students have gone on to be top pros. I'm actually interested in the way she has learned to read notes and rhythms...the studio shorthand...but that would be getting ahead of myself at this point.

I see in the accompanying materials that she does offer skype lessons, but it specifies no beginners and no punk and metal. Like Jeff Berlin, I think she believes that jazz offers the most comprehensive education in music, which I don't doubt.

 

I didn't know it was an option in Skype to only record the audio portion. I thought it just automatically recorded both audio and video. How would she even know if you're recording the video?

 

Yeah, I forgot that I used a software called Evaer. It works pretty well. I think you can use it to record your lessons in MP3 audio-only files.

 

After lessons with David Friesen, Ray Brown and some other less well known monsters my understanding of studying with heavy players is that the teacher/student relationship not a customer/service provider arrangement. Of course it's essential to go in with questions and some idea of what they can do for you but if you don't follow their observations and ideas and do things on their terms you're wasting their time and your money.

I know TB member @Roy Vogt studied with Carol and has talked about it in different posts. You might find something if you search his posts.

 

I'd be interested in doing that just so I could say I was taught by Carol Kaye .

I met her at NAMM about 10 years ago. She was alone, sitting on a stool noodling on an Ibanez bass. I didn't know who she was, but could tell for some unknown reason that she wasn't anyone ordinary. Noticed someone else staring at her, and asked if he knew who she was. He did. I introduced myself, exchanged a few words of small talk... and she seemed very personable and friendly. She had no reason not to be, so... yeah... that's all I got .

I'll add that it's interesting to see great players just noodling on a bass. They just noodle sometimes, too... same as you and I.

 

You would do yourself a huge disservice by not at least recording the audio in some manner, even if it is as simple as putting your phone up next to the computer speakers. I studied with Anthony Wellington for about 4 straight years and I recorded every lesson. Even now I can find information in even the earliest lessons that I either forgot or didn't get at the time that helps my playing in many ways.

Besides, when you are in the heat of battle, getting the lesson and trying to not be nervous, you are gonna miss a lot of stuff. You may get the basic message/lesson, but it's her off-hand, side comments where the genius will be. You will miss those for sure, without a recording...

 

Looking forward to your feed back on the lesson Erik P.