Started private lessons, found it how bad I am lol

[BeMoreFrench]

Freud notwithstanding, jazz comes in many more colors than just Trad. And, as you've seen, it can be the gateway to lots of other learning and skill-building.

The very first teacher I had focused on technique and ear training of course, so it was not jazz at first, at all ! then the second one, a female in the A list of french pros in Paris (she's done tons of TV gigs, jazz clubs, tours and so on at that time, teacher for the Didier Lockwood's jazz school in Paris too, CMDL) focused on technique too before starting anything really jazz: get all the fretboard known straight, triads, and then get all a cadence straight in only a 5 frets box so you don't have to move that much, it was the preparatory learnings for walkings for be-bop/fast bop tunes. Luckily for me I was an avid blues player, many blues gigs since less than 10 years of playing, so I had some fundamentals.

Some put blues in the same drawer as jazz... but to me playing some trad blues, more rock blues and even fusion blues ala Robbern Ford and the Blue Line taught me a lot before going straight into jazz. My Roscoe Beck VHS is dead now hahaha

 

[Low Commotion]

The real issue is I live in a rural part of Canada and there are no teachers here. I play well for someone self taught but I know that I need some proper lessons to be able to improve.

My teacher/mentor is in another city about an hour and a half drive away, so my lesson is done via FaceTime. He has more students that he teaches via FaceTime/Zoom than face to face. There are lots of excellent instructors out there (you can find lots here on TB) that provide lessons via the internet.

 

[Green Knight]

My very first teacher was a stick player who'd busk downtown as a solo jazz act playing everybody's parts at once. My second teacher some thirty years later was also very much a Jazz guy. Those are the guys you want teaching you even if your plan is to stick to rock.

 

[Treblefree]

This thread inspired me. I set up my first real lesson for next Wednesday with an awesome bassist. Can't wait. Now I'm worried about how bad I really am; LOL.

 

[ProbablyTooLoud]

This thread inspired me. I set up my first real lesson for next Wednesday with an awesome bassist. Can't wait. Now I'm worried about how bad I really am; LOL.

You won't be sorry for long.

 

[Treblefree]

Had my first lesson yesterday. My mechanics are awful.

Now to work on relearning how I hold my left hand, where to fret, use less thumb, keep fingers close to strings instead of pulling away when not fretting, etc.

He told me we'll work on my right hand later! LOL.. I'm really bad and we haven't even hit theory yet. This is going to be a big journey, but this cat is Jaco level and has been teaching a long time, so I'm going to go with it and grow through suffering.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Had my first lesson yesterday. My mechanics are awful.

Now to work on relearning how I hold my left hand, where to fret, use less thumb, keep fingers close to strings instead of pulling away when not fretting, etc.

He told me we'll work on my right hand later! LOL.. I'm really bad and we haven't even hit theory yet. This is going to be a big journey, but this cat is Jaco level and has been teaching a long time, so I'm going to go with it and grow through suffering.

Are you taking local or on-line class looking for a teacher myself.

 

[Treblefree]

Are you taking local or on-line class looking for a teacher myself.

Both actually. He is about an hour and 30 from me now. He's originally from New York. I will likely go to his studio once a month or so, but the other lessons are via Zoom (he would do them all in person if I wanted to, but I can't do that much driving every week. My fuel cost in my truck would be as much or more than the lesson - LOL.

I'll send you his details through PM if you'd like.

 

[Maxi Funkl]

Both actually. He is about an hour and 30 from me now. He's originally from New York. I will likely go to his studio once a month or so, but the other lessons are via Zoom (he would do them all in person if I wanted to, but I can't do that much driving every week. My fuel cost in my truck would be as much or more than the lesson - LOL.

I'll send you his details through PM if you'd like.

Please do it can not hurt for to see if we'll messh since I am on the left coast.

 

[jdthaddeus]

UPDATE. lessons are going very well. What's crazy is that when I started I told him my right hand plucking needs work, and my fretting hand seems fine.
He quickly pointed how how atrociously sloppy my fretting hand was. I was spending a lot of energy flailing my fingers around, so he's had me spend a couple months fretting notes PERFECTLY and having complete control over every finger, and use the most minimal movement to play. Wow, what a revelation.
At first I went slow and perfect. I still do. But he told me speed would come. And it did.

The crazy part is that my right hand is playing great no, even though we've spent only a few minutes on my plucking technique.

He has some really good practice techniques.... And that sneaky guy got me to memorize my entire fretboard while training my fingers. I mean, I knew the fretboard notes before but not nearly fast enough. Now you can name a note and my finger goes there immediately.

My teacher is Todd Johnson and he's really good. He his a gigs all over the world as well as a music degree and 40 years experience gigging and teaching, so he's a real pro in every regard. Look him up! He does video lessons mostly but I'm lucky to live near him so I go in person. My screen name is my real name, so tell him JD sent ya

 

[jdthaddeus]

@jdthaddeus, if you feel comfortable saying so, how much are lessons going for, per time period?

They are $100 for an hour+. They are so important to me that even when I was unemployed I came up with the money. I'd sell a pedal or skip lunch for two weeks if I had to, to come up with that $100 because my playing has just SKYROCKETED!

 

[JamesInn]

Is he the author of the Technique Builders? I was eying his book.

 

[Treblefree]

They are $100 for an hour+. They are so important to me that even when I was unemployed I came up with the money. I'd sell a pedal or skip lunch for two weeks if I had to, to come up with that $100 because my playing has just SKYROCKETED!

Well worth it then. I've had two lessons now, then had to skip a week (had to go to Charleston this past weekend for long weekend for daughter's graduation). Anyway, I start back this week. Like you, I see progress already in a very short time so I'm pleased.

 

[JRA]

I finally found an instructor I like and I've been taking a private lesson every two weeks. Best thing I ever did. I've improved vastly over the last couple of months. On the down side, my playing was terribly sloppy and I didn't even know it. On the up side, I've retrained bad habits and replaced them with good habits very quickly and my playing has improved immensely. Even after playing for many many years, it's not too late to get lessons and fix your technique. Plus, after playing in front of an expert bassist... and have him stare my fingers while I'm playing, studying my every finger movement... Everything else seems fairly simple. I can't "fake it" in front of this guy, I have to do it RIGHT and he knows all the tricks so can see right through any of my illusions.

you're a bad rama jama! your personal takeaway is exciting, but sharing it with the TB crowd is inspiring! lessons can really be the key for almost all serious players. congrats!

I hate to say it, but I improved a lot when that same teacher made me play ... ugh ... Jazz.

sounds like punishment...sort of....

I'm going to go with it and grow through suffering.

using lessons for self-inflicted improvement!

 

[Treblefree]

you're a bad rama jama! your personal takeaway is exciting, but sharing it with the TB crowd is inspiring! lessons can really be the key for almost all serious players. congrats!


sounds like punishment...sort of....


using lessons for self-inflicted improvement!

Actually 2nd lesson, had me playing the blues in a minute flat to reinforce the dominant 7th /mixolydian. Making it fun and I'm learning at the same time. I'm also using much less energy in my fretting hand and playing the notes at the right place instead of in between the frets like I've done most of my life. That actually took my practice time more than anything so far. I think I'm smoother already too.

 

[JRA]

 

[chris_b]

After 50+ years of playing I decided to take some lessons. I found a top profession player and had a lesson every 2 weeks.

He didn't try to breakdown my style, that probably wouldn't have worked after so many years, but he gave me insights to improve my technique and thinking by slight changes which I could build on myself. There was one eureka moment and a lot of small steps. You might not notice, but I feel a better player in myself.

Get more knowledge and you can't help but become a better player.

 

[Treblefree]

I'm becoming better and more confident already and it's right at a month. I've had 4 lessons with a week off in between. 5th lesson tomorrow. The 4th was a LOT of material to saturate my brain with and I'm working on it and really having a lot of fun while doing so. I've had two good lightbulb moments so far.

My instructor has picked apart my left hand first and also now my right hand. He has told me the right hand is very hard to correct, but I have a few exercises I'm doing and they are slowly creeping in. It's not mandatory to change my right hand, but recommended for consideration and he said it can take a long long time.