Teaching a workshop or clinic at church

[investario]

Hello TB-ers

So I've been given an honor to teaching bassists at my friend's church to improvise their playing at service. It's quite common to be called that it is a workshop or clinic, if i am not mistaken
The thing is: this is my first experience to do a bass workshop and clinic. I am excited and a bit confused too, but this is a great opportunity for me to do such things!

I sometimes go to workshop too, but it is not a church workshop, just bass workshop, and as you know all they're teach technique and musicianship.
So here came the question:

How is the way to presenting them the technique or musicianship based on church workshop?
what to teach and what to don't?
If you have experience to teach or learn at such workshop, would you mind to share it?


I have create my own list of it, but i also really need your all guys suggestions.
Sorry if this kind of question have asked before , but if you found it, kindly link me there..
Thanks, and blessings!

 

[Yawsbass]

Do you mean improvising your own basslines around established songs and their chord changes or straight up improvisation on the spot (e.g. picking a key and going with it)? You'll need different foundations and fundamentals for each one.

 

[LazyGecko]

Okay so the best way to figure out what you're going to play in a song is to be a bridge between rhythm an harmony. As far as rhythm, you would want to make sure to teach them how to use dynamics (not playing at all, coming in light on whole notes or playing up high, when to play quarter notes or eighth notes or even 16ths in songs). For harmony you can teach them how to play in key, learn intervals (commonly known as Nashville Numbering System for some odd reason) and you. An show them how to play notes in the specific chord that aren't necessarily the root (thirds, fifths, etc). If you have any questions pm me.

Edit: I'm sure there is more you can add to what you plan on teaching so you can go with that too.

 

[investario]

Do you mean improvising your own basslines around established songs and their chord changes or straight up improvisation on the spot (e.g. picking a key and going with it)? You'll need different foundations and fundamentals for each one.

Yes, i noted this difference too. And probably IMO i won't teach a very advance improvisation, maybe just some glisendo or 1-5 or octave up/down to gain the song atmosphere. Thanks for the reminder.

Okay so the best way to figure out what you're going to play in a song is to be a bridge between rhythm an harmony. As far as rhythm, you would want to make sure to teach them how to use dynamics (not playing at all, coming in light on whole notes or playing up high, when to play quarter notes or eighth notes or even 16ths in songs). For harmony you can teach them how to play in key, learn intervals (commonly known as Nashville Numbering System for some odd reason) and you. An show them how to play notes in the specific chord that aren't necessarily the root (thirds, fifths, etc). If you have any questions pm me.

Edit: I'm sure there is more you can add to what you plan on teaching so you can go with that too.

Thankyou, gonna google it asap about intervals or Nashville Numbering System. About Dynamics, and harmony roots, noted! If i found some difficulties i might PM you..

 

[Jhengsman]

. For harmony you can teach them how to play in key, learn intervals (commonly known as Nashville Numbering System for some odd reason) and you. An show them how to play notes in the specific chord that aren't necessarily the root (thirds, fifths, etc). If you have any questions pm me.
.

Neal Matthews one of the studio pro background singing group The Jordanaires of Elvis Presley fame is credited with developing the system for the Nashville recording industry in the mid 1950s

 

[kirkdickinson]

It would be very helpful to plan your workshop to know what your target already knows. If you are working with people who just purchased your first bass your workshop would be vastly different than if you were teaching to people who have been musicians for a while, or have played bass for a couple of years.

Can you get the attendees to fill out a questionnaire before hand so you will know how to prep.

Questions like:
How long have you been playing bass?
Are you currently on a praise team? How long?
Do you have a music background at all? Jr. High band? Formal Music school?
Are you proficient in any other instrument?
Can you read standard bass clef?
Do you know what a standard church CCLI worship chart means?
Explain briefly what "Root - Five" means to you.
Explain what an arpeggio is.
What is the difference between a quarter note and an eighth note?

 

[LazyGecko]

Neal Matthews one of the studio pro background singing group The Jordanaires of Elvis Presley fame is credited with developing the system for the Nashville recording industry in the mid 1950s

Haha thanks for the info.

 

[Bassed in NZ]

Investario - good questions, and some great thoughts already in this thread. I've given some clinics in the past for church groups, and would be happy to share my outlines with you in case there's some thoughts in there that you could use. Flick me a PM with your email address, and I'll email you a couple of pdf's if that's helpful.