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Teen Bass Depression Help D:
- Thread starter henry_arthur
- Start date
"***, your in 11th grade but your only 15???!"
When I was in high school, I transferred school districts, and had enough credits to graduate at 16. When I was 15, the dean called me into his office and asked me point blank when I wanted to graduate. I opted to graduate at 17 instead of 16 because I didn't feel I was ready to face the real world at 16. I'm glad I stayed that extra year (I did drop one of my honors courses in favor of the easy class my final semester so I could slack a bit) because I felt a bit more comfortable going off to college with a bit more maturity.
I don't find it all that shocking that someone was in the 11th grade at 15 years old.
When I was in high school, I transferred school districts, and had enough credits to graduate at 16. When I was 15, the dean called me into his office and asked me point blank when I wanted to graduate. I opted to graduate at 17 instead of 16 because I didn't feel I was ready to face the real world at 16. I'm glad I stayed that extra year (I did drop one of my honors courses in favor of the easy class my final semester so I could slack a bit) because I felt a bit more comfortable going off to college with a bit more maturity.
I don't find it all that shocking that someone was in the 11th grade at 15 years old.
My senior year of high school, I was the lead in our high school musical. We performed every night for a week straight. On Wednesday of that week, the school recorded the performance, and sold copies later to raise money for the department.
On that night, during one of my solo's, I hit a wrong note at a really obvious part of the song, and it was horrible. It was the last note sung of the song, and it was one that had to be held. My voice went up and down a few times trying to find the note while everyone in the pit looked at me in horror. Our theatre was packed with 600+ people, and this was the taped performance.
Afterword, I was so embarrassed I refused to leave the dressing room. The people who competed against me for the lead all started talking crap. Musical directors that were there from other schools made snide remarks that I found out about later. All the typical high school bs. At the time, I was miserable.
Flash forward a few years, I realized how stupid I was. How many high schools are there in the country? How many people actually still give a crap about musicals? Who is really going to watch a tape of "No No Nannette" more than once, even if you were in the darn thing? How many of those people do I actually still talk to? Are you starting to see my point?
Point is, no one really cares, its all so minor. Once I realized that, I never got nervous on gigs again, and it became one of the best things ever to happen to me. Learn to laugh at yourself sometimes, and move forward. Even something like Steve Bartman. Yeah sure, Cubs fans all over will hate the guy forever. But he is beloved by us Sox fans, and I hear he's a hero down in Florida with Marlins fans.
On that night, during one of my solo's, I hit a wrong note at a really obvious part of the song, and it was horrible. It was the last note sung of the song, and it was one that had to be held. My voice went up and down a few times trying to find the note while everyone in the pit looked at me in horror. Our theatre was packed with 600+ people, and this was the taped performance.
Afterword, I was so embarrassed I refused to leave the dressing room. The people who competed against me for the lead all started talking crap. Musical directors that were there from other schools made snide remarks that I found out about later. All the typical high school bs. At the time, I was miserable.
Flash forward a few years, I realized how stupid I was. How many high schools are there in the country? How many people actually still give a crap about musicals? Who is really going to watch a tape of "No No Nannette" more than once, even if you were in the darn thing? How many of those people do I actually still talk to? Are you starting to see my point?
Point is, no one really cares, its all so minor. Once I realized that, I never got nervous on gigs again, and it became one of the best things ever to happen to me. Learn to laugh at yourself sometimes, and move forward. Even something like Steve Bartman. Yeah sure, Cubs fans all over will hate the guy forever. But he is beloved by us Sox fans, and I hear he's a hero down in Florida with Marlins fans.
I graduated at 17, and didn't skip any grades. Maybe by the time you graduate you'll know it's "you're a junior."
Exactly this!And later on down the road, there are gonna be shows that are so awesome that you're totally going to forget about little situations like this, and there are going to be shows that are so embarrassing and awkward that you wish you could be playing in front of your class again
We had a "Rock Music Club" in high school(1972 ok?) and performed in front of the school. Went very well compared to a LOT of the rehearsals...almost like the audience picked the right day to show up. We got lucky but it easily could've been like your experience.
There's another concept to think about when life drags you thru one of those types of events and it was published by the best physicist I know as the title to one of his books:
The older and more experienced you get, the truer that becomes.
Move on, learn, enjoy life, and be very thankful that you are able to play an instrument in this life.
Your real friends aren't the ones who only "like you" because you're a musician.
JC
when i was in H.S., during a basketball game i shot at the wrong basket!!!! man o' man did i get teased and all i could do is LMAO. if you make a mistake, it's very normal. gl.
Thanks everyone for ur help it really helped me a lot... I guess if I worry for such a little thing... I'll start hating my bass... and bass should never be hated... thanks again 
it really helped me a lot... I guess if I worry for such a little thing... I'll start hating my bass... and bass should never be hated... thanks again 
Yeah well there is always going to be someone like that in the crowed. Last week when my band got up on stage someone started chanting the name of the awful band i was in in 7th grade. just ignore em.
Dude, not to sound harsh...but we've all been there and it's not something to get depressed over, trust me...people will diss you right and left no matter how good you are. If you suck in the least, people will scrutinize your every mistake. If you are a phenomenal player, people will be jealous and say things like "his tone sucks" or "he's such an arrogant jerk".
Since I don't brutally announce that I play bass, and because I don't play for sermon worship or the big youth group band anymore, I have 16 year olds who have played for 2 years making excessively stupid comments to me...thinking they are schooling me on my gear when I have played since they were 10 years old. When I come in with my Kustom 2x15's and new Peavey VB2 tube head, I hear one of the kids say "Wow man, get with the program...solid state is where it's at!". Since I understand that they are just kids, I chuckle and say "Call me old fashioned, but I dig the tone more." To which he says "Well maybe I should help you with your EQ some time.". Yes, if you could please teach me to coax the sound of 6 EL34's out of your backline 150 combo, I would be so enlightened. Another one offered me an Ibanez FZ7 when I was looking for a great fuzz pedal. After I told him my choices were the Colorsound Tonebender, Attack Goat, Earthbound Supercollider, Sonny and Sanford Bluebeard, and Bass Big Muff and sent links to all of them...he says "Ok, well those seem like a lot of hype...so if you want to buy a good one, just let me know when you wanna try it."...and this is why I play for the college group and children only lol
People say and think stupid things...just consider the source and move on. If you haven't gigged yet, you haven't met the "Aftershow Know-It-All" that points out everything you were doing wrong through the entire set and then hands you their card for bass lessons. Chalk it up and move on...every time you think about it and get upset, then go play and get better.
Since I don't brutally announce that I play bass, and because I don't play for sermon worship or the big youth group band anymore, I have 16 year olds who have played for 2 years making excessively stupid comments to me...thinking they are schooling me on my gear when I have played since they were 10 years old. When I come in with my Kustom 2x15's and new Peavey VB2 tube head, I hear one of the kids say "Wow man, get with the program...solid state is where it's at!". Since I understand that they are just kids, I chuckle and say "Call me old fashioned, but I dig the tone more." To which he says "Well maybe I should help you with your EQ some time.". Yes, if you could please teach me to coax the sound of 6 EL34's out of your backline 150 combo, I would be so enlightened. Another one offered me an Ibanez FZ7 when I was looking for a great fuzz pedal. After I told him my choices were the Colorsound Tonebender, Attack Goat, Earthbound Supercollider, Sonny and Sanford Bluebeard, and Bass Big Muff and sent links to all of them...he says "Ok, well those seem like a lot of hype...so if you want to buy a good one, just let me know when you wanna try it."...and this is why I play for the college group and children only lol
People say and think stupid things...just consider the source and move on. If you haven't gigged yet, you haven't met the "Aftershow Know-It-All" that points out everything you were doing wrong through the entire set and then hands you their card for bass lessons. Chalk it up and move on...every time you think about it and get upset, then go play and get better.
Wow, you're 15, and just about to graduate high school? did I read that right?
no, I said before I skipped the junior part xD
Agreed. I remember being a nervous wreck before shows we did back in front of people I went to HS with. Now, I don't really give a hoot. It's all fun.
I think what makes it intimidating is that they know you and can relate you to your performance.
What, I found, is different as you get older is that normal people don't really care as much, nor do they know who the hell you are. You have to make them know you if that's you thing... otherwise they won't think more than "Man that guy sucked tonight!", if even that.
Keep playing and practicing and forget about the High School "cliche". Keep the friends you have and don't worry about the rest. Obladee Oblada, life goes on.
Well you see, the use of the term 'sophomore' is almost exclusive to the USA, and that alone is just one of many differences between the US education system and others around the world.
