The problem I would have with a teacher

[Billnc]

Jimmy, you and your avatar remind me of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog! But I still love reading your posts! They give me a good laugh while still speaking the truth!

No, I'm not looking to troll or anything. It's how I really feel about confronting a teacher for the first time. I'm just afraid I'll freeze up and not know what to say. I think it was Socrates who said "Know thyself!", and that should probably be anyone's first priority in choosing to use a teacher. I guess I'm still trying to find myself. When I feel I'm ready (whenever that will be) I'll present myself to a teacher in an intelligent manner.

You know, if you find a good teacher, your nervous energy (it won't go away, you seem apprehensive about talking to a teacher) can give you exteme focus for the task at hand. I'd always and still do get nervous when I have a lesson. And I'm fine on gigs!

 

[JimmyM]

oh yeah, i used to get really shaken up when taking lessons off dave larue. but i managed. you just have to realize that the reason you're there is because the teacher knows more than you and you're supposed to be a little intimidated at first. it gets better the more you do it.

 

[E2daGGurl]

No, I'm not looking to troll or anything. It's how I really feel about confronting a teacher for the first time. I'm just afraid I'll freeze up and not know what to say. I think it was Socrates who said "Know thyself!", and that should probably be anyone's first priority in choosing to use a teacher. I guess I'm still trying to find myself. When I feel I'm ready (whenever that will be) I'll present myself to a teacher in an intelligent manner.

Socrates was teaching philosophy, you might look into what Pythagorus's advice to students was (he required that all students take music lessons before allowing them to study math or much of anything else).

But I see that you're anxious about not approaching the teacher properly A good teacher will put you at ease, encourage you to continue self-learning and give you confidence in what you know, and then will teach you some stuff.

It's true that you don't want a teacher who will overpower your own stlye or teach you only theirs.

 

[bigtiny]

I've read a boatload of threads here on TB extolling the virtues of getting a teacher. Wise advice, I'm sure. So I've been thinking about it for a while, and I can't think for the life of me what I would say to a teacher on our first meeting.

Teacher: "So, what are you doing here? What do you want to learn?"
stratovani: "I dunno!"
Teacher: "So you're throwing good money at me and you don't know what you want me to teach?"
stratovani: "I guess it looks that way."

As far as my playing goes, I'm in a band, I know how to groove and keep good time, I can come up with some decent bass lines at a moment's notice. My playing technique is good, although I do get a bit tired at times. I've got a good working grasp of music theory, enough to get by. My sight reading is rudimentary, but I can always get a book to explain things to me. So before I plunk down $50 or more for a single lesson I've got to have a good reason to get me a teacher. And so far I havn't been able to come up with one.

Well....it SOUNDS as if you're as good as you ever hope to get! =

One can ALWAYS improve as a player though....here are some points that I would consider:

-you might not be playing as well as you think. Having an objective, knowledgable listener might actually yield some surprises for you

-you must have SOMETHING in mind, or you wouldn't be thinking so much about a teacher

-one can always be a better player, and a good teacher will show you HOW you can be better

bigtiny

 

[Mr wiggl3s]

"I dunno!"
"Jazz"
"Alright"

Better then,

"I dunno!"
Puts down bass