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Double Bass Upright bass help!! Please read!

L

leahloyda

Sep 22, 2013
3
0
#1
I'm currently a college student and I'm taking upright bass lessons. I'm taking the lessons as a class which means that if I don't do well, it'll destroy my GPA. Before classes began, I was so excited about taking lessons. I had taken a series of music history courses and therefore, I was really happy about taking part in what I consider a sort of legacy :)

However, I really don't like my teacher at all. She's sooooo mean and I swear, I almost cried in class last week because of her. I'm a beginner to not only the bass, but all instruments as I've never played an instrument in my life! I just learned how to read music as well. Whenever I don't do something right, or I make a mistake, she rolls her eyes which makes me hate learning this instrument at all. More importantly, my fingers can't stay together (the two middle ones) and she goes crazy when they're not together. I'm honestly trying very hard but my confidence is really bad right now. I've never had to do my fingers like that in my life so I don't understand why she thinks that it's something I should learn in two weeks.

How do I keep my fingers together??? I wanted to try with a rubber band but she said no. Also, please give me any tips that you wish to share because I feel like I'm about to have some sort of breakdown. Thanks.
 
#2
College instrument lessons are pretty serious. Being a brand new music/bass student you might want to withdraw from the class and take lessons from her or even one of her students out of your own pocket (the student would probably be cheaper). This would remove the pressure of the semester from your lessons until you have enough technique together.
 
#3
Some things just force me out of my usual lurking and I just gotta post. I read this and thought it was posted by some 13 yr old seventh grader. leahloyda-- you kidding? Your teacher is "sooo mean." You're in college? So, what are you asking for? Advice about technique as a beginner? You're better off getting that from a good teacher. Advice about what to do about your mean teacher?

Sorry, but you're in college. How 'bout stop whining and grow up a bit. Not happy in the class? Maybe it's the teacher. Maybe it's you. Have a talk with the teacher. Whatever-- you don't mesh with the teacher? Drop the class. Want to learn to play the bass? Get a good teacher. Playing the bass is physically demanding.

The internet is not your solution. Not worth being close to a "breakdown" over this. Step back and take a deep breath.
 
#4
There's a term you need to become familiar with, Leah, so repeat it after me. "Woodshedding." It means practicing and practicing and practicing, again and again and then some more on top of it, and after all of that you have to lather, rinse, repeat 2ce and 3 times on Sunday, ad nauseum.

While the bulk of your course assignments in college require you to learn the material and recite it verbally or on paper, the bass requires you to learn it and recite it on paper, as well as performing it, requiring proper technique on top of knowledge of theory. It's very demanding, and if no one told you that, then that's a shame. I'm betting however that they did tell you that.

And if you think that a college instructor is mean, wait until you screw up badly enough in a section and the conductor bawls you out for it, or flat out removes you. That is the incident for which this class is preparing you to avoid. So either knuckle under, dedicate yourself to the instrument and its applicable techniques, or become a hobbyist bass player until your technique is good enough to be more serious. And there's nothing wrong with being a hobbyist. But there's a lot wrong with stepping into a serious course for which you are woefully unprepared and thinking the instructor is mean …

Decide what you need to do, and want to do, and then act upon that decision.
 
#5
HughFosterWood said:
Some things just force me out of my usual lurking and I just gotta post. I read this and thought it was posted by some 13 yr old seventh grader. leahloyda-- you kidding? Your teacher is "sooo mean." You're in college? So, what are you asking for? Advice about technique as a beginner? You're better off getting that from a good teacher. Advice about what to do about your mean teacher?

Sorry, but you're in college. How 'bout stop whining and grow up a bit. Not happy in the class? Maybe it's the teacher. Maybe it's you. Have a talk with the teacher. Whatever-- you don't mesh with the teacher? Drop the class. Want to learn to play the bass? Get a good teacher. Playing the bass is physically demanding.

The internet is not your solution. Not worth being close to a "breakdown" over this. Step back and take a deep breath.
Click to expand...


First of all, you're being really rude for no reason. I was just asking for advice on tips. Yeah, I said "soooo mean" to kind of underline a point. It's the internet and I can use whatever colloquialism I want. If I say that my instructor is mean, I can say that because that's my opinion and simply because a person makes a statement that a person is mean does not correlate with their level of education. So, after the 7th grade, people cease to say that individuals are mean?

You're telling me to grow up when you don't even know me or what I've accomplished. I need to grow up because I think my instructor is mean? You're the one who needs to grow up.
 
#6
rolandm said:
There's a term you need to become familiar with, Leah, so repeat it after me. "Woodshedding." It means practicing and practicing and practicing, again and again and then some more on top of it, and after all of that you have to lather, rinse, repeat 2ce and 3 times on Sunday, ad nauseum.

While the bulk of your course assignments in college require you to learn the material and recite it verbally or on paper, the bass requires you to learn it and recite it on paper, as well as performing it, requiring proper technique on top of knowledge of theory. It's very demanding, and if no one told you that, then that's a shame. I'm betting however that they did tell you that.

And if you think that a college instructor is mean, wait until you screw up badly enough in a section and the conductor bawls you out for it, or flat out removes you. That is the incident for which this class is preparing you to avoid. So either knuckle under, dedicate yourself to the instrument and its applicable techniques, or become a hobbyist bass player until your technique is good enough to be more serious. And there's nothing wrong with being a hobbyist. But there's a lot wrong with stepping into a serious course for which you are woefully unprepared and thinking the instructor is mean …

Decide what you need to do, and want to do, and then act upon that decision.
Click to expand...


Thanks. A lot of her students have complained about her and she's not very well liked in the music department (I'm really close with the chair of the department and so I hear things about her teaching methods). I practice a lot but it doesn't seem to be enough. Also, I'm not trying to be in an orchestra. It's just a hobby. I'm a premedical student and so I won't have time to work under any conductor. I just learned to appreciate music in some courses that I took and I thought it would be fulfilling to learn how to play an instrument.
 
#7
Hi,

My name is Robin and I would be glad to help you. First, don't ever lose sight of why you picked up the instrument in the first place! Music is something to be enjoyed.
I've had the opportunity to study with some amazing double bass teachers and i'd be happy to pass on the knowledge my teachers have given to me.

If you would like feel free to email me at [email protected] and I'd be happy to walk you through anything or point you to good resources to help you.

With Care,

Robin Betton
 
#8
leahloyda said:
I'm taking the lessons as a class which means that if I don't do well, it'll destroy my GPA.
Click to expand...

leahloyda said:
I'm a premedical student.
Click to expand...
Leah --

These two sentences, taken together, convey a LOT of information.

There is probably no more stressful way to spend four years of your life than to sign on as a pre-med. You will have to maintain what is essentially a straight-A average for the entire time. The required courses are rigorous -- hard science and calculus are head-breakers for many bassists. Worse yet, they're graded on a bell curve so people who do well but not great do not get an A and cannot wheedle their way into one. Even worse yet, for four years the vast bulk of your course-load will be shared with dozens or hundreds of other pre-meds, each of whom will spend their entire week thinking, "Oh my GOD, if a get B it will foil my plan to cure humanity's ills and become wealthy."

My strong advice to you is to bail on this class immediately before the drop period expires. Play the bass for fun in the 0.65 hours / week which are potentially available to you for fun. Spend the rest of your time busting hump to get into medical school.

Sincere wishes for good luck and success.
 
#9
leahloyda said:
Thanks. A lot of her students have complained about her and she's not very well liked in the music department (I'm really close with the chair of the department and so I hear things about her teaching methods). I practice a lot but it doesn't seem to be enough. Also, I'm not trying to be in an orchestra. It's just a hobby. I'm a premedical student and so I won't have time to work under any conductor. I just learned to appreciate music in some courses that I took and I thought it would be fulfilling to learn how to play an instrument.
Click to expand...

Picking a college course in which to do this was obviously the wrong choice. Picking a local music store with a really good instructor is more likely your better route. Adjust your musical path accordingly and you and your instructor will probably both be a lot happier. ;)
 
#10
leahloyda said:
First of all, you're being really rude for no reason. I was just asking for advice on tips. Yeah, I said "soooo mean" to kind of underline a point. It's the internet and I can use whatever colloquialism I want. If I say that my instructor is mean, I can say that because that's my opinion and simply because a person makes a statement that a person is mean does not correlate with their level of education. So, after the 7th grade, people cease to say that individuals are mean?

You're telling me to grow up when you don't even know me or what I've accomplished. I need to grow up because I think my instructor is mean? You're the one who needs to grow up.
Click to expand...

Not being rude-- I was being honest! I didn't say what I said 'cause you used the word "mean" or said your teacher was sooo mean. It was the whole tone of your post and the way you're choosing to handle it. Nope, I don't know you-- all I got is your words-- and the ones you choose say a lot! Close to a breakdown over a music class? Complaining about your mean eye-rolling teacher on a bass forum? Sorry kid, pretty immature to me. You asked for tips-- I gave 'em. Drop the class, pursue bass elsewhere if you want. Pretty much what others told you.
 
#11
Sam Sherry said:
Leah --

These two sentences, taken together, convey a LOT of information.

There is probably no more stressful way to spend four years of your life than to sign on as a pre-med. You will have to maintain what is essentially a straight-A average for the entire time. The required courses are rigorous -- hard science and calculus are head-breakers for many bassists. Worse yet, they're graded on a bell curve so people who do well but not great do not get an A and cannot wheedle their way into one. Even worse yet, for four years the vast bulk of your course-load will be shared with dozens or hundreds of other pre-meds, each of whom will spend their entire week thinking, "Oh my GOD, if a get B it will foil my plan to cure humanity's ills and become wealthy."

My strong advice to you is to bail on this class immediately before the drop period expires. Play the bass for fun in the 0.65 hours / week which are potentially available to you for fun. Spend the rest of your time busting hump to get into medical school.

Sincere wishes for good luck and success.
Click to expand...

+1
 
#12
Another eager, enthusiastic student who is PAYING for the priveledge of being abused by an egostistical academic jerkoff and a community that seems to support this kind of behavior. Most likely this person will wind up being bitter and disgruntled with the whole system and miss out on one of the possible great joys of life..... my exact experience for all 7 years and the reason I don't work in the field I so much wanted to be a part of.

Screw your uptight academic bass teacher. Drop the class and then go out in town and find someone who is a great giging musician who can communicate that love and passion in a way that inspires you. I'd venture that 95% of all our musical heroes wouldn't be able to get a degree in music from one of the "accredited institutes". I remember having a conversation with Michael Hedges years ago about how he was kicked out of Peabody not for his musical ability, but because he failed French class....:hmm:
 
#13
To echo the good advice above, don't risk lowering your GPA. Drop the course but fond a private teacher quickly.

In the long run, you will get more enjoyment from the bass, which you can play for fun, and proceed on the career that waits you. There are few bassists who ever get near a real orchestral slot.

I'll bet there is an informal student group that would like to have a bassist...
 
#16
A good teacher is someone who inspires us to be more than we already are. Clearly, this teacher has not managed to do that for you.

Save your dignity and your GPA and drop while you can. If bass is an instrument you want to study, find a less stressful place for it in your life. Take lessons when you can from people you like working with.
 
#18
PaulCannon said:
And by the way, I have no idea why you would need to stick your 2nd and 3rd fingers together. I've been playing a long time and no one's ever hassled me about that before. Sounds painful.
Click to expand...

That caught my eye, too.

I have NEVER heard of the middle and ring finger together.

"More importantly, my fingers can't stay together (the two middle ones) and she goes crazy when they're not together."

If that's truly the teacher's recommendation - run.

The proper technique would best be described as: 1, 2, 4. Actually, the 3rd finger goes behind the 4th finger, and the two work together. NOT fingers 2 and 3.

Refer to Simandl.
 

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