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Why is it important to have a teacher (period)?
- Thread starter Mr wiggl3s
- Start date
I've been playing for a year orso now.
I've been playing for 7 months without a teacher.
Now I've learned alot more then I could've learned on my own (if that's true we'll never know) playing random songs, although I've reached limits he can teach me, so I'm prolly moving on.
So looking up a teacher to give you a few pointers on technique or songs is great, well it cant hurt.
Good luck
I've been playing for 7 months without a teacher.
Now I've learned alot more then I could've learned on my own (if that's true we'll never know) playing random songs, although I've reached limits he can teach me, so I'm prolly moving on.
So looking up a teacher to give you a few pointers on technique or songs is great, well it cant hurt.
Good luck
- Dec 13, 1999
- 11,737
- 8,951
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- Disclosures
- Chuck Sher publishes my book, WALKING BASSICS:The Fundamentals of Jazz Bass Playing.
If you dont want a teacher, then dont use one. If you dont want to learn about how music works then dont.... no one is forcing you.
If you want to impose limits on yourself, go ahead, its your choice.
It seems some guys come on here and try to justify to themselves why they dont need to learn anything about music by trying to get a bunch of others to agree with them...
I am not trying to be mean or nasty here, but if you dont care to learn, why should I care what you do...???
ed
If you want to impose limits on yourself, go ahead, its your choice.
It seems some guys come on here and try to justify to themselves why they dont need to learn anything about music by trying to get a bunch of others to agree with them...
I am not trying to be mean or nasty here, but if you dont care to learn, why should I care what you do...???
ed
Wow, what an interesting assortment of replies to the original post!
I'm kind of a do-it-yourself-er myself. I started string bass in the late 80's, and figured out how to play simple jazz gigs, pretty well in tune (I had already played jazz for a number of years on electric, and had a fairly solid understanding of harmony and "school music".)
Unfortunately, tendonitis got me (from stubbornly practicing past the point of pain) before I learned thumb position. It was serious enough that I had to make a choice between the instrument that was paying the bills (electric) and the fun, more physical one. I sold my plywood, and haven't played one since then.
Now I'm dying to get back at the doghouse. I don't think I'll take lessons right away, first I'll work my callouses and muscles back to where I got to last time (without overdoing it, this time!), and then maybe consult someone to go further.
It strikes me that we all do what we need to do, in order to get where we want to do. If you're inclined to pass on formal lessons, then I guess you'll just work by yourself for a while, and you'll find out if that's going to take you where you to go. If you hit a brick wall, you may have to re-assess the plan.
One thing you might want to think consciously about: we all have different relationships with "authority". If the reason you don't want to take lessons is that you don't want someone else holding up a hoop and telling you Now you must jump through this one -- well, maybe the problem _isn't_ that you don't want to benefit from someone else's experience. Maybe you just don't want some parent figure to hold you in their own rigid structure.
There are probably teachers out there who are relaxed and friendly, who will let you picked their brains for advice, without triggering your dislike of being told what to do.
Anyway, that's what occurred to me, because I don't like being corralled, neither. But I think I would like to compare notes with someone who has valuable bass experience that I can poach, as I need it. So for me, I think occasional lessons are going to do it.
I wish you luck, Mr wiggl3s; if you're really into this, I'm sure you'll fumble your way to what works for you. Keep us posted.
Peter W
I'm kind of a do-it-yourself-er myself. I started string bass in the late 80's, and figured out how to play simple jazz gigs, pretty well in tune (I had already played jazz for a number of years on electric, and had a fairly solid understanding of harmony and "school music".)
Unfortunately, tendonitis got me (from stubbornly practicing past the point of pain) before I learned thumb position. It was serious enough that I had to make a choice between the instrument that was paying the bills (electric) and the fun, more physical one. I sold my plywood, and haven't played one since then.
Now I'm dying to get back at the doghouse. I don't think I'll take lessons right away, first I'll work my callouses and muscles back to where I got to last time (without overdoing it, this time!), and then maybe consult someone to go further.
It strikes me that we all do what we need to do, in order to get where we want to do. If you're inclined to pass on formal lessons, then I guess you'll just work by yourself for a while, and you'll find out if that's going to take you where you to go. If you hit a brick wall, you may have to re-assess the plan.
One thing you might want to think consciously about: we all have different relationships with "authority". If the reason you don't want to take lessons is that you don't want someone else holding up a hoop and telling you Now you must jump through this one -- well, maybe the problem _isn't_ that you don't want to benefit from someone else's experience. Maybe you just don't want some parent figure to hold you in their own rigid structure.
There are probably teachers out there who are relaxed and friendly, who will let you picked their brains for advice, without triggering your dislike of being told what to do.
Anyway, that's what occurred to me, because I don't like being corralled, neither. But I think I would like to compare notes with someone who has valuable bass experience that I can poach, as I need it. So for me, I think occasional lessons are going to do it.
I wish you luck, Mr wiggl3s; if you're really into this, I'm sure you'll fumble your way to what works for you. Keep us posted.
Peter W
That could have been avoided with the guidance of a good double bass teacher. There is technique that has been developed throughout the history of the instrument that helps one avoid such problems.
You don't learn from your mistakes eh?
It's only bass lessons, it seems like yo need to change your outlook. IMHO of course.
+1000
I've been playing for 7 yrs. Started with a mediocre teacher and lasted a yr with him, did the self-directed thing with books and DVDs and a couple of haphazard lessons until last yr when (through TB) I was able to find a good local teacher. Sure you can learn to play on your own, and even do it well. You can also probably learn to take out your own appendix, but it isn't necessarily the best way to go about it. I'm improving much faster with a teacher, as I suspect most would.
Well. Prior to posting i was practicing about 30-60 minutes a day.
Since, 0.
I guess i'll have to wait till i meet a guy who knows how to play before i pick it up again
. Like said, don't want to pick up any bad habbits
Since, 0.
I guess i'll have to wait till i meet a guy who knows how to play before i pick it up again
. Like said, don't want to pick up any bad habbits +1
I think there are a lot of people that are so musically inclined that bass, or guitar is quite elementary to pick up within a few months. For others, lessons with a well-suited instructor are a necessity. I am one of the latter. Plus, once you get on course, you have an industry pro to jam with and bounce songwriting ideas around with -- this is where I'm at with it now, and his info is absolutely invaluable to me. He's writing scores for movies, so my rock basslines are very bass-ic for him.
Simply said: Lessons are like steroids. You still have to put in the work and effort, but they get you there a whole lot quicker.
This metaphor is flawed though, because my balls do not shrink at all after lessons.
Yeah, having the right teacher will definitely get you there faster. I played for 20 years before I finally broke down and starting taking lessons and it accelerated my progress considerably. It also helped me to put all of the little lessons and licks I had learned and honed over the last several years into a coherent framework. So I had learned on my own how to do A and B and C but now I'm learning how A, B, and C relate to each other.
I think of it like a personal trainer. Yeah, I can go to the gym and work out on my own, but a trainer will show me how to make the most of my time, will hold me accountable for goals we set together, and will challenge me to try things that I might not try on my own.
Seriously, it's not that expensive and even a few lessons can make a huge difference in your playing and your musical understanding.
I think of it like a personal trainer. Yeah, I can go to the gym and work out on my own, but a trainer will show me how to make the most of my time, will hold me accountable for goals we set together, and will challenge me to try things that I might not try on my own.
Seriously, it's not that expensive and even a few lessons can make a huge difference in your playing and your musical understanding.
And that's our fault from giving you good advice that you've completely rejected? Stop with the self pity. You asked a question and got honest answers from people in the know instead of being stroked.Well. Prior to posting i was practicing about 30-60 minutes a day.
Since, 0.
I guess i'll have to wait till i meet a guy who knows how to play before i pick it up again
Want me to stroke you, bro? OK, it's just fine if you never take lessons and develop bad habits and never understand how music works on an intellectual level. Seriously, it is OK. Doesn't affect my life in the least. But be honest about wanting to be stroked when you ask a question on the internet, otherwise you'll get answers you may not want to hear.
1 part of me: "There is so much info out there for you on the ol'interwebs that you can go very far without a dedicated instructor! Just Like Me!"
Another part of me: "Why are these people who've played for half as long as me so good?!?" "Why do I have all these bad habits?!" "The stupidly easy stuff my new teacher has me doing sure does take me outside my comfort zone." "Why can't I read better?!"
Yet, another part of me: "Tai Food Sounds Good Tonight." MMmmmmm.
Another part of me: "Why are these people who've played for half as long as me so good?!?" "Why do I have all these bad habits?!" "The stupidly easy stuff my new teacher has me doing sure does take me outside my comfort zone." "Why can't I read better?!"
Yet, another part of me: "Tai Food Sounds Good Tonight." MMmmmmm.
Did ya ever see one of those Kung Fu movies, like a Bruce Lee? Where the guy can beatup everyone in the world, but maybe this one guy. So he goes to the "mountain." Now the guy on the mountain can't beat anyone up, but he gives "Bruce" the secret....Thats what you need a teacher for.
I took lessons for a few months a little while ago after playing for 7 years. MOstly I wanted help utilizing my fretless and learn to walk.
After the first few lessons he would pretty much just repeat "practice your scales, very important'
and talk about some Jaco anecdote.
So it pretty much didnt seems worth it. THough I did practice my scales more back then when I had someone telling me too everyweek, but for $40 bucks? C'mon
After the first few lessons he would pretty much just repeat "practice your scales, very important'
and talk about some Jaco anecdote.
So it pretty much didnt seems worth it. THough I did practice my scales more back then when I had someone telling me too everyweek, but for $40 bucks? C'mon
I think you can manage without a teacher if you prefer to be self-taught, as long as you realise what that means. Self-taught still means "taught"! That's very important to understand. It doesn't mean just doodling around aimlessly, hoping you'll get better. It means actively tapping into a whole wealth of instructional material out there (a wider range than ever before, these days) on technique, styles, theory, professionalism et cetera. And there is somebody watching over your development - you! But learning this way still needs motivation, hard work and critical self-assessment against clear criteria to evaluate your own progress.
I'm not saying being self-taught is equivalent to being taught by someone else, btw. It probably does take more discipline and patience. What I am saying is that people learn in different ways, and to different standards, and there's no direct or universal correlation between the way you learn and the standard you get to.
I'm not saying being self-taught is equivalent to being taught by someone else, btw. It probably does take more discipline and patience. What I am saying is that people learn in different ways, and to different standards, and there's no direct or universal correlation between the way you learn and the standard you get to.
Well. Prior to posting i was practicing about 30-60 minutes a day.
Since, 0.
I guess i'll have to wait till i meet a guy who knows how to play before i pick it up again
great. those 30-60 minutes were only wasted time anyway
because with the attitude you have, you were never gonna get anywhere with it anyway
if you CAN easily go from 60 minutes a day practice (which is not much, really) to nothing, then you're not cut out for it anyway.. you have to be compelled by something inside to do it, not be so weak that a few comments on a forum make you give it all up
if you were meant to be a musician you COULDN'T give it up
well now at least you have 60 minutes per day to do something you're suited to... enjoy it
