It cost more than what you'll be able to bring home from jazz gigs in total... 
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Would you spend $2000 to learn to play jazz online?
- Thread starter tb-player
- Start date
I agree with the jazz comment. It's really disrespecting an entire genre.This is not a shot at you or your teacher, lowdownbp5, but I have always vehemently disliked this notion. I must respectfully offer the following rebuttal:
Play what you mean to play, and mean what you play.
If you play something you didn't mean, play something afterwards that clarifies what you mean.
If your bandmate plays something you think they didn't mean, play something that justifies what they played.
There are no "wrong" notes, but there are an infinite number of "unintended" notes. In a live setting, you have to make lemonade out of those lemons.
Calling a repeated wrong note "jazz" is as disrespectful to the genre as claiming that "learning to read will be bad for your improvisation" is for music education in general.
Thanks for the soapbox, lowdown.
As far as wrong notes, hit a big fat Eb when your singer is trying to sing an E and see if they think there is such a thing as a wrong note. I don't know why so many people are afraid to admit mistakes. Just acknowledge it (at least to yourself) and try not to repeat the same mistake again. Trying to justify it doesn't fool anyone.
Plenty of opinions here already, but I guess I'll add mine.
No way would I pay $2000 for online jazz lessons.
Today, there are just way too many resources available for little or no money. Get Ed Friedland's book about walking lines, get iRealPro or Band-in-box, watch some of the myriad youtube videos, and practice. Use craigslist to find jamming partners.
There are no secrets and no shortcuts.
No way would I pay $2000 for online jazz lessons.
Today, there are just way too many resources available for little or no money. Get Ed Friedland's book about walking lines, get iRealPro or Band-in-box, watch some of the myriad youtube videos, and practice. Use craigslist to find jamming partners.
There are no secrets and no shortcuts.
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I would pay but not online and certainly not SBL. Maybe the guys at DiscoverDoubleBass. Just pay a local instructor and attend courses at something similar to what we have locally. New Mexico Jazz Workshop.. Then go to a jazz jam
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I think even Jeff Berlin learned the opposite lesson. Some people just wanna learn to do a "thing". I think he's changed his approach, using as a gateway, teaching a "thing" and then showing how one can expand on that knowledge to go deeper into the language of music.
Rather than to be a professional working musician you need a deep education in music, which also holds true but that is not everyones goal who want some sort of music education.
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He talks FAR too much for the small amount of 'lesson'.
I want to get right into it and not have to listen to 23 min of fluff for 7 min of playing - my ADHD and just time for return of investment is far beyond value.
I liked Ian's earlier online presence, but i feel it's turned phony and copycat of Scott's - which also feels fake. Regardless, their online IT team are fantastic...I see them everywhere!
I want to get right into it and not have to listen to 23 min of fluff for 7 min of playing - my ADHD and just time for return of investment is far beyond value.
I liked Ian's earlier online presence, but i feel it's turned phony and copycat of Scott's - which also feels fake. Regardless, their online IT team are fantastic...I see them everywhere!
Fair point, but at 2k I assume the goal would be to work. I know I shouldn't assume. If the goal is pure enjoyment and self edification their are far more affordable routes. Again, I don't think it's a bad idea just expensive in my opinion.I think even Jeff Berlin learned the opposite lesson. Some people just wanna learn to do a "thing". I think he's changed his approach, using as a gateway, teaching a "thing" and then showing how one can expand on that knowledge to go deeper into the language of music.
Rather than to be a professional working musician you need a deep education in music, which also holds true but that is not everyones goal who want some sort of music education.
That's why they are offering 1 on 1 feedback on the lessons...Still too rich for me, but he has some great instructors lined up that it looks like you can interact with them individually. Still...too rich for this old one.
This is not a shot at you or your teacher, lowdownbp5, but I have always vehemently disliked this notion. I must respectfully offer the following rebuttal:
Play what you mean to play, and mean what you play.
If you play something you didn't mean, play something afterwards that clarifies what you mean.
If your bandmate plays something you think they didn't mean, play something that justifies what they played.
There are no "wrong" notes, but there are an infinite number of "unintended" notes. In a live setting, you have to make lemonade out of those lemons.
Calling a repeated wrong note "jazz" is as disrespectful to the genre as claiming that "learning to read will be bad for your improvisation" is for music education in general.
Thanks for the soapbox, lowdown.
Fretless Man speaks the truth - an excellent statement of basic principles, especially re contextualizing the musical statements from your bandmates, which is the essence of mature jazz performance!
As for the SBL marketing push...I have little exposure to SBL, and no reason not to believe - or to believe - he has anything to offer as a true jazz player. I can attest that Todd Johnson is a master jazz player, particularly for chordal playing. Years ago I took 2-3 lessons with him to get the floating thumb thing down, and they were super-useful.
As for the internet correspondence course, it could work. Berklee has been offering correspondence programs long before the Internet was a thing, perhaps even before the invention of dirt. If you live in the boonies, or need to control the rate at which you commune with a lesson program, or if you can't afford a full-on program, then perhaps it's your best alternative...but I'd be inclined to see what program participants have to say about it before committing the cash.
Final point - direct comparison with Berklee is a joke. Check out the breadth and depth of their bass department, chaired by Steve Bailey! Aside from selecting among this crew of proven pros, you have the playing opportunities with your classmates, in and outside of school. But that's also a huge investment of time and money, toward a career track in which the chances for corresponding rewards are slim.
Net net - interesting development, could work, and would love to see what this thread looks like, 6 months from now.
The 1:1 feedback is recorded after you send your video in for feedback. Kind of like communicating via a video telegram instead of a conversation. Feedback will be from a staff member, not an instructor. So, that part of the program seems like getting instruction from a Guitar Center instructor. I don't see where everything adds up to $2k.
If you are interested enough to sign up for this, but not willing to search out anything better, I could see this as a primer or springboard to something more useful, like one-on-one lessons with a qualified teacher. It's better than dropping 2K on your 3rd American pro J or P bass with that cool new color.
I agree
Therefore it all comes down to what your purpose is. If you wanna pursue a career in music professionally, (not that getting paid and quite well for doing a "thing" in music without a musical education is still professional) most of us would need an education of some sort to make our bones from it.
Then there are those who don't wanna work as a musician but want to understand the language of music and use it freely as one wishing to learn and use any language.
Some not shopping around or are just willing to pay it will take that.
Not me, but I still like the guy.
If instead of Jazz it was Not Jazz
and instead of SBL it was Steve Harris or Doug Wimbish or Guy Pratt
then yes
and instead of SBL it was Steve Harris or Doug Wimbish or Guy Pratt
then yes
One important thing to consider when spending money on education from youtubers.
The proof is in the pudding: Resume and experience in the real world of music: Touring, recordings and live gigs with GREAT musicians that call these bass players for a reason.
A good example of this is Janek Gwizdala, as cool a "youtuber" as Scott and Ian but the guy has many records and tours as a bandleader AND toured / recorded with Mike Stern, Vital Information, Peter Erskine, etc etc etc.
The proof is in the pudding: Resume and experience in the real world of music: Touring, recordings and live gigs with GREAT musicians that call these bass players for a reason.
A good example of this is Janek Gwizdala, as cool a "youtuber" as Scott and Ian but the guy has many records and tours as a bandleader AND toured / recorded with Mike Stern, Vital Information, Peter Erskine, etc etc etc.
