a tale worth telling… (semi-long)
Question:
writes: >Dirty little secret: I made it through 12 years of keyboard and still >have trouble reading the staffs. I have to sit there and work it out >and memorize it. I can’t sight-read. It’s just how my brain works.
I can’t sight-read either, but I didn’t take lessons for as many years as you did. Maybe only 2-3 years. I’m not sure I even know *how* to learn how… Eldred — Homepage – http://www.umich.edu/~epickett GPLRank:-1.950 MonsterRank: +305.145 N2002 Rank:+17.59 Never argue with an idiot. He brings you down to his level, then beats you with experience…
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> … and back techs and … all suck …
What’s a "back tech"?
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<snip> > But I don’t think that anyone–yourself included–should be beating > you up for not currently being as good a sight-reader–or whatever– > as they think you should be. That’s not even why you went to this > shitabed pinhead in the first place.
For whatever reading, mentioning sight-reading reminded me of a guy I used to know; he was the bass player in the only band I was ever in (years ago). He could read really well, but he had a little trouble with Sugar’s "The Act We Act." E |: F F F F F F F F | F F F F F F F E 
It’s all straight eighths, but he was playing it like this for a few days after we started learning it–he put the "dip" in the wrong spot: |: E F F F F F F F | F F F F F F F F Maybe his hearing was damaged from being next to the drums *g* I don’t know how good his overall learning-by-ear skills are. I learn really quickly by ear, a good bit more slowly by TAB, and at a crawl by traditional notation, so he and I were opposite in our approaches, I think. — Dr. Smartass Jello is a Dish Best Served Cold.
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> i guess first off i should be asking: > are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with > no background at all?
You can teach yourself. You learn to sight read by reading lots and lots of stuff. I couldn’t read bass clef, so I took home a trombone etude book and an entire big band bass book and learned them inside out. I had to ask lots of questions, and some things I didn’t "get" until I played them in context. I was muttering "looks like a D, must be an F" to myself and really agonizing over leger lines and parts written as they sounded instead of the usual octave up we expect bass parts to be written in, but I got there. Just start at the beginning and refuse to quit. You’ll get it. Oh, and use a metronome.
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> well needless the say, the second part of the lesson continued > downhill…i’m not sure if it was the unspeakable idiocy of my > innocent questions: "does a jazz turnaround work here?" "can i play > the 3rd then 7th here?" or the simple fact that i was clearly not a > career musician that caused the instructor to start insulting me > personally… "you have a serious problem focusing, you should get > that checked" "i am too busy to spend time with a student like you" > and so on…
Jesus. That’s completely unacceptable. > so, 1 hour and 45 minutes into a two hour lesson, i was basically > asked to leave amid a flurry of insults. trying to be the bigger > person, i politely paid for the lesson, and offered a handshake…it > was reluctantly accepted…
What a mother f-er. > i guess first off i should be asking: > are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with > no background at all?
Uh…no. > is this type of pathetic elitism common?
I’d take the issue up dispassionately, but jvery firmly with whomever the instructor answers to (if you went with a music store), or, shit, name names here. > any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone > basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around > because you’re such a waste of my precious time…"
Assholes are assholes, no matter what their job. Be assured that there are other instructors who have more of a clue about being a decent human being and having a modicum of attention to customer service and why it is people seek instruction on anything. Best Regards, — /" ASCII Ribbon Campaign | Todd H / | http://www.toddh.net/ X Promoting good netiquette | http://triplethreatband.com/ / http://www.toddh.net/netiquette/ | "4 lines suffice."
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solutions 1: shoot the sumbitch! 2: Hire the AGB mafia. They have an arsenal of responses..resetting his bridge, putting pickups or speakers out of phase, being sure he gets a part that is 1-5-1-5 ad nauseam (no speling jokes), loosening the tuners just to the point that any additional tension pulls the string flat. For a slight extra fee, they’ll file down 1 fret. discount package available includes all of the above, plus a chance to win a consultation with the Tunguska survivor (for him, not you)
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<snip> > well needless the say, the second part of the lesson continued > downhill…i’m not sure if it was the unspeakable idiocy of my > innocent questions: "does a jazz turnaround work here?" "can i play > the 3rd then 7th here?" or the simple fact that i was clearly not a > career musician that caused the instructor to start insulting me > personally… "you have a serious problem focusing, you should get > that checked" "i am too busy to spend time with a student like you" > and so on…
WHAT?! What a prick…you don’t plan on going back, I hope. He sounds terribly unprofessional. At least when I was taking 6-string lessons from a local Prima Don wannabe, he didn’t ridicule me–but he had no sense of humor. > now look, i can spend all day bs’ing you about whatever my background > is — defending myself — defending the instructor — whatever, but > frankly it’s irrelevant…that’s not the point…the point is, i’m > just absolutely crushed
Find yourself a competent teacher–someone who can give criticism constructively, and who knows when to give praise. > i guess first off i should be asking: > are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with > no background at all? > is this type of pathetic elitism common?
Sounds like the jerk I took lessons from–he insisted on me getting sight- reading, even though I wanted to learn other things. Remember: you’re calling the shots. As for sight-reading, I’ve always been weak at it (note values give me fits if they’re not kept very simple) > any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone > basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around > because you’re such a waste of my precious time…"
Don’t give up. — Dr. Smartass, being serious Jello is a Dish Best Served Cold.
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>is this type of pathetic elitism common? >any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone >basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around >because you’re such a waste of my precious time…"
I think that you need to find another teacher who is a better fit. I’ve only had one bass teacher, but he was unfailingly supportive but pushed me when I was slacking off. A good teacher should work with you, not against you. Just my opinion, John
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I used to teach bass and I often wished I had students that would actually practice. Sight reading was another thing they didn’t want to learn. Seemed like they always wanted to be like the current bass flavor of the month. My opinion? Your teacher was a moron. Don’t give up, just find another, better teacher that will work with you at your pace. Ron Neely II The EH Man Electro-Harmonix info and schematics at: http://electroharmonix.ronsound.com Pursuant to US Code, Title 47, Chapter 5, Subchapter II, ‘227, any and all nonsolicited commercial E-mail sent to this address is subject to a download and archival fee in the amount of $500 US. E-mailing said address denotes acceptance of these terms. delete SPAM B GONE from email address for replies
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>> is this type of pathetic elitism common? >Unfortunately, yes. There is a reason why great players frequently do not >make great teachers. Teaching is itelf an art,
When I was in university I already found out that the people who were brilliant in their subject were the lesser teachers. The people who had had to struggle to learn the subject themselves always seem to understand better that you just don’t get it at once….. maarten
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To add to the other comments, I dont believe you need a 2 hour lesson. In the beginning, it’s possible to give you enough to work on in even a half hour, especailly considering that you have a life outside lessons. Give that some thought. — O< "Pthbt!" (( )) <( ) Z | |_ Steve
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text -> well this is quite an interesting tale, at least a bit rare you hear > something like this, so i’ll try to preserve the opinions and keep it > unbiased (at least as long as possible)… > for about 12 years i played the guitar…yes the 6 stringed monster > that we’ve all grown to detest… > anyway, i was asked to join a company band and play bass so i picked > up a bass and started twanging away. shortly thereafter, i realized > after about 5 months that i didn’t want another ridiculous 3-chord > hobby instrument and i decided to seek out some real instruction. > i came to the boards and asked around quite a bit for advice on some > teachers and eventually i found a highly recommended well-lauded > teacher. > i suppose at this point, i should give a tidbit of background. i’m no > slacker as far as practice goes, but i have a full time job, i dont > plan on being famous as a bassist, but it’s become one heck of a > pastime. > ok back to the tale, so i seek this teacher out and i plunk down my > cash for some lessons…i arrive on time, i’m consistently polite and > focused on the task at hand. that having been said, the lesson > experience is substantially different than anything i’ve been through > before…having relied on tab since day one, being forced to > immediately pickup sight reading, jazz theory, and REAL music is quite > a change for me… > anyway, i space out my lessons 2 to 3 weeks apart to ensure that i > have a reasonable amount of time to practice and i know that i’m far > from becoming a virtuouso at bass, but i’m really loving it… > and then it happened, i showed up on time, for my third lesson…spent > the first hour struggling through some basic reading exercises and > after being so thoroughly ridiculed i almost found myself on the edge > of laughter. it’s just so hard to imagine paying someone your hard > earned money to spend two hours of their life with you and help you > along and they just verbally destroy you and the efforts your > making… > well needless the say, the second part of the lesson continued > downhill…i’m not sure if it was the unspeakable idiocy of my > innocent questions: "does a jazz turnaround work here?" "can i play > the 3rd then 7th here?" or the simple fact that i was clearly not a > career musician that caused the instructor to start insulting me > personally… "you have a serious problem focusing, you should get > that checked" "i am too busy to spend time with a student like you" > and so on… > so, 1 hour and 45 minutes into a two hour lesson, i was basically > asked to leave amid a flurry of insults. trying to be the bigger > person, i politely paid for the lesson, and offered a handshake…it > was reluctantly accepted… > now look, i can spend all day bs’ing you about whatever my background > is — defending myself — defending the instructor — whatever, but > frankly it’s irrelevant…that’s not the point…the point is, i’m > just absolutely crushed > i guess first off i should be asking: > are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with > no background at all? > is this type of pathetic elitism common? > any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone > basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around > because you’re such a waste of my precious time…" > Bleh…
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>now look, i can spend all day bs’ing you about whatever my background >is — defending myself — defending the instructor — whatever, but >frankly it’s irrelevant…that’s not the point…the point is, i’m >just absolutely crushed
Don’t be. 1. You’re an adult. You have real-life responsibilities. Frankly, your brain isn’t quite as plastic as it was when you were a teenager. 2. You’re a better man than I am. I’d have probably pointed to the head of the guy’s bass and told him to "sit on it until the 15th fret can no longer be seen and rotate." Offering your hand for a handshake was a touch of class I’d have been too honked off to do. 3. You are attempting to learn something new. Be proud. >i guess first off i should be asking: >are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with >no background at all?
Dirty little secret: I made it through 12 years of keyboard and still have trouble reading the staffs. I have to sit there and work it out and memorize it. I can’t sight-read. It’s just how my brain works. (Although my guitar teacher is actually making headway by having me write music. Maybe it’s not how my brain works. Is it possible it’s how I was taught?) >is this type of pathetic elitism common?
I sure hope not! You didn’t get an instructor, you got someone with an ego a mile wide and no heart. Zooty
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>i came to the boards and asked around quite a bit for advice on some >teachers and eventually i found a highly recommended well-lauded >teacher. <snip> >so, 1 hour and 45 minutes into a two hour lesson, i was basically >asked to leave amid a flurry of insults. trying to be the bigger >person, i politely paid for the lesson, and offered a handshake…it >was reluctantly accepted… <snip> >now look, i can spend all day bs’ing you about whatever my background >is — defending myself — defending the instructor — whatever, but >frankly it’s irrelevant…that’s not the point…the point is, i’m >just absolutely crushed
Don’t be. The guy’s a rod. His job was to make you a better player. He failed, so he blows ropey goat chunks. He’s a shit teacher, inadequate in all respects, and he shouldn’t have taken your money. I’m gonna stop before I get sidetracked by all the witty insults I’m thinking of for this bag of shit, because I do not want to completely make light of this. More than anything else in music or the often-ugly music business, this kind of crap makes me really mad. E-Bay rip-offs and back techs and crummy gear and underhanded business/band politics all suck, but we are talking about someone trying to crush a person’s will to play music in the first place. There is just NO excuse for some asshole to abuse people’s trust, or allow a little-boy power trip like this to dissuade someone from enjoying playing music. What this "person" did to you was just plain wrong. Some people may be cowed by the "I am great and you are poo" routine, but most grown adults aren’t. Your instinct to laugh at the situation at the time was a good one. There are always going to be people who are better than you at things you have never done. Good teachers help to even that out. Bad ones don’t. You met a bad one. It ain’t your fault. >i guess first off i should be asking: >are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with >no background at all?
Well, it’s been 17 years of gigging, and I still can’t sight-read. I can read, you know, at a crawl, moving my lips, tilting my head, and after about 3 minutes there’s a smell like burning cat hair and I have to lie down… I plan to get to practicing it again next week sometime though. >is this type of pathetic elitism common?
Oh HELL yeah. The world is full of bigheads and rock stars who don’t rock and aren’t stars. But thankfully, it’s also full of good folks, many of whom post to this group all the time. >any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone >basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around >because you’re such a waste of my precious time…"
Let me reiterate a point that others–some of whom seem to be pretty damn good teachers–have also made. This ain’t a problem with you. A couple weeks back or so I posted my sad tale of woe about teachers I have had, both excellent and execrable. As with your situation, many years someone managed to make me feel bad enough about my playing that I almost quit. The upshot of that thread was that it can be tough finding the right teacher, just as it can be tough to find the right people to be in a band with–and just as worth it. But I don’t think that anyone–yourself included–should be beating you up for not currently being as good a sight-reader–or whatever– as they think you should be. That’s not even why you went to this shitabed pinhead in the first place. Have you noticed how easily and freely I insult this gasbag? It’s almost as if the words mean nothing. I mean, it’s not as if by saying "he now eats worms" I actually cause him to eat worms(I would love to have this ability. The worms however, are against it…), any more than someone else saying "he’s a good bass teacher" makes him a good bass teacher. Or him saying "you can’t be a good bass player" makes that so either. Water off a duck’s back, sir. Now, eyes front! Mind and body strong, grasshopper. A deep breath, some muttered insults, and we move on. If need be, play the three chords for a few minutes and remember how much you enjoy playing. Then look for another teacher–perhaps, with luck, it will be a human this time. If not, we move on, until we find someone we can learn with. Oh–and don’t get me wrong–I think sight-reading is important, and I’m not going to go off on one of those "XXXX doesn’t/couldn’t read, so you don’t have to" things. I’ve never needed it, but I’ve also never been moved to play in a context where it’s been required. And, I might add, if I suddenly wanted to play in such a context, I couldn’t. I would have to learn–from someone who didn’t tell me I suck because I’m not good at it… DAMN this stuff makes me angry! Wasn’t there just some talk about forming a posse to go hand out some free steel-toe meals a while back? As a friend of mine once said to me "I’m never been a violent person, but I think that, with practice, I could be really good at it.."
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<snip> – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text ->and i decided to seek out some real instruction. > i came to the boards and asked around quite a bit for advice on some > teachers and eventually i found a highly recommended well-lauded > teacher. > i suppose at this point, i should give a tidbit of background. i’m no > slacker as far as practice goes, but i have a full time job, i dont > plan on being famous as a bassist, but it’s become one heck of a > pastime. <snip> > and then it happened, i showed up on time, for my third lesson…spent > the first hour struggling through some basic reading exercises and > after being so thoroughly ridiculed i almost found myself on the edge > of laughter. it’s just so hard to imagine paying someone your hard > earned money to spend two hours of their life with you and help you > along and they just verbally destroy you and the efforts your > making… <snip> >"i am too busy to spend time with a student like you" > and so on… > so, 1 hour and 45 minutes into a two hour lesson, i was basically > asked to leave amid a flurry of insults. trying to be the bigger > person, i politely paid for the lesson, and offered a handshake…it > was reluctantly accepted… > now look, i can spend all day bs’ing you about whatever my background > is — defending myself — defending the instructor — whatever, but > frankly it’s irrelevant…that’s not the point…the point is, i’m > just absolutely crushed > i guess first off i should be asking: > are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with > no background at all? > is this type of pathetic elitism common? > any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone > basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around > because you’re such a waste of my precious time…" > Bleh…
Well, let me tell my story since I can relate to that: I had my first lesson with a highly recommended teacher last week, we had talked before, and I had told him that I played for about three years 12 years ago, and was struggling alone for the past 6 months, found myself stuck therefore felt I needed a teacher. I explained him that I considered myself a half beginner, since I can read music even if it’s slowly, play some grooves/songs and have some music theory knowledge, he told me that he would not teach a full beginner, but a half one would be ok. So I showed up at his place, and he said we should play unplugged and asks me to play him something, but since I’ve always been playing plugged in, it didn’t came out so good, for instance I had to pluck much harder then I was comfortable with. So he tells me in a nice way but using this words that my right hand is sh*t, and after 1h15min, I left with the two of the more basic workout’s under my arm and feeling very disappointed. (building a study plan was one of my goals with the first lesson) He did correct my lefthand position, so I guess it was not all lost. When I mentioned the next class he told me he was on tour the next week, and that by the end of the week he would call me, but I have a strong feeling he won’t… I was thinking of scheduling one or two classes with another teacher I got a recomendation for, just to have some comparison, and to prepare in case he doesn’t call. — Chris Email address is fake, I’ve lost accounts to (Korean) spam as is, sorry. Try brpaddler at yahoo dot com dot br
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"> i guess first off i should be asking: > are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with > no background at all?
No. The basics of music reading itself take quite a bit of study; true sight reading can only be gained through experience. > is this type of pathetic elitism common?
Unfortunately, yes. There is a reason why great players frequently do not make great teachers. Teaching is itelf an art, an requires patience, good communication ability, and people skills – traits which many "virtuosos" sorely lack. My guess is your "teacher" was either suffering severe burn out (very common), or is just a complete asshole who is equaly as much a tightass dickhead on the bandstand. To be fair, most players, including myself, teach because it helps to pay the bills. However the successful teachers are the ones who have the traits I described above. Sure, everyone wants advanced jazz theory students, but the true test of your ability is whether you can help a student with no training at all. > any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone > basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around > because you’re such a waste of my precious time…"
You should be able to find someone in your local area; ask around the music store, or your local college music dept. For bass, there is usually one guy who has 90% of the students in town so it shouldn’t be hard to get a name. Most teachers are more than happy to have an adult learner, as it is a welcome break from ADD teenagers and drop C death metal. Also, go in to your lesson with the attitude that YOU are auditioning him as well. Offer to pay for one lesson in advance, and the rest if you decide to continue. If he refuses, start walking away, then he’ll give in (trust me). Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions regarding instruction methods, topics covered etc. Be honest about your goals, but also tell him about your lifestyle, level of committment, and realistic ammount of practice time available. Please don’t give up; not all of us are arrogant assholes. John Check out www.js3jazz.com to hear my tunes and get FREE bass lessons
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You hooked up with the wrong teacher–period. He’s an asshole and shouldn’t be exchanging money for instruction regardless of how gifted a musician he may or may not be. My experience was quite the opposite. I contracted with the best local upright player whose day job is teaching upright at a middle school. I too space my lessons out to every other week since I’m a grown guy with responsibilities which also include learning the tunes my band is working up. Given, I’ve been playing since ‘64, but it was mostly blues and rock on a fretted electric bass (bass guitar) and until recently, I wasn’t really putting any time into it. I’m in pursuit of being facile on a fretless neck and playing jazz and standards ultimately on an electric upright. I’ve been reading music for years, but my sight reading is the typical counting on my fingers and holding my mouth just right kind of thing and I’m even slower on bass clef. My teacher comes to my house and charges me $30/hour. Lessons usually run to 1.5 hours+ and I have to fight with him to take more. I have to put it into his hand and push him out the door before he can argue with me. He believes I’m an enthusiastic student and appreciates my progress. Find a new teacher. Neal – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > well this is quite an interesting tale, at least a bit rare you hear > something like this, so i’ll try to preserve the opinions and keep it > unbiased (at least as long as possible)… > for about 12 years i played the guitar…yes the 6 stringed monster > that we’ve all grown to detest… > anyway, i was asked to join a company band and play bass so i picked > up a bass and started twanging away. shortly thereafter, i realized > after about 5 months that i didn’t want another ridiculous 3-chord > hobby instrument and i decided to seek out some real instruction. > i came to the boards and asked around quite a bit for advice on some > teachers and eventually i found a highly recommended well-lauded > teacher. > i suppose at this point, i should give a tidbit of background. i’m no > slacker as far as practice goes, but i have a full time job, i dont > plan on being famous as a bassist, but it’s become one heck of a > pastime. > ok back to the tale, so i seek this teacher out and i plunk down my > cash for some lessons…i arrive on time, i’m consistently polite and > focused on the task at hand. that having been said, the lesson > experience is substantially different than anything i’ve been through > before…having relied on tab since day one, being forced to > immediately pickup sight reading, jazz theory, and REAL music is quite > a change for me… > anyway, i space out my lessons 2 to 3 weeks apart to ensure that i > have a reasonable amount of time to practice and i know that i’m far > from becoming a virtuouso at bass, but i’m really loving it… > and then it happened, i showed up on time, for my third lesson…spent > the first hour struggling through some basic reading exercises and > after being so thoroughly ridiculed i almost found myself on the edge > of laughter. it’s just so hard to imagine paying someone your hard > earned money to spend two hours of their life with you and help you > along and they just verbally destroy you and the efforts your > making… > well needless the say, the second part of the lesson continued > downhill…i’m not sure if it was the unspeakable idiocy of my > innocent questions: "does a jazz turnaround work here?" "can i play > the 3rd then 7th here?" or the simple fact that i was clearly not a > career musician that caused the instructor to start insulting me > personally… "you have a serious problem focusing, you should get > that checked" "i am too busy to spend time with a student like you" > and so on… > so, 1 hour and 45 minutes into a two hour lesson, i was basically > asked to leave amid a flurry of insults. trying to be the bigger > person, i politely paid for the lesson, and offered a handshake…it > was reluctantly accepted… > now look, i can spend all day bs’ing you about whatever my background > is — defending myself — defending the instructor — whatever, but > frankly it’s irrelevant…that’s not the point…the point is, i’m > just absolutely crushed > i guess first off i should be asking: > are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with > no background at all? > is this type of pathetic elitism common? > any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone > basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around > because you’re such a waste of my precious time…" > Bleh…
– Neal Pollack PressPlay Computer Consultants "A still tongue fills a wise head." –Blind Jim Brewer
Response:
well this is quite an interesting tale, at least a bit rare you hear something like this, so i’ll try to preserve the opinions and keep it unbiased (at least as long as possible)… for about 12 years i played the guitar…yes the 6 stringed monster that we’ve all grown to detest… anyway, i was asked to join a company band and play bass so i picked up a bass and started twanging away. shortly thereafter, i realized after about 5 months that i didn’t want another ridiculous 3-chord hobby instrument and i decided to seek out some real instruction. i came to the boards and asked around quite a bit for advice on some teachers and eventually i found a highly recommended well-lauded teacher. i suppose at this point, i should give a tidbit of background. i’m no slacker as far as practice goes, but i have a full time job, i dont plan on being famous as a bassist, but it’s become one heck of a pastime. ok back to the tale, so i seek this teacher out and i plunk down my cash for some lessons…i arrive on time, i’m consistently polite and focused on the task at hand. that having been said, the lesson experience is substantially different than anything i’ve been through before…having relied on tab since day one, being forced to immediately pickup sight reading, jazz theory, and REAL music is quite a change for me… anyway, i space out my lessons 2 to 3 weeks apart to ensure that i have a reasonable amount of time to practice and i know that i’m far from becoming a virtuouso at bass, but i’m really loving it… and then it happened, i showed up on time, for my third lesson…spent the first hour struggling through some basic reading exercises and after being so thoroughly ridiculed i almost found myself on the edge of laughter. it’s just so hard to imagine paying someone your hard earned money to spend two hours of their life with you and help you along and they just verbally destroy you and the efforts your making… well needless the say, the second part of the lesson continued downhill…i’m not sure if it was the unspeakable idiocy of my innocent questions: "does a jazz turnaround work here?" "can i play the 3rd then 7th here?" or the simple fact that i was clearly not a career musician that caused the instructor to start insulting me personally… "you have a serious problem focusing, you should get that checked" "i am too busy to spend time with a student like you" and so on… so, 1 hour and 45 minutes into a two hour lesson, i was basically asked to leave amid a flurry of insults. trying to be the bigger person, i politely paid for the lesson, and offered a handshake…it was reluctantly accepted… now look, i can spend all day bs’ing you about whatever my background is — defending myself — defending the instructor — whatever, but frankly it’s irrelevant…that’s not the point…the point is, i’m just absolutely crushed i guess first off i should be asking: are you guys really learning how to sight read in under 2 months with no background at all? is this type of pathetic elitism common? any thoughts? i swear i’m ready to just give up…nothing like someone basically saying: "i’d rather NOT take your money and just sit around because you’re such a waste of my precious time…" Bleh…
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