What Do You Look For In A Teacher?
Question:
> > Curriculum is also a consideration. I believe all musicians should read.
Definitely. I had a student come to me a little while ago ready and eager to be the best bassist out there… He sat down and was trying to show me what he could do cranking up the tone and hitting some random notes. I put a piece of music in front of him and he choked. Put a chord progression in front of him, scores, anything I’d throw at him was useless. Tabs worked if he had a few minutes to count frets… I really believe that any musician (bassists especially) should know the basics of music theory before they even bring their bass to a lesson. My first few bass lessons are always taught to my students on the piano… Peace, Love and Rock’n'Roll, Jeff — "You can learn to sing lead, if you need to be a star, But the only way to groove is on a bass guitar." -Todd Snider
Response:
Well said. I play as a hobbyist and the teacher I’ve found plays regularly at hotels and gigs, so his style and tastes are pretty updated. He’s quite flexible as far as lesson structure is and even recommends music to listen if I need some good recommendations. He reads a lot and is often points out that good technique and timing are essential, and then all the "hot licks" can come later. I find that the most enjoyable time is when I practised hard on the homework. I guess it’s like study. The more conscientious you are, the more you get out of the lesson. Stephen
Response:
In article < – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – > I was looking through the Village Voice in NY making sure my new Bass > Instruction ad was properly placed and with 10 other bass instructors > advertising I started thinking about what makes a great teacher and what > does a student look for in a teacher. > First of all I think there are basically 3 kinds of students: > 1)Aspiring Professionals > 2)Hobbyists how have played for some time > 3)Beginners > I think a great teacher is capable of teaching all 3 kinds of students. > One of the most important qualities of a great teacher is to motivate > his students! This means that when the lesson is finished, the student > leaves with enough work and is excited about a weeks worth of practice. > I think it is also key for the teacher to be available by phone for > questions that might arise during that week. Now this works both ways. > The student should not feel embarrassed about calling and most > importantly should not wait ’til the next lesson to ask the questions. > This slows down the earning process. > Curriculum is also a consideration. I believe all musicians should read. > I also believe that beginners should play first, learn some scales, > arpeggios, lines, etc. before teaching them to read. > Isn’t that how we learned English? > The teacher must be able to gauge the right moment to encourage reading. > Remaining current with modern styles is also important as well as having > a solid background in all music’s of the past. > I think it is equally important for the teacher to be an active > professional performing and recording. This adds an extra dose of > credibility to the instructor plus anecdotes from gigs and sessions are > always appreciated. > Now for my requirements for students: > Commit to at least 8 weeks of study after you decide on a teacher. It is > also helpful to pay in advance for 4 lessons at a specific time each > week. This locks you and the teacher into a routine. Do your homework! > It is a very long hour when the teacher has to go over the previous > lesson because you haven’t done the work. Come prepared with questions. > Nothing thrills me more that a student coming in with pertinent > questions! Talk about music. A teacher is not a therapist. If you are > having problems with a girlfriend, boyfriend, finances, parents, etc. > leave them at the door! > I think this will lead to a great relationship with your instructor and > I would think you will improve dramatically. > What do you think, both students and teachers? > David Gross > "The Harmonic Colours for Bass" > www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/7773
Yup David, Very good points you got there. I once read an interview with Marcus Miller where he says the same thing, we learn to talk and even sing before we learn to read and write. One think I like to tell beginers (huh! as if I were some kind of veteran) is what Pastorius once said, start playing with the melody, pick up a record you like and try playing what the vocalist is singing, go through the high tones, low tones, get the swing (I still do that with Sarah Vaughan’s records, or Miles Davis Trumpet) and if you have some time, then go """"play"""" as per (having some fun) with your piano and the scores. (is like starting with a picture book, The Pig was scared o the Wolf, etc etc) I for one, tend to show better results when under pressure, so I remember when my first teacher laughed till he pee in his pants when I asked him "C’mon, if I make a mistake grab a whip and slap me will ya!" peace Mario Treglia Bassist/Music Promoter Tokyo/JAPAN
Response:
I was looking through the Village Voice in NY making sure my new Bass Instruction ad was properly placed and with 10 other bass instructors advertising I started thinking about what makes a great teacher and what does a student look for in a teacher. First of all I think there are basically 3 kinds of students: 1)Aspiring Professionals 2)Hobbyists how have played for some time 3)Beginners I think a great teacher is capable of teaching all 3 kinds of students. One of the most important qualities of a great teacher is to motivate his students! This means that when the lesson is finished, the student leaves with enough work and is excited about a weeks worth of practice. I think it is also key for the teacher to be available by phone for questions that might arise during that week. Now this works both ways. The student should not feel embarrassed about calling and most importantly should not wait ’til the next lesson to ask the questions. This slows down the earning process. Curriculum is also a consideration. I believe all musicians should read. I also believe that beginners should play first, learn some scales, arpeggios, lines, etc. before teaching them to read. Isn’t that how we learned English? The teacher must be able to gauge the right moment to encourage reading. Remaining current with modern styles is also important as well as having a solid background in all music’s of the past. I think it is equally important for the teacher to be an active professional performing and recording. This adds an extra dose of credibility to the instructor plus anecdotes from gigs and sessions are always appreciated. Now for my requirements for students: Commit to at least 8 weeks of study after you decide on a teacher. It is also helpful to pay in advance for 4 lessons at a specific time each week. This locks you and the teacher into a routine. Do your homework! It is a very long hour when the teacher has to go over the previous lesson because you haven’t done the work. Come prepared with questions. Nothing thrills me more that a student coming in with pertinent questions! Talk about music. A teacher is not a therapist. If you are having problems with a girlfriend, boyfriend, finances, parents, etc. leave them at the door! I think this will lead to a great relationship with your instructor and I would think you will improve dramatically. What do you think, both students and teachers? David Gross "The Harmonic Colours for Bass" www.geocities.com/SunsetStrip/Venue/7773
Response:
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