mikenichols

I've got a question for the orchestral specialists. If you see a a fast legato run, e.g semiquavers at 180 how do you approach it? Seems that ascending runs are better with an up bow and vice versa. At that tempo would you attempt to finger every note. Or would you cheat by changing notes so they fall under the fingers, or gliss on one finger? Seems that at that tempo the notes won't be that distinct anyway and the most important things is to make a strong consistent sound that starts and finsihes on the right pitch.

Hey there bass folk, if anyone's interested I've just updated my site with seven new bass compositions - recorded with my good friend and great drummer Stu Roberts. There are charts for all the tunes, free to download on the transcriptions page (which has lots of other good stuff as well). I hope you enjoy them - and if you're a reasonably experienced player looking for a teacher check out the private lessons section, I have some availability at the moment. The link is [url="http://www.mike-nichols.co.uk/mike-s-tunes"]http://www.mike-nichols.co.uk/mike-s-tunes[/url]

I just put some new stuff on my site if you're interested. There's a transcription of the Beatles 'Day In The Life', a metal technique exercise and a new article 'The Eight Common Mistakes Bass Students Make'. Loads more content on the site, and details of my private teaching. I'm at www.mikenichols.co.uk

Hey folks, I just put some new stuff on my site if you're interested. There's a transcription of the Beatles 'Day In The Life', a metal technique exercise and a new article 'The Eight Common Mistakes Bass Students Make' I'm at www.mikenichols.co.uk

Check my site www.mikenichols.co.uk There's lots of info - and you can hear some examples of me demonstrating slap technique on the classic bass sounds and tunes pages I'm based in Guildford, so maybe a bit out of your way, but well worth the trip! - imo

Thanks for all the feedback. And apologies to those whose browsers wouldn't open the article, I've added it as a PDF download at www. mikenichols.co.uk now There were quite a few comments from people who hadn't read the article, or not all of it, so let me clarify a few points. First the 10,000 hrs was for rank and file orchestral players, not virtuosos. I explain in the article that certain types of musicians including virtuosos have to do even more hours to master their art. Also I explain why it is a myth that contemporary music is somehow easier or takes less hours to master than classical music. Of course you can be in a band with a fairly limited skill set, but I'm talking about having a career as a player, you need a wide skill set to survive for forty years in the business. And yes of course the hours have to be spent wisely, I have plenty to say about that as well. Anyway I hope you find it interesting, right I'm off to do some practice:)

I've just put a new article 'How to become a musician' on my website. I'm hoping some of you will find this interesting, especially if you're seriously working on your playing or you have kids learning an instrument. Please let me know your thoughts! It's at [url="http://www.mikenichols.co.uk"]http://www.mikenichols.co.uk[/url] You'll also find loads of audio and transcriptions to download there. Hope you enjoy it.

Ah, nice to see my old transcription doing the rounds - I remember doing this when I was studying at the Guildhall in 1997. If anyone spots any mistakes let me know!

Hi, my new site is now up and running. It's full of free educational content - audio, charts, reviews etc Come and have a look - [url="http://www.mikenichols.co.uk"]www.mikenichols.co.uk[/url]

Hi, I hear what you're saying about finding your inner voice, it takes years! I think you have to break the process down into stages: 1. You have to have enough technical facility to say what you want to say - this is mechanics, fingering system, posture, muscle memory for scales etc 2. You have to learn chord scale relationships until they are completely automatic and subconscious. 3. You have to learn licks/vocabulary - really you have to listen a lot to the people you want to be influenced by, transcribe them, learn their lines - essentially fill your mental hard drive with all the sounds you want to make 4.To improvize effectively you have to learn to be relaxed and focussed in the moment, so that nothing gets in the way of your train of thought. The other thing that I've become more aware of as I've got older is really simple: You've got to have really good time - that's one of the things that separates world class players from say, the top players in London - it's really simple but there it is - they just play more in time. When you go through the educational process it can sometimes feel clinical, like it stifles your creativity rather than helping it. That's quite normal - at some point you have to get out of 'student mode' and just start doing things instinctively again - but all those years of study will have transformed you. If you're still looking for some tuition check out my site www.mikenichols.co.uk All the best Mike

I'm currently taking on private students. Only taking serious/experienced players. I'm based in Guildford. For further details of my credentials, facilities etc check my site: [url="http://www.mikenichols.co.uk"]www.mikenichols.co.uk[/url]

[quote name='BigBeatNut' post='500503' date='May 29 2009, 01:29 AM']Have you checked Bob Gollihur's site ? Not used it myself but I'm pretty sure he ships to the U.K. [url="http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product_details.cfm?ProdID=1265"]http://www.gollihurmusic.com/product_details.cfm?ProdID=1265[/url] Andy[/quote] Thanks I'll check it out