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Encourage learners, or 'Tell it like it is'..?

Dad3353

By Dad3353,
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Coilte Proficient

Coilte

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Posted

[quote name='BassTractor' timestamp='1366242793' post='2050158']
Excellent post!



FWIW, from the look of it I don't like what your teacher does. Its intensity would bring me out of balance






[/quote]

To be honest, this thought crossed my mind at the beginning, but I did not want to be seen to be blaming the teacher, which I am not, just making an observation.

I am not a teacher, but to start introducing roman numerals to a pupil four weeks into lessons, seems a bit ambitious IMO. At this stage, a pupil is still getting to grips (or should be, if he is being taught the necessary basics) with learning the notes on the fretboard and such like.

I would also like to give a "plus 1" to the OP for how he conducted himself when replying to criticism.

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4 Strings Proficient

4 Strings

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[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1366110239' post='2048341']
Good afternoon, all...

We all have our own way to reply when we see help being asked by beginners. I would assume that all beginners would have their own reactions to the help proffered.
What, in your opinion or experience, is a good method..? Should one cajole and flatter (Come on lad, I'm sure you can make it...), or instead take a more robust attitude (Blisters..? You call them blisters..? Nah..!..)..?
No fighting, please, but contradictory insight welcome...
[/quote]

I have yet to read through all the posts on this one, but having brought up two boys who, once they've finished their musical degrees, will be in music professionally and I have learnt two important things;

1. They must enjoy playing bass (or whatever it is)
2. There are always higher standards to which they should aspire.

I hate the 'that was very good' when it clearly wasn't. I also hate any negative criticism of people learning.

Affirming good work and positive criticism is the key in my experience. I have found things most satisfying and encouraging when I surprise myself with a good performance so coaxing that out of beginners will help them stick with it.

(Just a note which helped me in bringing up kids, I once asked a dolphin trainer (in Fake Florida!) how she would even start training an animal, she said if the dolphin does things they don't want them to do, they ignore it, but reward them greatly for doing things they did want them to do. It works on a number of levels!)

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timmo Rising Star

timmo

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Thanks all for the great advice and encouragement..Joining this forum has been an astute move on my part :) As i have been on nights and not able to get the practice i wanted, i bought a 10w amp for a tenner and took my Bass to work .I have looked at the homework a bit more methodically, and not as a whole.It is not looking so bad after all the support and encouragement.Luckily there are only 24 frets, so not many roman numerals to learn, and maybe i can easily learn those when i am having my tea or whatever. :happy: Even the one or two negatives have been helpfull, as it has made me more determined to learn.
Free Bird...That was the first song that came into my head, so it is looking good for me, as i have read it is easy(ok, in comparison to a lot of songs i could have picked), so within 4 years, i will be here to tell you i have cracked the Bass line :gas:

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seashell Proficient

seashell

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I too would love to learn Freebird! I know it's a bit of a cliche for some of our friends on here who are sick to death of playing it in coverd bands.
But it is such a classic I would love to do it some day.
I have been playing for 2 years now, so maybe I'm halfway there! I have looked at the sheet music, but it's so bloody long I (temporarily) gave up.
This thread has inspired me to get it out and have another bash at it!
2015, here I come! :D

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MiltyG565 Veteran

MiltyG565

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[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1366309813' post='2050952']
I too would love to learn Freebird! I know it's a bit of a cliche for some of our friends on here who are sick to death of playing it in coverd bands.
But it is such a classic I would love to do it some day.
I have been playing for 2 years now, so maybe I'm halfway there! I have looked at the sheet music, but it's so bloody long I (temporarily) gave up.
This thread has inspired me to get it out and have another bash at it!
2015, here I come! :D
[/quote]

I've been playing for 2 years, and looked at it about 18 months ago :D Before you feel bad, I must declare that I could only manage about 2 bars, even though the start is at 60bpm.

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timmo Rising Star

timmo

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Posted

[quote name='skankdelvar' timestamp='1366231498' post='2050025']
If I can't get my leg over Catherine Southon off Bargain Hunt in the next four years I might give up trying.

I could go on about the restraining order but certain people might think I was whining.
[/quote]

If you are already thinking of quitting, i would stop now and not waste any more of your time. Personally though i would encourage you on this, and tell you to hang in there, and give it more time :gas:

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Dave Vader Proficient

Dave Vader

Posted
Posted

[quote name='seashell' timestamp='1366309813' post='2050952']
I too would love to learn Freebird! I know it's a bit of a cliche for some of our friends on here who are sick to death of playing it in coverd bands.
But it is such a classic I would love to do it some day.
I have been playing for 2 years now, so maybe I'm halfway there! I have looked at the sheet music, but it's so bloody long I (temporarily) gave up.
This thread has inspired me to get it out and have another bash at it!
2015, here I come! :D
[/quote]

G F# E, F C D for ages, then just F C D for ages do that a couple of times then G Bb C for even longer. Try and throw some runs in when you get bored, and you will.

You're welcome.
:)

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peteb Grand Master

peteb

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[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1366314933' post='2051061']
G F# E, F C D for ages, then just F C D for ages do that a couple of times then G Bb C for even longer. Try and throw some runs in when you get bored, and you will.

You're welcome.
:)
[/quote]
You really should give lessons - obviously you were born to be a top bass teacher...!

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Dave Vader Proficient

Dave Vader

Posted
Posted

[quote name='peteb' timestamp='1366377076' post='2051763']
No, seriously - you would be a far better teacher than some others on this thread...
[/quote]

Heh.
I have the patience of an elderly rottweiler being poked with a stick.
Tried to teach my stepson guitar once, and it turns out if they don't get it first time, i can't understand why, and am at a loss to tell them how to get it right. I have no idea "how" you play, never had an instrumental lesson in my life, barring a month of piano when I was ickle. I just hit the things, applying the musical theory I vaguely remember from a month of piano lessons when I was 6, and GCSE music lessons, and noise comes out. People regularly give me money to do this, so I must have got something right.
:)

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KevB Mentor

KevB

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Posted

Re the dreaded Freebird. I vaguely recall singing it in rehearsals for a school band that I never got to gig with but I'm stumped if I can reall ever actually playing it in a band as a bass player. I'm sure I must have noodled along to it on itunes at some time but I don't think I've ever actually sat down to learn it as such. It made me realise that pretty much the only thing that does drive me to learn [i]any[/i] song these days is if I need to know it for a gig or jam session. Need to get more focused and learn some stuff out of my comfort zone.

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Dad3353 Grand Master

Dad3353

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  • Author
Posted (edited)

[quote name='Dave Vader' timestamp='1366378363' post='2051803']...I have no idea "how" you play... I just hit the things...[/quote]

Being able to play, either academically or by your ever-popular 'hit the thing' method, has little bearing, imho, on being able to teach. There are many teachers (whatever the subject...) that would be at a loss to really 'do' the subject they teach, and being proficient at execution does not guarantee pedagogic skills. There used to be a rather cruel Yankee saying, along the lines of 'Those that can, do; those that can't, teach'. Don't try quoting this to a typical college prof; they don't usually feel flattered; don't know why..!
Teaching is a specialised gift (rather vocational, I find, something akin to priesthood...). One has the 'calling', and a good teacher is priceless. Unfortunately, the same old saws seem to be true...
10% of teachers are good.
90% of teachers think themselves to be in that 10%.
Hmmm...
:mellow:

Edited by Dad3353
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xilddx Veteran

xilddx

Posted
Posted

[quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1366379632' post='2051822']
There used to be a rather cruel Yankee saying, along the lines of 'Those that can, do; those that can't, teach'. [/quote]

Typical Yank rubbish. In English it would be 'Those WHO can, do; those WHO can't, teach'. ;)

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xilddx Veteran

xilddx

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I just told it like it is to a fledgling songwriter soliciting opinion on his song in another thread. I was pretty critical but (I thought) encouraging. I copped a couple of slaps in the face by two other members. I feel sh*t now so I won't be doing that again.

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