Having a tutor

[timmo]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1490924497' post='3269124']
I get the one on one value. But can't guys learn pretty much any aspect of playing bass with all the on-line offerings and YouTube clips?

Blue
[/quote] Probably. I use a teacher for structure. I lack motivation for pretty much anything I do and give up from frustration. I know I am paying for lessons, so it makes me more determined. I would probably have packed up as I am no natural.

[Thunderbird]

I had a tutor for a while and it was a waste of time and money all he did was get his bass out and show off playing solo parts and then at the end of the lesson asked if there was a song I wanted to learn and then printed the tab off the internet for me to learn until the next week I gave up after about a month he was a great player but a sh*t teacher If I did it again I think a proper tutor would be great

[Grangur]

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1490948842' post='3269241']
I had a tutor for a while and it was a waste of time and money all he did was get his bass out and show off playing solo parts and then at the end of the lesson asked if there was a song I wanted to learn and then printed the tab off the internet for me to learn until the next week I gave up after about a month he was a great player but a sh*t teacher If I did it again I think a proper tutor would be great
[/quote]
I guess it depends on your geography, but it seems there's a lot of guitar teachers who like to try their arm at bass and you need to "kiss a lot of frogs". The trouble is, at £26+/- a shot, it gets expensive.

To be honest, I do think a lot of my "problem" has been me not being clear in communicating what I want. I've fallen into the trap of expecting the tutor to know what I want.

Edited March 31, 2017 by Grangur

[bassjim]

[quote name='Thunderbird' timestamp='1490948842' post='3269241']
I had a tutor for a while and it was a waste of time and money all he did was get his bass out and show off playing solo parts and then at the end of the lesson asked if there was a song I wanted to learn and then printed the tab off the internet for me to learn until the next week I gave up after about a month he was a great player but a sh*t teacher If I did it again I think a proper tutor would be great
[/quote]
This guy shouldn't be teaching.
To be fair when I was younger in my 20s, thanks to some ego expanding compliments from audience members in a pub, I'd self elevated myself to the role of "bass tutor". Maybe this fits your old "bass tutor"?
Makes me cringe now considering how little I knew then compared to what theory knowledge I have now. Even more so when I remember being asked if I could join a function band doing Butlins and the like. Once all the written notation, change of key on the spot signals, "on that minor run we change it to a major so the segway works..ect"was presented to me....
I'd been playing in covers and original bands with great success without knowing simple things like where an Eb was on the fretboard for years no problem but when it came to communicating with these guys and anyone on their level the game was up.

I still get asked if I teach on occasion but these days I'm fully aware that although I could pass on a thing or two and can recommend various routes to take, I'm not really qualified. I usually decline or offer more of an advice session than actually pass on the srcambled way I have deconstructed and reconstructed it in my brain.
I will always recommend someone I know when asked though and always tell what I think is important to aim for.
I think theory wise the sooner you get on with it the better. Its hard at first but it soon falls into place and then the skies the limit.
For the modes ect could be a piano teacher. Doesn't need to be bass, although there are some obvious advantages to this, but if there are no accessible bass tutors then could be an alternative.

For online Scotts bass lessons look good too.

[Coilte]

[quote name='blue' timestamp='1490924497' post='3269124']
can't guys learn pretty much any aspect of playing bass with all the on-line offerings and YouTube clips?
Blue
[/quote]

No doubt that Youtube is an amazing resource. However IMO for someone starting from ground zero it is often hard to know where to start. The trouble with Youtube in this case is that most lessons are "one off's", where nothing comes before or after. Beginners often just pick something that takes their fancy, and by doing so might be jumping in at the deep end. Nothing wrong here, but in order to make progress it is best for lessons to run chronologically, i.e. where lessons start basic and builds on what went before. I think YT comes into it's own when a beginner has the basics under his belt. Then he can afford to pick and choose clips and will get better benefit from them.

The other negative with Youtube and beginners is that obviously the Internet cannot observe and advise on a beginner's technique.

[leftybassman392]

[quote name='Coilte' timestamp='1490960529' post='3269406']
The other negative with Youtube and beginners is that obviously the Internet cannot observe and advise on a beginner's technique.
[/quote]

...or indeed anything else the student might have an issue with. As you said, a useful resource but don't lose sight of its limitations. Part of what you pay for with a professional tutor is their ability to analyse and offer solutions to [b]your[/b] problems, and more generally to help [b]you[/b] optimise your learning (and hence your playing).

[Staggering on]

Some lessons are done via Skype which means it is a live two way interactive session.The student can see and hear the instructor and he can watch and listen to the student.I haven't done it but apparently it is very effective and about as close to face to face as you can get.Anybody on here tried it?
I'm in Canada and I don't know if this is a thing that only happens on this side of the Atlantic.

Edited March 31, 2017 by Staggering on

[Skybone]

I admit it, I should know more than I do, but never really have done much about it.

Other than having some friends showing me bits'n'bobs through the years, I'm pretty much self taught. I had one formal lesson many, many years ago which was a catastrophic failure, so never really sought out anymore. Maybe if I'd had more formal lessons, maybe I would be better than I am, but there again, maybe if I had, I'd still think I should know more.

[Grangur]

My Bro in Law is a cello teacher. I'm at his house atm. He's got someone coming here shortly for an "audition".
What's that?
It's where a prospective pupil comes for a chat to see if their aims are likely to be met with the teacher. It's FOC and if works both ways.

Does this ever happen in the world of bass?

[oldslapper]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1491037162' post='3269990']
My Bro in Law is a cello teacher. I'm at his house atm. He's got someone coming here shortly for an "audition".
What's that?
It's where a prospective pupil comes for a chat to see if their aims are likely to be met with the teacher. It's FOC and if works both ways.

Does this ever happen in the world of bass?
[/quote]

I stopped teaching 3 years ago, but when I was tutoring, my first 30 minutes were always a free "meet & greet". Also an opportunity to find out what the prospective students aspirations were, and equally important, they had the opportunity to ask questions about what to expect. I could then start to plan lessons accordingly if we both agreed to continue.
I felt it was only fair that I took someone's (or a parents) hard earned cash only when they were in an instrument lesson. So yes it does or did happen in the world of bass.

Edited April 1, 2017 by oldslapper

[Bobthedog]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1491037162' post='3269990']
My Bro in Law is a cello teacher. I'm at his house atm. He's got someone coming here shortly for an "audition".
What's that?
It's where a prospective pupil comes for a chat to see if their aims are likely to be met with the teacher. It's FOC and if works both ways.

Does this ever happen in the world of bass?
[/quote]

I have had three auditions (30 mins for free as the first session) for a tutor. One was immediatedly dismissed as not being suitable for me from a personality angle, the other two were fine. Yes it does happen and should happen, even though I have no problem paying for the first session either.

Edited April 1, 2017 by Bobthedog

[Grangur]

[quote name='Bobthedog' timestamp='1491041250' post='3270025']
I have had three auditions (30 mins for free as the first session) for a tutor. One was immediatedly dismissed as not being suitable for me from a personality angle, the other two were fine. Yes it does happen and should happen, even though I have no problem paying for the first session either.
[/quote]
My comment isn't really about the money angle. I'm really thinking more about the benefit of actually sitting and talking about objectives and chemistry.

[oldslapper]

[quote name='Grangur' timestamp='1491046809' post='3270119']

My comment isn't really about the money angle. I'm really thinking more about the benefit of actually sitting and talking about objectives and chemistry.
[/quote]

This conversation should be regularly reviewed too imho

[mikel]

If you tutor as a business there is no reason at all why you should not be asking your "customers" If they are getting what they want from the lessons. And you should be reviewing there progress, If its not where you think it should be you can always ask why? Is it you, the tutor at fault, or are they struggling to find time to put in the practice needed to move on to the next lesson? It never hurts to ask, and it shows you are interested in more than just taking the money.

Edited April 1, 2017 by mikel

[Ashweb]

The pupil / tutor relationship can work both ways.

I've just heard from my Skype tutor, and I'm in trouble.
When I first met her, she was into jazz and funk mainly; she informs me she's just joined a Ska Punk band and blames me entirely for leading her astray and introducing her to The Sex Pistols (music of, not the band members).

This makes me feel goooood. :-)

[Dood]

[quote name='Ashweb' timestamp='1491243960' post='3271544']
The pupil / tutor relationship can work both ways.

I've just heard from my Skype tutor, and I'm in trouble.
When I first met her, she was into jazz and funk mainly; she informs me she's just joined a Ska Punk band and blames me entirely for leading her astray and introducing her to The Sex Pistols (music of, not the band members).

This makes me feel goooood. :-)
[/quote]

Yes!!! For my own selfish pleasures, I get students to bring me songs they want to learn, so I get new music on a regular basis!

[Steve Woodcock]

I have studied music/bass playing both academically and privately and can honestly say that I learned far more from my private tutors than on my degree course.

As a tutor myself it frustrates me to read the stories on here of bad teachers but sadly there are people purporting to be instrument tutors who simply lack the knowledge, experience and necessary personal skills to actually [i]teach, [/i]unfortunately this may only become apparent after you have a few lessons under your belt but you have no obligation to stay with someone who isn't teaching you properly - there are many great teachers out there and with the advent of Skype lessons geography is no longer the restriction it once was.

The wealth of learning material available to us now, be it in print or online, is overwhelming and I personally would find it incredibly difficult to focus and forge a path of study - and more crucially [i]stick to it - [/i]with so many options and opinions vying for my attention. Therefore, even though we have more information than ever at our fingertips, I believe the guidance of a good tutor to still be the best way to progress.

[louisthebass]

Having a good teacher is worth it's weight in Gold (imo). I've been fortunate enough to have had a lot of good bass tuition over the years, but I think I only really started to "learn how to learn" (if that makes any sense) in the last 5 years.

I would say that it's important to be taught by either a tutor who specialises in bass only, or a tutor who really knows their onions about music harmony and theory and all the other associated stuff. It's also important to invest time in working on stuff yourself and really being focused on what you're doing.

[AdamWoodBass]

Years ago I was tutored by Geoff Chalmers who I believe still frequents this forum, he's also part of the Scott's Bass Academy and a phenomenal player.

He was the guy who really taught me the importance of getting your head around harmony, my playing massively improved as a result and I still practice some of the stuff he taught me to keep my chops in shape.

Having a tutor who is passionate and ambitious as a player is really beneficial because that ambition gets transferred to the student in the lesson. Also being able to demonstrate to a student the tutors own musical struggle is helpful because it shows that they might be better than you but they're still human and they can still relate to the frustrations of practicing something over and over again. I remember Geoff showing me his progress on learning Donna Lee, he was struggling with some of the fingering but was really determined to get it nailed. Doubtless he can play it in his sleep now but it really inspired me to work hard on my playing.

[josie]

I muddled about for a while with Hal Leonard and YouTube, but got nowhere.

My tutor, Andy, is a guitar player, not a bass player - and doesn't gig much - but he understands bass, and my love of gigging, and is passionate about understanding his students' goals and helping us towards achieving them. I'm very lucky to have found someone who I work well with and learn effectively from in normal times, who has adapted and supported me through emotional and physical trauma over the past two years with great flexibility and imagination. Eight months ago when I couldn't reach my left hand past the 12th fret of a bass, he simply used our lessons on ear training, which I did badly need. I would have given up without him.

That said, I've been lucky enough to have worked with Steve Amadeo, a fine pro bass player (Aynsley Lister, Ash Wilson) and have learned things from him that Andy just doesn't know.

My life, and my bass playing, are utterly the better for both of them.

[GeorgeLawton94]

On 31/03/2017 at 08:57, timmo said:

I get the one on one value. But can't guys learn pretty much any aspect of playing bass with all the on-line offerings and YouTube clips?

Blue

Probably. I use a teacher for structure. I lack motivation for pretty much anything I do and give up from frustration. I know I am paying for lessons, so it makes me more determined. I would probably have packed up as I am no natural.

"But can't guys learn pretty much any aspect of playing bass with all the on-line offerings and YouTube clips"
Well thats about most silly and naive thing to say on a bass forum. 

Find the right teacher and go the the right gigs and this'll soon change your stance there.