Owen Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 I have run into this before, but this one has beaten me. I have tried standing up and dancing with him. I have tried grabbing his foot and making it work on the pulse. I have given him basic drum tracks. Nothing is working, He is completely Disco-lexic (Copyright Happy Jack). Any ideas? Quote
Grangur Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Like the "Disco-lexic" but joking aside, Mrs G is dyslexic and dyspraxic to some degree and her daughter is even more so. Apparently, these conditions do make it hard for them to feel a beat. Mrs G was telling me she simply doesn't "feel" it. This is why when dancing she will "do the movements", but simply can not "feel" the beat at all. Maybe this is why she plays the piano. She dreads anyone asking her to play to a metronome. She's played for over 30 years and still can't play to a beat. She's getting better through hearing me do it, but It's taking time. Quote
Owen Posted October 9, 2017 Author Posted October 9, 2017 I am dyspraxic so get the whole some things just not happening. I have a nasty feeling that this is a hopeless case but I just do not like giving up. Quote
Grangur Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Have you asked him what is it about the bass that makes them want to play? Is it the tone, groove etc? Does he want to play in a band? If he doesn't want to play in a band, then maybe playing melodic pieces will fill his desires? That's what I play. I'm happy. Quote
Dood Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Can the student clap in time to a metronome? Quote
Dad3353 Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Have a look here..? [url="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjy3MSu7uPWAhUHVRQKHTBMDW0QrAIIPigCMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abrsm.org%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Fshowtopic%3D47224&usg=AOvVaw1Z4Iq1P1oURX8K3JAFRqcT"]Pupils with weak rhythm ...[/url] Some decent advice, and a few tools and tips ... Hope this helps. Quote
Cato Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Electro shock therapy. Every time he loses his rhythm hit him with the cattle prod. He'll soon learn. Quote
wateroftyne Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Is there a possibility that he's just not cut out for this music lark? Quote
Owen Posted October 9, 2017 Author Posted October 9, 2017 [quote name='dood' timestamp='1507563190' post='3386365'] Can the student clap in time to a metronome? [/quote] Yes. And then no. Far out. Quote
Owen Posted October 9, 2017 Author Posted October 9, 2017 [quote name='Dad3353' timestamp='1507563628' post='3386369'] Have a look here..? [url="https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjy3MSu7uPWAhUHVRQKHTBMDW0QrAIIPigCMAE&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.abrsm.org%2Fforum%2Findex.php%3Fshowtopic%3D47224&usg=AOvVaw1Z4Iq1P1oURX8K3JAFRqcT"]Pupils with weak rhythm ...[/url] Some decent advice, and a few tools and tips ... Hope this helps. [/quote] Thanks, I will have a look. Quote
Owen Posted October 9, 2017 Author Posted October 9, 2017 [quote name='Cato' timestamp='1507565784' post='3386381'] Electro shock therapy. Every time he loses his rhythm hit him with the cattle prod. He'll soon learn. [/quote] It has already crossed my mind........ Quote
Owen Posted October 9, 2017 Author Posted October 9, 2017 [quote name='wateroftyne' timestamp='1507565927' post='3386383'] Is there a possibility that he's just not cut out for this music lark? [/quote] That has also already crossed my mind! Quote
leftybassman392 Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 I had one of these once. I did everything you've tried and more. He was a really nice lad too; very bright, highly motivated and worked really hard at it - which made the decision to call time all the more difficult for him, his dad and me. I hated admitting defeat with any student, and in a 15-year teaching career he was one of only two students I had to do this with. I felt terrible about it but in the end there was really no other option - at least not one that I found. Hope you find a solution. If you do, be sure to let us know how you did it. Quote
NancyJohnson Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Rhythm deaf? Like Adam Clayton? *Now, now, before you go shooting off, I'm being sarcastic. It was in fact Mr Bono who said, 'Adam can't even clap in time,' and I just have a tendency to agree with him. Quote
Burns-bass Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 I always used to use the Josquin de Pres sight reading for bass book. It’s a really great way to learn rhythm and sub-division. It takes dedications (a few 5 minute practices every day) but progress is very quick. Worth a try at least. Quote
DaveFry Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 The cattle prod method ( punishment for unwanted behaviour ) is not as effective in the long run as the Reward Good Behaviour And Discourage Unwanted Behaviour by Ignoring It method . Try the Reward With Fish method :- [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yS6qU_w3JQ[/media] Quote
Woodinblack Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 [quote name='DaveFry' timestamp='1507582657' post='3386595'] Try the Reward With Fish method :- [/quote] Excellent - need to go and buy some fish Quote
la bam Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Try finding out his favourite song, and getting him to play/clap along with that. Thatd be the best starting point as he should know that piece of music better than any other. Quote
KingBollock Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 [quote name='NancyJohnson' timestamp='1507577642' post='3386519'] Rhythm deaf? Like Adam Clayton? *Now, now, before you go shooting off, I'm being sarcastic. It was in fact Mr Bono who said, 'Adam can't even clap in time,' and I just have a tendency to agree with him. [/quote] Perhaps he's just reluctant because Bono has told him that everytime he does it, a kid in Africa dies? Quote
OliverBlackman Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 For a few years rhythm was the weakest part of my playing, until a tutor showed me counting the subdivisions using “1e+a”. After a lot of work and repetition, my rhythmic pulse is now stronger than my harmonic knowledge. I don’t think anyone is not cut out for music, you just need the right tutor and to be inspired to play. Learning to read music is also a big part of learning rhythm. Quote
Bobthedog Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 Just for the record and despite what some may say; I am not the student in the OP Quote
bubinga5 Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 (edited) When do you say. Your not musical, sorry I can't teach you. ?. That must be so difficult as a teacher. My dad has had to turn (as harsh as it sounds) kids/parents away because some ears/minds just are not geared for music. No matter how much money is given to you as a teacher, it must be a little disheartening for all parties. Edited October 9, 2017 by bubinga5 Quote
Gareth Hughes Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 One thing I've found that has helped pupils who previously couldn't grasp anything other than playing a single note on every beat, was to have them count out loud the beats - 1234 - for every bar and then clap the rhythm. Start of with quavers on beat one, or three, or wherever - something relatively simple, and then start introducing other groupings of rhythms. A great book to help with this is 'Improve Your Sightreading - Double Bass grades 1-5 by Paul Harris. It has excellent exercises that help you see where the rhythms lie on top of the beats. Quote
The Jaywalker Posted October 9, 2017 Posted October 9, 2017 (edited) . Edited November 28, 2017 by The Jaywalker Quote
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