I have to give my first lesson...where to start?

[Apendecto]

I've never taken bass lessons before and I'm going to give my first one later tonight.

 

I have a problem with people paying a lot of money just to learn songs, so I'd hate to do that. Also every lesson I've had with guitar and viola they start off so boring that you don't want to continue. Things like this is E, E, E, E, E... Or a bunch of scales.

 

When I started I learned all of some Rage cd that I was into at that time and then learned a bunch of scales, what notes I was playing, learning the neck, etc. after that.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks.

 

Yo.

[ZedsDead]

My first lesson is a "get to know you" session where I attempt to determine:

 

A) What style of music they like.

B) Knowledge of Theory.

C) Sight-Reading competency.

 

I try to tailor my teaching towards the students interests, which is to say, I incorporate genre-specific techniques into the lessons. In the end, every student is going to learn the same thing but my focus for techique is determined by their interests.

[thelurker]

Show them "The Gates of Delerium". State that once they can play it, they're ready for the next lesson.

[bassplayer7770]

Yep, get to know them first.

 

The first thing my ex-teacher had me work on was my right-hand technique and some basic musical exercises such as scales, arpeggios, and inversions. Upon finding out I had always played mostly rock, he gave me music to learn in different genres to help me become a more well-rounded player. I learned songs by Aretha, James Brown, Tower of Power, and even moved on to learn some Jazz (and how to improvise). He gave me some info to help me practice my Slap technique as well.

 

Everything I did during lessons was done playing with a metronome. Especially when I got into Jazz, he would often set the metronome to "beep" on beats 2 and 4.

[One Bad Monkey]

 

Originally posted by ZedsDead My first lesson is a "get to know you" session where I attempt to determine: A) What style of music they like. B) Knowledge of Theory. C) Sight-Reading competency. I try to tailor my teaching towards the students interests, which is to say, I incorporate genre-specific techniques into the lessons. In the end, every student is going to learn the same thing but my focus for techique is determined by their interests.

 

 

+1

 

The first lesson I used to give was a little simpler (most of my students had just purchased a bass and had no prior knowledge whatsoever). I found out the kinds of music they liked, and then flat out told them that while I wouldn't teach them how to play songs, I would give them the tools to be able to learn how to play those songs by themselves.

 

The exceptions would be when a song they liked actually tied in well with something we were learning. That way it stuck more, because you were teaching them the tools and how they relate in the music world. And from there, go at whatever speed/pace is condusive to the student excelling.

[wishful1]

Learning music is a discipline. Learning to play bass is just one small part of learning music.

 

I agree with you. Taking too much of the fun factor out is going to cause a lot of potential musicians to quit before they get started.

 

Having someone memorize scales and such is meaningless unless the student is taught how playing a scale relates to playing a song.

 

I would suggest making theory a part of the lessons but not such a big part that the student gets bored and quits.

 

How do you do that? Because I don't know how, I don't give lessons. If you can figure out how to do that you will have truly became a teacher.

 

There are teachers and there are doers. Sometimes one can be both. Hopefully you are the latter.

 

The very best wishes for you.

[LO_RYDER]

 

Originally posted by Apendecto I've never taken bass lessons before and I'm going to give my first one later tonight. I have a problem with people paying a lot of money just to learn songs, so I'd hate to do that. Also every lesson I've had with guitar and viola they start off so boring that you don't want to continue. Things like this is E, E, E, E, E... Or a bunch of scales. When I started I learned all of some Rage cd that I was into at that time and then learned a bunch of scales, what notes I was playing, learning the neck, etc. after that. Any suggestions? Thanks. Yo.

 

 

Seems like you would have put together a plan ...before now. Are you charging $ for this??

[someotherguy]

Are you giving a lesson to a total beginner, relative beginner, or intermediate student??

[Apendecto]

I've never seen him play and he bought his bass a few (no more than 6 months ago). He's said that he's learned a few songs by tab like Iron man, Seven Nation Army etc.

 

He also said that he'd like to know where the notes are on the neck, which leads me to think that he doesn't know much.

 

My plan so far (I have a basic one, but am curious to see what you think, not to get jumped on for not having one) is to help him with some of the problems I've had and I've seen with a lot of beginners.

 

I've got a few riffs/warm up exersizes that use your pinky a lot as well as the other fingers.

 

The good side is he can play violin pretty well. The bad side is I can't read music. The good side is I've been teaching (Math, swimming, etc.) for 10 years now and have the basics of teaching. Bad news is I've never had a bass lesson.

 

Thanks for your suggestions.

 

Yo.

[bassplayer7770]

Originally posted by Apendecto He's said that he's learned a few songs by tab like Seven Nation Army

 

A song without bass ought to be pretty easy to learn...

[Apendecto]

Originally posted by bassplayer7770 A song without bass ought to be pretty easy to learn...

 

Fair.

 

Yo.

[someotherguy]

 

Originally posted by Apendecto I've never seen him play and he bought his bass a few (no more than 6 months ago). He's said that he's learned a few songs by tab like Iron man, Seven Nation Army etc. He also said that he'd like to know where the notes are on the neck, which leads me to think that he doesn't know much. My plan so far (I have a basic one, but am curious to see what you think, not to get jumped on for not having one) is to help him with some of the problems I've had and I've seen with a lot of beginners. I've got a few riffs/warm up exersizes that use your pinky a lot as well as the other fingers. The good side is he can play violin pretty well. The bad side is I can't read music. The good side is I've been teaching (Math, swimming, etc.) for 10 years now and have the basics of teaching. Bad news is I've never had a bass lesson. Thanks for your suggestions. Yo.

 

 

It sounds to me like you are well prepared. With your preparation and teaching experience, you should be able to adjust lesson to lesson quite well. Should be fun eventually.

 

I'd find out what he knows about music from violin and try to apply that to bass. I would go into the lessons (at least the second one) with fretboard maps and tab sheets. Assignments to fill out the notes on the fretboard on the sheet with cheats (octave tricks, tuning, etc.) should help. If he knows half/whole steps and how they apply to notes (A,B,C...) on violin, he should pick up quickly.

 

to be continued...

[Apendecto]

 

Originally posted by someotherguy I'd find out what he knows about music from violin and try to apply that to bass. I would go into the lessons (at least the second one) with fretboard maps and tab sheets. Assignments to fill out the notes on the fretboard on the sheet with cheats (octave tricks, tuning, etc.) should help. If he knows half/whole steps and how they apply to notes (A,B,C...) on violin, he should pick up quickly.

 

 

That's good. I will print off some sheets.

 

Thanks.

Yo.

[One Bad Monkey]

The only problem I can foresee with his violin background (and this is from firsthand experience), is that since the strings are completely backwards, it may cause a pretty decent problem for him. Just something to be aware of.

 

And also, since teaching is learning twice, when you're showing him bass clef (so he can read that, since that'll also be a mind-bender for him from treble), you can learn too.

[someotherguy]

continued from above.

 

Teach from your strengths. If he wants to learn bass clef reading later, he can find another teacher.

 

I'd also start with a maj & min scale so you can show him how to use it later.

 

Giving him licks that he can use in a lot of situations it great. Shapes to move from key to key. Builds some improvising skills w/o throwing him in the deep end. My teacher started me w/12 bar blues first & just kept adding options & ideas to it week by week, playing guitar over my basslines.

 

I like the input about tailoring lessons to the type of music he likes, but also stretching him a bit.

 

Keep in mind, I've never given lessons though.

[bassthumpintwin]

assuming he's like a lot of "self-beginners", he may have poor technique, ie, he doesnt know how to fret properly, hold the bass correctly, poor picking technique.....

 

first and foremost i'd make sure he can make a decent sound on the thing.....

 

you say he's decent at violin though, so none of this may be that much of an issue.....

 

i know that i just started giving a guy lessons a few months ago.... he hadnt played a bass before in his life.... so i had to teach him how to hold it, pluck it, fret it....etc..... he still has a few minor kinks to work out, but i'm working with him....

 

his biggest issue was a lack of "dexterity" if you could call it that.... ie, he couldnt stretch very well, and he couldnt pedal very well.... so i assigned him a series of excersises that I thought would increase his "stretchability" and work on his fingerstyle, and he has improved considerably....

 

if the dude already has a grasp on theory and technique, i say just find out what he wants to learn or where his weak spots are and attack those for now.....

 

if he says "teach me how to play Donna Lee" (while this depicts very excellent taste) i'd say what a few others have said.... dont teach him the song, equip him to learn it himself.