General Music Chat

so for the longest time i never gave lessons to beginners. my attitude was always "ok, come back after you've been playing awhile". but awhile back i started hearing from quite a few folks in their 40's and 50's who never played but at that point in their life decided "hey, i wanna DO THIS!".....and for whatever reason that really appeals to me. i feel that takes real balls and chutzpah to go after something like that at that point (or later) in life. i have to say that working w some of these "beginners" has been most rewarding and enjoyable for me.

anyway, a cpl mos ago i have this guy contact me about "dobro lessons". he had seen an ad i have up on c-list for bass lessons and liked what i had written. http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/muc/3354334166.html

he contacts me and asks if i'd consider giving him dobro lessons. here's the thing...he's 72 yrs old and never played an instrument in his life but it's something he's always wanted to do!

now....there's no way in the world i can't give this guy a shot. i mean that kind of balls and adventuressness is to be encouraged and rewarded! so he's starts taking lessons driving 50 min each way to my place twice a week for 60 min lessons, man he's fired up! what he refers to as dobro is actually round neck resonator and he's interested in playing blues.

problem is he has some nerve damage to his left arm and has a lot of trouble getting the proper angles to the dangles. he starts getting frustrated and begins wondering if he's ever gonna be able to make it work even tho i've assured him "you're just starting out and that's a difficult time for EVERYONE". so, fast fwd a little.....he becomes more frustrated and down on himself while also blaming his physical limitations. so...next step...we start playing w the reso in his lap. it's an AHA! moment and epiphany for him and he's loving it...til he sees some of those same liabilities pop up re his range of mobility.

fast fwd to last wk's lesson...."hey mark is it hard to play bass?" i hand him one of my J basses and he's a little kid in a candy store! today we did our first "bass lesson" and we're both thinking yeah...this is it.

I went to a songwriters group held at a local music school 2 years ago and was surprised by the number of 40-50 year-olds who were there, just learning their instruments. Of course at that age, you can set your goals and schedules better than as a kid/teenager.

I went to a songwriters group held at a local music school 2 years ago and was surprised by the number of 40-50 year-olds who were there, just learning their instruments. Of course at that age, you can set your goals and schedules better than as a kid/teenager.

true that. and this guy is retired. so he has no excuse for not practicing!

I have a hard time teaching newbies, mostly because the beginning student rarely does his/her homework and I end up teaching the same lesson over again. Not to mention I would need at least $50 an hour just so it's not a total waste of my time.

I have a hard time teaching newbies, mostly because the beginning student rarely does his/her homework and I end up teaching the same lesson over again. Not to mention I would need at least $50 an hour just so it's not a total waste of my time.

How can you teach anyone Jimmy when it is a TOTAL waste of your Highness's time? God you are one Arrogant BASTARD!

I find it hard to help total beginners myself, cause they just frustrate me.

I did teach beginning bass at this girls rock school for two years, it was a hoot, had these girls from 9-15 who had never played anything before, I think I spent more time teaching them all the rock moves and how to look cool than actually play, but it was a lot fo fun.

But I couldnt do this on a regular basis no matter what anyone paid me, not being arrogant, just would get old real quick.

I Cant stand teaching anymore... But then again I couldnt sit, teaching anymore, too.

I think teaching might be fun,
but teaching guitar requires that I learn a load of tunes I wouldn't listen to otherwise

I think teaching might be fun,
but teaching guitar requires that I learn a load of tunes I wouldn't listen to otherwise

nah...it all depends on how you approach it. give someone a fish..or teach 'em to fish.

I do not give guitar lessons anymore, but I had my pushcart nicely stocked this past Wednesday at Buffalo Mo. swap meet with a Yamaha Model SE250 (among other trinkets and collectibles) with a Floyd Rose - like bridge w/ microtuners and lock nut priced at $125.00 to keep the cash flow going and struck up a conversation with an older gentlemen who supposedly "collected musical instruments" LOL, beechin about how I had my Hohner gut string priced too high at $175.00.. he then proceeded to bitchh about the Rogue mandolin too high at $95.00 and then I explained to him the Hohner was my personal guitar I use but would sell it at the right price, and would not accept 20 dollars for it, anyhow he strayed off to visit with Mr. Swearingen set up across from me, so I fired up the little 9VDC Johnson amp and played a few licks, not paying attention to the old man, and a few minutes later, he was back over with a decent offer I accepted, he told me he had no interest in the white Yamaha electric UNTIL I played it and it made him a believer in it's quality.. I sold it way under the money but still made a handsome profit.. y t

moral of the story, I did not really give a guitar lesson Wednesday, but my above average playing sold a guitar.. LOL!

so for the longest time i never gave lessons to beginners. my attitude was always "ok, come back after you've been playing awhile". but awhile back i started hearing from quite a few folks in their 40's and 50's who never played but at that point in their life decided "hey, i wanna DO THIS!".....and for whatever reason that really appeals to me. i feel that takes real balls and chutzpah to go after something like that at that point (or later) in life. i have to say that working w some of these "beginners" has been most rewarding and enjoyable for me.

anyway, a cpl mos ago i have this guy contact me about "dobro lessons". he had seen an ad i have up on c-list for bass lessons and liked what i had written. http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/muc/3354334166.html

he contacts me and asks if i'd consider giving him dobro lessons. here's the thing...he's 72 yrs old and never played an instrument in his life but it's something he's always wanted to do!

now....there's no way in the world i can't give this guy a shot. i mean that kind of balls and adventuressness is to be encouraged and rewarded! so he's starts taking lessons driving 50 min each way to my place twice a week for 60 min lessons, man he's fired up! what he refers to as dobro is actually round neck resonator and he's interested in playing blues.

problem is he has some nerve damage to his left arm and has a lot of trouble getting the proper angles to the dangles. he starts getting frustrated and begins wondering if he's ever gonna be able to make it work even tho i've assured him "you're just starting out and that's a difficult time for EVERYONE". so, fast fwd a little.....he becomes more frustrated and down on himself while also blaming his physical limitations. so...next step...we start playing w the reso in his lap. it's an AHA! moment and epiphany for him and he's loving it...til he sees some of those same liabilities pop up re his range of mobility.

fast fwd to last wk's lesson...."hey mark is it hard to play bass?" i hand him one of my J basses and he's a little kid in a candy store! today we did our first "bass lesson" and we're both thinking yeah...this is it.

Great story! Music is for every age. I volunteer every weekend to teach beginning guitar at the Chicago Music Foundation For Children. I just want to give back what music has given to me.

I tried to volunteer at a local music school.
They told me that "they didn't need anyone else to waive guns around and shoot anyone randomly in an angry state of confusion".

I then asked them if there was anyone in specific that I should consider shooting. lol

Interview over.. "Thanks for stopping by but.."

so for the longest time i never gave lessons to beginners. my attitude was always "ok, come back after you've been playing awhile". but awhile back i started hearing from quite a few folks in their 40's and 50's who never played but at that point in their life decided "hey, i wanna DO THIS!".....and for whatever reason that really appeals to me. i feel that takes real balls and chutzpah to go after something like that at that point (or later) in life. i have to say that working w some of these "beginners" has been most rewarding and enjoyable for me.

anyway, a cpl mos ago i have this guy contact me about "dobro lessons". he had seen an ad i have up on c-list for bass lessons and liked what i had written. http://columbiamo.craigslist.org/muc/3354334166.html

he contacts me and asks if i'd consider giving him dobro lessons. here's the thing...he's 72 yrs old and never played an instrument in his life but it's something he's always wanted to do!

now....there's no way in the world i can't give this guy a shot. i mean that kind of balls and adventuressness is to be encouraged and rewarded! so he's starts taking lessons driving 50 min each way to my place twice a week for 60 min lessons, man he's fired up! what he refers to as dobro is actually round neck resonator and he's interested in playing blues.

problem is he has some nerve damage to his left arm and has a lot of trouble getting the proper angles to the dangles. he starts getting frustrated and begins wondering if he's ever gonna be able to make it work even tho i've assured him "you're just starting out and that's a difficult time for EVERYONE". so, fast fwd a little.....he becomes more frustrated and down on himself while also blaming his physical limitations. so...next step...we start playing w the reso in his lap. it's an AHA! moment and epiphany for him and he's loving it...til he sees some of those same liabilities pop up re his range of mobility.

fast fwd to last wk's lesson...."hey mark is it hard to play bass?" i hand him one of my J basses and he's a little kid in a candy store! today we did our first "bass lesson" and we're both thinking yeah...this is it.

Great story! Music is for every age. I volunteer every weekend to teach beginning guitar at the Chicago Music Foundation For Children. I just want to give back what music has given to me.

J, That is awesome!