[jazz_guitar] At the bottom line, words don't get it.
Dave Woods
learn from my website http://www.jazzguitarstartingright.com
In trying to write something that would fill the bill, and looking over my
site, I don't see any way to do any better than I've already done.
I read through the nine blogs at the beginning of my site, and let me say
that swifter people than I have trod the face of the Earth, but I can't say
it any better than I already have. I read through the stuff, and to me they
nail the images I'm trying to convey.
What it comes down to is mere words are not truly capable of conveying the
inner realities of music. A truly good teacher leads a student into
EXPERIENCING what they want them to learn. When the student begins to find
words to describe an aspect of the inner reality back to the teacher, using
their OWN words, that's when the teacher knows they're getting across.
Every student will show up with their own inner conception already in place,
such as it is. The teachers first job is to SENSE what that is, not blindly
dog pile the students conception with their own conception. A good teacher
goes to, and senses the students conception, and takes it from there. It's
not about "raising" the student up to the teachers "lofty level. In
addition, when the teacher "feels" the students conception out, They may
discover things they didn't know that will improve their own conception.
These things can only take place in an intimate one on one context. This
being said, I guess there's a limit to what a website like Jazz Guitar
Starting Right can do as it is. I'll have to get into videos or Skype, or
something like that, if I'm going to increase the effectiveness of the site.
Right now, I don't have the technology, the hardware or the money. However,
there's nothing like two people getting to know each other, and sitting
across from each other with a couple of Guitars. That's the best.
Dave Woods.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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JVeg...@aol.com
Amen. It's called "lessons", and anybody who really wants to get good on
an instrument takes them!
Cheers,
JV
Juan Vega
In a message dated 12/21/2010 8:43:18 A.M. Pacific Standard Time,
david...@verizon.net writes:
there's nothing like two people getting to know each other, and sitting
across from each other with a couple of Guitars. That's the best.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
akmbirch
[snip]
> What it comes down to is mere words are not truly capable of conveying the
> inner realities of music. A truly good teacher leads a student into
> EXPERIENCING what they want them to learn. When the student begins to find
> words to describe an aspect of the inner reality back to the teacher, using
> their OWN words, that's when the teacher knows they're getting across.
>
EXACTLY! Worth re-iterating time and time again. Learning
music is about experiencing and learning/feeling sound. Today
because of the internet the emphasis is on visual and written communication. In my own teaching I have found students have learnt many words, triads, scale name names etc., but they can't sing them, can't hear them, can't identify them, can't react to them. They have learnt so many words, but have yet to experience them. Rather
like learning all the words to describe an orange, but without
ever having eaten one. Learning the words is a nice intellectual
exercise but they are simply words to label a musical experience.
>
>
> Every student will show up with their own inner conception already in place,
> such as it is. The teachers first job is to SENSE what that is, not blindly
> dog pile the students conception with their own conception. A good teacher
> goes to, and senses the students conception, and takes it from there. It's
> not about "raising" the student up to the teachers "lofty level. In
> addition, when the teacher "feels" the students conception out, They may
> discover things they didn't know that will improve their own conception.
>
EXACTLY! Take them from where they are and slowly build. It's
about working together. Small, manageable steps.
>
>
> These things can only take place in an intimate one on one
> context.
Seeking, searching for a good teacher/mentor or teachers/mentors to study with one-on-one long-term should be the number one priority for all aspiring musicians. Interaction, playing together is essential.
--
Alisdair MacRae Birch
Guitarist/Bassist/Educator/Arranger
http://www.alisdair.com
eallen37
A long post, I apologize.
I would like to revise and extend my remarks made in response to Dave's "Visualizing Fingerings, message number 105813. My remarks: "Although I believe I learn better with visual and aural aids, I would welcome more verbal explanations to help me understand what you are presenting."
I am strictly a novice but if this provokes anyone you can dump on me if you get the urge.
Dave, your general discussions in the nine blogs on your website are great. They explain much about the essence and personal nature of music in a way that I had not heard before. (I have read them more than once.) The Overtone Series is one I especially like. A related question, discussed sometime or somewhere was, "What do you truly want or expect from your music?" I have thought long and hard about that discussion over the years.
I was referring more to the individual diagrams, or mini-lessons, where you present scales, modes, diagrams of chords or progressions of chords. You understand all of this so well and are so fluent in the intricate relationships among all of these ideas that occasionally some of your expressions come across like mathematical shorthand to me. I understand I am the dumba– in this case and I have no problem with that. It means that I have to dig in more and when I dig in more, I learn more.
Some frustration arises because of by my inability to organize all of your stuff in a manner that makes sense to me. You have guideposts (do this next, read these again) for some of it. But in spite of this, I find that I haphazardly select stuff to study, omitting other stuff, and definitely need a good overall lesson plan.
To continue, on occasion I have wished for another word or two or a sentence or two in some of your diagrams to help me understand your "technical, or God forbid, theoretical ideas".
To quote one example: Advanced Vamp Progressions, F Ionian Major Mode, Key of F
"What's all important is to always know which Key Position contains the Chord you're playing in. This is great for working out new ideas for chord progressions you encounter in tunes, or new ones you create for yourself."
"To play totally free, and go by ear, all you have to do is forget about which Key Position you're Playing in. Choice A, or B, simple as that." There is a great divide between choice A and B, in my humble opinion, and I wished for some elaboration.
Juan's words, "Amen. It's called "lessons", and anybody who really wants to get good on an instrument takes them!" have to be taken with a grain of salt in this context. You stated yours is a project for students to learn "on their own' and "one on one lessons" are apparently not envisioned. I could consider taking your stuff to a local teacher. But I question whether he or she would relish taking another teacher's program and agreeing to "teach" it to a prospective student.
Both Alisdair's and Juan's points are well taken, however. But, as in my case and in others, one on one lessons are simply not an option. I believe in them wholeheartedly. If I were within 100 miles of your office, Dave, I would camp on your doorsteps as often as possible. I am a true disciple! I have spent a lot of time with your material and it will come together. Thanks again for your efforts and your material! I love it.
Ernest
Terry Petty
Thanks for your frank questions. I will ride your coattails, so to speak, and await Dave's always kind response. I have not yet put the necessary work into Dave's excellent material, but have read the introductory material and have begun to look at the charts, etc. Perhaps together we can tease out questions and answers regarding this wonderful body of work Dave has so graciously provided. I think that will be my sole New Year's resolution -- to finally fully scrutinize and utilize this gift.
I will start by asking if it would be reasonable to use the charts to practice modes and arps out of the shapes (patterns), and precisely where to find them in the body of Dave's material. I will also work with his analysis of ALL THE THINGS... since I've been playing and singing that one lately. These two areas should provide me with specific questions I can ask.
Thanks again, Ernest (and Dave).
Terry in Portland
Ron Becker
be your sole path to jazz nirvana. Is most useful to people at other
places on the curve as well. But if you want an organized guided
approach a very good teacher is your best bet. Not everyone can
afford very good. I can't even afford a bad teacher tho I've had one
or two of those. Short of that Jimi Bruno will probably have his site
up an running soon, it is a sequential series of skill acquisitions
with beginners to intermediate in mind. In the mean time check out
http://www.99centguitarlessons.com. I like this guy's approach. There
is an organized series of downloads called guitar college. But take a
look at his jazz chords series of videos. Nearly all of the classes
have short excerpts of the individual classes if you search Rich
Severson on utube. He goes slowly and repeats stuff often. There are
beginner classes but you might have to write him for the titles. He
is very cordial and it's just him and his wife running the site.
I like the things I'm learning from his stuff and it's cheap for what
you get. If you have paypal or a credit card you can have stuff on
your desktop ready to go today. A good deal of the individual classes
are under 20 bucks with video, printed material and sometimes backing
tracks.
Ron
Living and playing outside the box.
http://www.myspace.com/ron45becker