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Topic: Advice Requested re: teaching |
Blake Wilson
From:
Boulder CO, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2009 9:11 am |
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Friends:
I have been asked to teach lap steel to a total music newbie (a friend of a friend). I have not taught before. I'm curious what the teachers, pros, and everyone else would suggest about an approach. She has no prior guitar or music experience in general.
I'm having her buy Scotty's "Basic C6th" book/cd and plan on working through the book with her. I know some teachers in general have some disdain for this type of approach and wonder what other suggestions there might be.
After getting her through the book, my next approach would be to cut her loose and have her pursue some of Josh and George's DVD material, and maybe Cindy Cashdollar's DVD.
Thanks for any input. Lap steel is kind of a lonely place up here in Rockies and I'm looking forward to sharing my modest knowledge with another (potential) player.
Blake Wilson |
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Josh Cho
From:
New York, NY (orig. Honolulu, HI)
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Posted 10 Nov 2009 9:24 am mostly make it fun..
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Blake,
The scenario you're describing is a great experience for both parties and you may find you're a fantastic teacher.
Two things I think are important:
1) It's good to have a book as a reference, but don't feel that you need to do everything in the book.
2) Keep it simple and fun (ie play songs as soon as possible) and your student will flourish.
Please email or PM if you need any other info, I'd be happy to help.
Best wishes with you endeavor,
Josh
_________________
Lap-n-Console Steel Guitar Lessons |
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Les Anderson
From:
The Great White North
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Posted 10 Nov 2009 10:36 am Re: mostly make it fun..
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| Josh Cho wrote: |
Blake,
2) Keep it simple and fun (ie play songs as soon as possible) and your student will flourish.
Josh |
Great advise Josh! Ninety-five percent of all beginner musicians just want to play music, not get bogged down in theory nor long winded practice hours with seemingly no music being learned.
To be able to play even the most simple songs will keep the student interested. The theory, which is a very important part of playing an instrument, can come later. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 10 Nov 2009 11:49 am
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I agree with all the above. Make it enjoyable.
Most beginners with no prior musical experience simply want to play songs, melodies, things that sound like something.
Experienced musicians who take steel lessons are usually more interested in learning how to play backup, how to play with a band, chord positions, scales, how to create solos, intros, theory, etc.
Here's how I start with beginners who have no prior musical experience:
how to use the bar, the picks, etc.
basic techniques, blocking, vibrato, etc.
how to read tablature. You should write out some very simple single note melodies that everyone has heard. Give the student something to practice every session, and keep copies for future lessons.
chord positions, majors and minors to begin with. String grips for majors and string grips for minors. Stay in one key at first, and teach her the three main chords (I, IV, V) and then VIm. For example, G, C, D, Em. If you can make BIAB tracks, make a couple of backing tracks using the four chords so she can practice chord changing, timing, intonation, etc. Or play rhythm guitar and have her follow along with the chords.
Later... two string harmonies, scales, harmonized scales, and eventually slants, 7th chords, etc.
It's important to give the student something to practice every session, especially tracks or tab that you have prepared for them. The Mel Bay book is fine, and I use that too, but I supplement with lot of additional arrangements, tracks, etc. Keep the lessons very simple at first and make it fun for the student. Give her easy melodies to play. Programs like Band-in-a-Box and TablEdit are very helpful for teaching. I've been using both programs for steel guitar lessons for several years.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel
Last edited by Doug Beaumier on 10 Nov 2009 11:56 am; edited 3 times in total |
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Bill Hampton
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 10 Nov 2009 11:54 am
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Speaking from the student's perspective, learning songs is good and does help keep it interesting, but that's all my teacher taught me and I found that I had no idea what to do when playing with others.
Do your student a favor and teach backup and fills, since that's what the steel or dobro does 90% of the time when playing in a group. |
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Doug Beaumier
From:
Northampton, MA
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Posted 10 Nov 2009 12:08 pm
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| Quote: |
learning songs is good and does help keep it interesting, but that's all my teacher taught me and I found that I had no idea what to do when playing with others.
Do your student a favor and teach backup and fills, since that's what the steel or dobro does 90% of the time when playing in a group |
Yes, it's a balancing act. Songs hold the student's interest at first... and some students Only want to play songs at home... never with a group. Many have told me that. Others Do want to play with a group. I teach Both approaches to all students, even the ones who only want to play at home. Someday, somewhere they will find themselves playing steel along with a guitarist or in some format, and they Have To know how where the chords are, and how to play fills, backup, etc.
_________________
My Site / My YouTube Channel
25 Songs C6 Lap Steel / 25 MORE Songs C6 Lap Steel / 16 Songs, C6, A6, B11 / 60 Popular Melodies E9 Pedal Steel |
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