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Topic: Questions about pedal steel lesson format? |
Gaeron Baker
From:
longmont, colorado
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Posted 22 Jun 2006 8:12 am |
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I am curious to hear from students and instructors about steel lessons.
Specifically how do you teach and learn?
1. Do you use one steel guitar or two?
2. Length, frequency and cost of lessons
3. Does the instructor play a piece and
the student attempts to copy it by ear
or is written music or tab used?
4. Are the lessons usually recorded for
later reference?
Any other insights are welcome. I have been
playing just over a year it that gives a point of reference for replies.
I took a lesson from an excellent player
who plays by ear. We used one guitar. By the
time we switched positions i had pretty much forgotten what it was i was supposed to learn!  do not have a developed ear for music yet and have used mostly tab and video. I would like the benefits of one
on one instruction but want to make the most of the time and money involved. |
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A. J. Schobert
From:
Cincinnati, Ohio,
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Posted 22 Jun 2006 8:58 am
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| I'm sure from teacher to teacher it is a little different while the curriculum is the same. I have always used 2 steels,The length depends on how much I can handle,I am planing 3 hours a day with buddy charlton soon,I think it should be up to the student to bring a recorded device. I prefer 2 steels at a lesson since I am more of a visual person thats not to say one steel wouldn't work. If you live in an area with multiple players haveing multiple teachers is a good thing. you can get different views. If you are getting lessons weekly I would hang in there and keep at it CARTER D10 |
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Wayne D. Clark
From:
Montello Wisconsin, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2006 9:23 am
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Gaeron, I have had the same questions you are now asking. I was directed to the Jeff Newman courses. They are on DVD you can watch Jeff Newman instructions on your computer. I found them Excellent. I started with "UP FROM THE TOP" "The A&B Pedals". You will get two DVD'S (LESSONS) and one CD to play along with.Call this number {1 800 373 3418) or try jeffran.com, If you call you will get Jeff's wife. By the way just for information Jeff was killed in a plane crash a number of years ago. Of course Jeff is not the only one who has lessons out there, but these are the ones I am familiar with.
MSA D10 8/2 |
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J Hill
From:
Colorado, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2006 8:37 pm
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Gaeron,
I've taken lessons for 1.5 years now and the most helpful part is my practicing and being 'ready' for the lesson, which I wasn't a lot for a while because of other things. But, now the lessons are once a month which is a lot better, not so much pressure and more time get ready.
Tabs for sure. You've got to start somewhere and the more familiar one is with tabs the better the practice time and the more you accomplish, and I think you learn things you don't realize you're learning, like what the various pedals and levers are doing. There's just some structure to it all when you learn with tablature.
I go prepared with questions because my teacher is a pro and has some great answers. He has students use his Carter-Starter, which is harder to play than my steel, but it keeps me humble.  I really liked it when he had two guitars facing each other and I could watch him play straight across from me and vice-versa without having to share one guitar.
My teacher has 3 ring binders which he takes the students thru one by one. You can't get to the next one before learning the stuff in the one you've got. That inspires one to practice more. There is a method to his madness because each song teaches a new thing...a new style, or rhythm, or grip, etc, and you just keep progressing upward.
I hit a plateau for quite a while because of busy-ness and other things going on but now I'm back at it. Its sort of amazing how much better one does if one practices every day just for a bit. Have fun!
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Calvin Walley
From:
colorado city colorado, USA
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Posted 22 Jun 2006 10:13 pm
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i'm 3 years into this now and i can tell you that at year (1) i was totally confused
i was trying to get a handle on how to proceed and it did not seem like i would ever make any progress i was looking for short cuts ( they don't exist ) i was fighting the guitar and myself .
for me it started all comming togather when
(1) i stopped looking for short cuts
(2) got Winnie Winstons book
(3) got a better steel
a teacher is great they can show you the basics to get you started, but in the end its gonna come down to you, the guitar and not much else.
a pro model guitar is a lot easier to learn on than a student model
i think in my case i wanted to play like the pros in a short time ...it aint gonna happen . it seemed to get easier when i stopped trying to play beyond my ability
i guess what i an trying to say is . listen to your teacher , get good equipment , spend a LOT of time praticing
and most important never give up on yourself
calvin
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Mullen SD-10 3&5 / nashville 400
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John Davis
From:
Cambridge, U.K.
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Posted 22 Jun 2006 10:50 pm
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As previously suggested to get more bang for your buck you must take a recorder of some sort with you, My students get three hours on a Monday evening, the brain can only absorb so much and after half an hour its on overload! without the recorder it would be two and a half hours wasted.
I have seen Jeff Newmans "Up from the top" its a great way to get started, and highly recommended by most on here... |
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Ben Jones
From:
Seattle, Washington, USA
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Posted 23 Jun 2006 6:17 am
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I am the student:
1. Do you use one steel guitar or two?
Two, absolutely necessary
2. Length, frequency and cost of lessons
One hour plus, weeekly if possible, 40$/hour
3. Does the instructor play a piece and
the student attempts to copy it by ear
or is written music or tab used?
Both, but I do better when i have tab as well
4. Are the lessons usually recorded for
later reference?
Yes, absolutely vital. I use mini disc.
Insight: Theory should not be overlooked. and as others said it boils down to the student and the time they can devote to practicing (something we probably all wish we could do more of...me certainly)[This message was edited by Ben Jones on 23 June 2006 at 08:18 AM.] |
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Michael Pierce
From:
Madison, CT
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Posted 23 Jun 2006 8:34 am
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| I have been taking pedal steel lessons for about a year and a half now from a well known teacher here in New England. While it somestimes slips, I like to try and schedule one every other week. That keeps me focused and helps prevent the sloth that I'm naturally prone to. I find the lessons in which both my teacher and I use facing pedal steels to be the most helpful. I try to record every lesson and then listen to them on the alternate week (a small personal digital recorder is great for this). My general routine is that several days before the lesson I email my teacher with several questions, perhaps request a piece of tab and/or suggest we work on a particular tune together. About 6 mos. ago I burned a CD that contained a lot of great steel-oriented songs (Buck Owens, Ray Price, etc.) and we generally tackle one per lesson -- I generally prepare the chord charts before the lesson and we work on intros and solos. I've also found it very helpful when the teacher plays a few phrases and I try to replicate the sound. Listening to the playback of those exchanges is enlightening and humbling... when he plays the phrase it's fluid and musical. When I play it it sounds like someone is hitting me with a stick. |
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Mickey Lawson
From:
Cleveland, Tennessee, USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2006 10:02 am
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| Also, get an acoustic guitar and learn to strum and sing several simple country or gospel songs (by ear without looking at a chord chart). On acoustic, I do everything in the key of "C". Doesn't take long to learn. |
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John Coffman
From:
Wharton,Texas USA
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Posted 25 Jun 2006 2:51 pm
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Calvin hit is square on the head. I've been taking lessons and working alot on my own. Get a good steel to use at home a maybe a lesser one to take to lessons if you can. I had no musical training so it has slowed me up a little. There are no short cuts. Get the basics and then practice all you can. I find having the teacher tab out exercises then work on it till it's were you feel it works best for you. Work on progressive chord and structure and it will come. Keep your self motivatied get to as many steel shows and places were they play great steel music. Best of luck
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Thomas SD10 3/4 and D10 8/5 Beginner
[This message was edited by John Coffman on 25 June 2006 at 04:01 PM.] |
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Tony Prior
From:
Charlotte NC
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Posted 25 Jun 2006 5:34 pm
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ok I'll chime in, and I am not in DISSagreemnent with anything stated.
but..
A musician who KNOWS how to teach, not necesarilly one who is a great player, is the way to success.
Two Steels, A teacher who can understand where you are, and work from that place in a structured format and discuss what is going on is light years ahead of any TAB program.
A quality teacher will fit the lessons around the configuration of the Steel if need be, so it is not necessarily the Steel.
Tape recording the lessons/discussions rather than TAB is the preferred format.
The problem with TAB from a lesson implys that the teacher/student did not connect in conversation.
Better to learn ONE thing and understand what you are doing in 2 hours than jumping ahead into oblivia.
Sometimes a 2 hour lesson can accomplish many things, other times it can accomplish only few basic things. A good teacher knows not to go too far ahead, even if there is still 1 hour left in the lesson.
keep in mind many many folks learned how to play on a Maverick around here, but I would agree that a Pedal Steel that actually works is a requirement.
Students that are struggling early on need a teacher, and one that understands where thay are coming from and what the obstacles are.
If a new player has no idea what the A or B Pedals do, it makes no difference how many knee levers are on the Steel, if any at all.
Practicing the wrong things for 3 years in a row will not turn them into correct things.
When I teach, and I do, I generally relate everything to one chord position, such as 3rd fret G. I work and build from that point with position redundency. Point here is learn in one chord position, and apply to all.
I do not teach any songs, I teach the Steel Guitar as an Instrument and where the Music comes from and WHY.
we move to another step after the "WHY" is understood.
A two hour lesson may result in about 2 months worth of practice before the next lesson.
t
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TPrior
TPrior Steel Guitar Homesite
[This message was edited by Tony Prior on 25 June 2006 at 06:45 PM.] [This message was edited by Tony Prior on 25 June 2006 at 06:49 PM.] |
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John Coffman
From:
Wharton,Texas USA
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Posted 27 Jun 2006 3:47 am
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Tony, more great words of wisdom. I understand your points. I have been using tab song (if you call them song working on C,G, and F chord progression). Using as many string triads and positions as possible. For one it has gave me more since of timing and working the grips. As you say being a good teacher is sizing up the stundent. I had no musical background so I am behind a bit. Hope we can meet at a show. Best of luck.
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Thomas SD10 3/4,Thomas D10 8/5 and Desert Rose S10 3/4. Beginner
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Gaeron Baker
From:
longmont, colorado
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Posted 27 Jun 2006 7:09 am
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Excellent advice gentleman.
Thanks. |
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Johan Jansen
From:
Europe
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Posted 27 Jun 2006 7:15 am
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Tony Prior,
you hit the nail on the head!!
That's my opinion too!
Johan
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 Click on the pic!
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Duane Becker
From:
Elk,Wa 99009 USA
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Posted 28 Jun 2006 7:24 pm
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| Here's my thoughts on teaching the pedal steel guitar to students. I give my students an option. Come to my home for $40/hour and a half, or I will come to the students home for $60/hour and a half. I think it is very important for the teacher to set up his guitar right next to the student and his guitar. Play all the material that you give and play it slow. No hot roddin or fast pickin from the teacher. I also give my students the option to tape record the lesson too. Before I start the first lesson and especially for beginners, I make it clear to them that time will have to be spent practicing the pedal steel guitar. Generally I feel that a beginner needs to spend one year learning the basics. This includes very basic licks, fills, simple songs, right hand pickin, left hand bar holding and moving, learning the major chord string grips, pedal work and so on. After that year, then the beginner can start to get in to actually learning the pedal steel guitar. Students must understand that it takes many many years of learning and pracice. And we must not forget that even the big guns are still learning and practicing. Duane Becker |
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