Teaching Student choosing the teacher’s method

[thomsax]

Although it might be true that most people benefit from regular lessons, I think there are people perfect try capable of self teaching. Not in a vacuum, and purely from books. It does requite a lot of listening, trial and error (in varying proportions).

As mentioned this is what I did for two years and at that point decided to go to college. However it could just as easily have been not deciding to go to college and carrying on asa I was - ie gigging and being totally self taught. Or I might have decided to carry on without college but with regular lessons.

It's impossible to say what would have happened indifferent scenarios. I was quite driven at the time and practised 6 - 8 hours a day (2- 4 of which was long notes).

During that self teaching time I did have two lessons. One was from a well known jazz musician in London. It involved me going round to his house, him playing licks for 45 minutes then charging me enough for him to buy a bag of heroin. The other was from an established well known teacher who sold me a couple of books of music to learn and come back next week. I didn't like the music books and didn't go back.

It didn't occur to me to question either on their methods (back on topic!) I think I just assumed you didn't do that kind of thing.

That was terrible. Nothing wrong the jazz lesson I had, A nice teacher, and tidy and well organized bed- and work room. His woman waited down in the yard during the seance. The copy of "Autumn Leaves" was expensive. Maybe he needed the money more than I did?

 

[Pete Thomas]

His woman waited down in the yard during the seance.

I think many of us may be envious that you can have a lesson with someone deceased. They might be able to talk Coltrane or Bird into giving lessons.

 

[Jimmymack]

You should have been playing "I Don't Stand a Ghost of a Chance With You".