Jeff Berlin says ' What you do is what matters, not what you think, say or plan!

[JeffBerlin]

This isn't my quote, but isn't it s great one? I really was taken with it when I read it a little while ago.

Consider the view that people seek teachers that will inspire them. I suggest that you might want to reconsider this view because you aren't going to improve your bass playing by waiting for someone to inspire you to do so. It isn’t the job of a teacher to inspire you. It is the job of a teacher to educate you.

What you do is what matters. Your actions are what counts. Here are three quotes about inspiration that seem to go in the face of how some seek it from their bass teachers.

“You can't wait for inspiration. You have to go after it with a club.” Jack London

“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while one is working.” Henri Matisse

“Inspiration is a guest that does not willingly visit the lazy.” Tchaikovsky

You don’t need inspiration from other people. You don't need mentoring from people. You need teaching from qualified people. People on TB would benefit from thinking about this because it's really a beautiful message.

You have to want to improve. But, more importantly, you have to do something about it. Even if you don't feel inspired, try and do the work. Once you hear how improved your bass playing is in three months, you will be amazed at the inspiration that might well up in your heart. This is where true inspiration comes from, by working for something and getting it!


Your thoughts are always welcome!

 

[tlc1976]

Well I can think of many times that someone does something great, but if they are a total jerk about everything then I wouldn't care so much to listen to them.

For me (and I'm not the only one), some of my best playing comes from when I don't even have a bass in hand. Perhaps different frame of mind, listening from the outside instead of being preoccupied by performing. Inspiration may come from teachers or from regular players or from anyone or anything really. IMO the best teachers don't just teach so you can master their method, the best teachers inspire you to be the best you can be from within yourself.

 

[BassChuck]

True. We love looking for distractions and ways to get out of work. One of the more damaging things we see in the culture is the image that famous people give that their creations are just momentary thoughts and they just got this great song or solo from some mystic place. Most people don't understand the work that is involved with good art (in any genre). Leonard Bernstein had some great thoughts on this subject in one of his Harvard Lectures (Why Don't You Go Upstairs and Write Me a Gershwin Song). Another example would something like the movie "Help" where the Beatles just run about doing little and then, at the drop of a hat, just pick up their instruments and play some great song with no more effort than a sneeze.

 

[JeffBerlin]

Well I can think of many times that someone does something great, but if they are a total jerk about everything then I wouldn't care so much to listen to them.

For me (and I'm not the only one), some of my best playing comes from when I don't even have a bass in hand. Perhaps different frame of mind, listening from the outside instead of being preoccupied by performing. Inspiration may come from teachers or from regular players or from anyone or anything really. IMO the best teachers don't just teach so you can master their method, the best teachers inspire you to be the best you can be from within yourself.

Sure they do! They encourage us to keep practicing and praise us when we do well. I guess that I was referring to the literal acceptable philosophy that seems to reflect that we who wish to learn, can depend on our teachers inspiration inspiring us as a mandate of learning.

Years ago, I worked at MI when Pat Hicks still owned the school. I recall that he made it a requirement that the teachers inspire the students to learn. While I admire the sentiment, I never agreed with the idea that it was up to me to inspire someone to do the the work that many moved to L.A. to do for themselves. Of course I wanted to help them and encourage them. I viewed this attitude as a normal part teacher/student interaction. I've just seen this philosophy expand to where some teachers now view inspiring a student beyond the normal boundaries of helping them to learn how to play better.

 

[Michael F Clef]

I read a study where they interviewed dozens of men and women who were recognized as being an "Overnight Success." The study revealed that on average they worked 15 years at their craft before becoming an "overnight success."

 

[JeffBerlin]

I read a study where they interviewed dozens of men and women who were recognized as being an "Overnight Success." The study revealed that on average they worked 15 years at their craft before becoming an "overnight success."

This makes sense. But, you opened an opportunity for me to share a thought.

Many bass players reading this aren't even close to their potential as players. And, if career success isn't predictable, improving as bass players is. I would think that anyone, no matter their style, should recognize that how they've been going about learning might not be working for them. But three to six month or correct practice will totally change your views about musical improvement.

 

[Rhythmman535]

“Everybody wants to be famous but nobody wants to do the work” - Kevin Hart

 

[5thsand4ths]

“It is not love that should be depicted as blind, but self-love.” ~ Voltaire

 

[5thsand4ths]

Half the harm that is done in this world is due to people who want to feel important. They don’t mean to do harm, but the harm [that they cause] does not interest them. Or they do not see it, or they justify it because they are absorbed in the endless struggle to think well of themselves." ~ T. S. Eliot

 

[JeffBerlin]

“Everybody wants to be famous but nobody wants to do the work” - Kevin Hart

Good point! Obama once paraphrased an important philosophy that impacted with me when he shared it: "Nothing worth anything is easy."

 

[JeffBerlin]

Well I can think of many times that someone does something great, but if they are a total jerk about everything then I wouldn't care so much to listen to them.

For me (and I'm not the only one), some of my best playing comes from when I don't even have a bass in hand. Perhaps different frame of mind, listening from the outside instead of being preoccupied by performing. Inspiration may come from teachers or from regular players or from anyone or anything really. IMO the best teachers don't just teach so you can master their method, the best teachers inspire you to be the best you can be from within yourself.

I've heard this comment before and I find it to be a conclusion without reason. I can't remember anyone nor knew anyone in music that were total jerks. Practically everyone that ever taught me were terrific people. Anyone that teaches while being a jerk would be out of business in a month. I suggest that you don't prepare yourself for an event with a teacher that probably never is going to take place.

 

[Mechanical]