[vonbraig]

I did an intervention tonight. I've got former student that I've know a long time. He wants to play and gig and teach more than anyone I've ever met. Enough to say there are really basic playing issues in the way.

It's tough to tell a kid who has jumped through the college hoops to basically start from scratch. I agonized over it but I thought if it were me, and it was a long time ago I would want someone to do the same, and they did. It took me a long time to get it though.

I've started doing some practicing at school, really basic stuff so the students can hear I'm working on stuff you do your whole life. Because you have to we all know it. I really need it right now too.

Anybody ever have this experience. Not looking for validation folks I did the right thing. However, once is enough at some point you have to do the work and you do it by yourself.

I think sometimes we are way too soft on kids, only those who want to be in the game though. It wasn't really like that for me 25 years ago. A little tough love tonight. Had to be done.

 

[LateNiteSax]

There are many many people I have known who were not realistic, who think they are ready or almost ready to join the ranks of the pros, the seasoned veterans, the guys who walk quietly and carry a big stick, who have paid their dues, the guys who get the calls for the good paying gigs behind in the halls of the rich and famous, in the clubs with the other exceptionally gifted players, across the ocean, on that tropical Island, etc.

This is an extremely competitive world we live in, much more that that of our parents. My dad quit one job, and went up the street and got himself another one in his line of work without having to think about it back in the 60's.

I don't think its necessary, because reality will deal him a bitter lesson soon enough and he will either get his act together, or find another way to survive. In my opinion, just show him some kindness, and be gentle. Be ready to offer him the help when he's ready to accept it.

 

[Tim Price]

There are many many people I have known who were not realistic, who think they are ready or almost ready to join the ranks of the pros, the seasoned veterans, the guys who walk quietly and carry a big stick, who have paid their dues, the guys who get the calls for the good paying gigs behind in the halls of the rich and famous, in the clubs with the other exceptionally gifted players, across the ocean, on that tropical Island, etc.

This is an extremely competitive world we live in, much more that that of our parents. My dad quit one job, and went up the street and got himself another one in his line of work without having to think about it back in the 60's.

I don't think its necessary, because reality will deal him a bitter lesson soon enough and he will either get his act together, or find another way to survive. In my opinion, just show him some kindness, and be gentle. Be ready to offer him the help when he's ready to accept it.

LateNite- That's some of the best words I've read on here in a long time. You nailed it- and the story via your dad is reality.

Von B- sad to say...you can't be EVERYTHING to EVERYBODY.

The part of this biz where you can listen / learn and grow is faded bad. It's very upsetting. Very! There are players who have BS'd a way- and squeezed in to things but the REAL REALITY is that even those are protected. It is another thing.

Your best bet, be clear, be honest. But in a University setting or school you best be very cool. That IS another world. I got frustrated once when a teacher went to do a faculty concert with me & Scott Lee / bass , and Allison Miller- drums and had to open a REAL BOOK on " Bye Bye Blackbird". As much as I wanted to say something, I couldn't. He spent all year telling kids to learn tunes and he's doing this? Get my drift?

It's a drag,take a deep breath and go listen to some Rollins and be glad your you.

 

[whaler]

the guys who walk quietly and carry a big stick

Then there are the opposite that got no "stick" and are are big blowhards that make it. These are the ones that usually do nowadays.
You never know he might "make it". There are lame players working out there that have seemed to convince somebody they know how to play. He might be determined and smarmy enough to step right past you and take all your gigs.

 

[IsaacRosserAK]

You know what Von Braig? I give you thumbs up man. Yes LateNite was right in saying at the end to show kindness, be gentle and ready to offer help when he/she needs it. That's what a great mentor does. However, and this is a big however; bearing down on the tough issues is essential and crucial to any growing musician's bag. Adversity will always yield growth. In fact, he/she might even come back and thank you for shining the light on their flaws.

I'll be the first to admit that gaining experience through embarrassment and having your arse handed to you is a very efficient way of adapting to live scenarios. But so is being prepared and doing a gig which ends up really swingin'! Hell, when you pull that he/she aside and tell them to get their act together, you're not embarrassing them right then and there. You're preparing them for future music scenarios: i.e. gigs. Now what that individual does with the bit of information you shared is on them. They may shrug it off or they may not.

Personally I've been on both sides of that mentor/student line and believe me I'm extremely grateful for all those who took the time to tell me what was really going on. I've even had folks come back to me and tell me thank you because they didn't have a clue there was something going awry. Truth is, yeah man telling somebody the raw deal feels like you're being the biggest prick in the world at first, ain't no way around that. But then again a paying customer ain't giving their hard earned money to see somebody who hasn't quite adjusted to their new mouthpiece or whose axe is leaking or whose technique just isn't quite there yet. They're paying to see music be "created" and in order for that to happen all the members of an ensemble have to have their axe be a second nature thing. There is no time to sit at a gig learning your part or fingering out a specific voicing. Nope, its live and its raw. That's why live music is so beautiful and exposing to those who aren't ready.

Some folks just don't know unless you tell them otherwise. Keep telling them how it is Von Braig.

 

[vonbraig]

Thanks for taking this seriously guys. This student has graduated and has a BME and is not involved in any of the colleges I'm teaching at. This is not something i would say to a current student or really have considered with any other. Life takes care of that. This kid is kind of close to son for me seriously. I think even if this doesn't work out the way he wants, which is likely at this point I truly believe there is a place for him somewhere here where he can make a contribution.

I do bust my kids chops from time to time but I haven't really lost one yet. Its a tough call. They've seen the last couple years first hand of my life and they can see how tough it can be. In they end I hope they just learn when life knocks you down get back up. Because in they end they have to compete for the work with me, and I'm about to practice my *** off. And I compete with the guys here above me and with the younger ones coming up too. Good thing I can schuck the talent agents.

 

[vonbraig]

High school all-city jazz band in Cincinnati a very heavy teacher at a major school said to me "play pretty damn it.

Also Ron Jones in Louisville said to me "this is ok when you're 19 but not for long." That one really stuck with me big time and I barely knew him. You should check him out he is smokin alto player and can hang anywhere.

 

[hakukani]

My toughest teaching moment was when I had a student tell me that she could no longer come to school because her parents had lost their house, and were living on the beach and doing meth, and she felt she had to help them out.

Yeah, I reported it.

 

[LateNiteSax]

Hey thanks very much Tim. Coming from you that means a lot.
They have meth even in Paradise, huh?

Self awareness requires maturity.
This does not necessarily have anything to do with age. I've had my personal wake-ups in my life. I remember in college, playing a big tip rubber Berg on my Mk Vll alto, thinking I sounded like the greatest thing since Bird, then hearing a recording of myself ,WAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY the heck out of tune, and that just opened my eyes like nuthin else ever did.

 

[maddenma]

There's nothing quite like a recording of what you're playing. I doesn't lie, it doesn't forget, and it's a great teaching tool.

 

[vonbraig]

Well things are good today. We are going to shed basics on Mondays for an hour and we will each bring sight reading. Should be fun.

 

[whaler]

My toughest teaching moment was when I had a student tell me that she could no longer come to school because her parents had lost their house, and were living on the beach and doing meth, and she felt she had to help them out.

Yeah, I reported it.

Did you sick the "Dog" on them? That show must be the Chamber Of Commerce's worst nightmare.