The "Next Level"

[Zed]

I'm finding that i'm at a place in my playing where i really need some professional instruction to go on. I know it would be ideal to sit under a real, live pro for even a few sessions... but due to geographics and monetary constraints, this is just not possible, period.

So that pretty much leaves me with the video/DVD route.

What do i want/need to learn? I'm not interested in learning someone's specific style. I'm not interested in learning a set of specific tunes. What i need ideally is someone to watch and listen to my playing and show me/tell me weak points, point out bad habits, give some very useful/functional exercises, etc, etc. However, since a live human instructor is not possible, is there any kind of DVD/video training that can even begin to assist me in this way, or am i just totally out of luck? I know what i'm asking is a tall, tall order and obviously no video can begin to do what a live human would. But, i'm stuck with either video tutelage or nothing... and i need something for sure.

If anyone has covered any of this ground and has any advice or recommendations, i'd sure appreciate hearing about 'em.

I'm also throwing this out on the CoMando list so please pardon the repeat for those who frequent both.

[peterbc]

Are there any mandolin players in your area? If you go to any jams you can always pull aside a good mando player and most of the time they'll be friendly enough if you have some questions (sounds like mainly technique questions?). It sounds like there might not be much in you area from you post, but I thought it would be good to throw it out there.

[Zed]

I'm probly the only guy who even owns a mando within a 200 mile radius! No jams, no mando players, period. I'll be travelling to a couple festivals this summer some time, a huge maybe as to whether or not i could coerce some pro or semi pro into a quick lesson... i don't know. That'd pretty hard to do... and probly not too effective. Back to the video method....

[John Flynn]

I'm not interested in learning someone's specific style. I'm not interested in learning a set of specific tunes.
I completely understand your saying that. Let me just offer a possible different perspective from someone who was plateau'ed for many years with the same priorities. Two things that have energized my playing and leaped me ahead in the last year or so were to flip those two priorities completely around. I got turned on to a specific style of music I had no previous interest in and no knowledge of. To play this music, my challenge was to learn all the common tunes everyone in that genre played. I learned about 80 tunes in a year, all so I could play music with these people. I would have never believed I could learn that many tunes so fast, but I got so into it that it didn't even seem like work.

Also, I discovered one of the top players in this genre played mando and when I first heard a recording of his music, I knew that was the way I wanted to play. I didn't seek to sound exactly like him, but I wanted to create my own style inspired by his. I knew that for me to do that, I needed to learn his style first. I sought him out and convinced him to teach me. Now, I am totally engaged in learning more tunes and learning his style. I have been off my plateau for a while and there is no end in site. I am very pleased with my improvement, not just in this genre of music, but my abilites on the mando in general.

BTW, I tried the "generic" professional instruction route and had some great instructors. But generally they did not help with the plateau thing, except when they were teaching me stuff in the context above. So I guess what I am suggesting you consider is find someone's style that you really dig. Learn it. Find a genre of music you really like. Start buying the great CDs in that genre. Learn the tunes that everyone in that genre needs to know. Immerse yourself in the experience: Go to jams, festivals, workshops, etc., all related to that genre. #

It may be tough if you live remotely. Although once I got into this new genre, I started finding people and resources that had been right under my nose all along. The same may happend for you. BTW, the genre I got into was old-time, but it could be any genre of music that turns you on: bluegrass, celtic, whatever. Or take a chance and try some kind of music you have never even heard of. I discovered that the kind of music I might like to play was not be what I currently liked to listen to. I think playing an instrument works best when it is in the context of a style of music you like. I am sure there are some who can follow a path of, "I am not interested in tunes or stlyes, I just want to get good." I felt that way for a long time and it didn't work for me.

[peterbc]

It'll be easier to convince someone to teach you a few tricks if you give them a beer, especially if it's at a summer festival and it's a nice warm afternoon... That'd do the trick for me! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Just curious, what region do you live in?

Peter

[Zed]

Oh heck... i know exactly what i want to play... no problem there. I've been playing bluegrass for quite a while and know a pretty good number of tunes. I totally love bluegrass, eat breathe and sleep it, and don't want to play anything else. (well... ok, i also like "new acoustic" type stuff also, but i'm not pursing that right now). I've been listening to live Monroe stuff nearly exclusively, am reading his bio right now... as well as Bluegrass: A History (for the 2nd time). I'm doing all this not because a good bluegrasser should.. but because i love it and i want to.

To clarify my point about not wanting to learn a specific style or set of tunes... i can do that any time and have been doing that for years. Though i play in the bluegrass style and certainly love to hear Ronnie or Sam or Wakefield or Mon himself pick... like you said, i'm not trying to sound just like them. Nor am i too interested in just learning thier licks (though there is some value in that, also).

What i'm most after is technical help on an intermediate level. I'm no beginner but i'm also no pro. The more i practice these days the more subtle little obstacles and hitches i come across.

I don't know... maybe what i'm after can only be done by another person in a one-on-one situation. Could very well be.

FYI... i'm in remote outer regions of Nebraska.

To boil this all down... I know that some good pro instruction would do me wonders... there's NO question about that. The crux of my question is, since that is impossible, would i gain much of anything from some DVD instruction or would i just be wasting my money?

[mando-in-kingwood]

Try talking with Randy at www.musiclessonsource.com. He does lessons over the internet using web cams.

I have not tried him but have traded a few emails with him and am contemplating giving it a whirl.

Two 30 minute lessons plus the web cam all for $99.

Anyone on this thread used his services?

[randolin]

You may have reached the limit of the benefits you can reap from books, CD's VIdeos etc. The problem with teaching yourself without interactive instruction is that you spend a lot of time reinforcing your own self taught bad habits. It doesn't take much time to learn a bad habit but it sure takes a LOT to correct it. For most people, just watching someone do it correctly is not enough because they are unaware of their own technical problems.
Randolin

[Zed]

Randolin... I think that's pretty much the long and the short of it. It's very hard to identify and fix your own bad habits or even see and apply little details that can make a big diff. It just takes someone from the outside, with an objective (and learned) eye/ear to spot what you're doing an/or what you could be doing better/different.

What i wouldn't give (or wish i had to give) to spend even ONE hour with Compton or Reischman or Marshall or, or, or...

[randolin]

If you really can't find an instructor to work with you might try videotaping yourself playing, wait a few days and then look at it with a critical eye.
Randolin