View Full Version : How many lessons
LowGapBG
Nov-04-2006, 11:19pm
Just wondering,some of you that took lessons to learn to play mandolin,how many or how long did you take lessons to learn to play?I'm going to start first of the year taking lessons.Learning from Bert Caseys intro and primer book now. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
I've been taking lessons for about a year and a half. I've chosen the bi-weekly format and that works best for me. I don't always have enough time to adequately practice my lesson material in a given week, but when I've got the 2 week interval, I'm able to arrange enough practice time so I can be ready for another lesson.
F5G WIZ
Nov-05-2006, 8:42am
Depends on what you mean by "learning to play". You really never stop learning. I know a woman who plays Violin classicly and has been playing for over twenty years, even plays in a symphony. Although she has what I consider mastered her instrument she still takes lessons from someone with higher skill than herself. Different people learn and "catch on" to instruments at different speeds. What takes one person one week to learn may take someone else a month or even a year. So it really depends on you and what level of playing you want to achieve. I play in a Bluegrass band and have never taken lessons but I am looking into getting some simply because I am not happy with the level I am playing at. So I guess it just depends on what makes you happy, find out what practice schedule works for you and just stay with it. Good luck.
gnelson651
Nov-05-2006, 1:04pm
You can learn to play the mandolin in a few short months but take a life time to master it. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif
ricardo
Nov-05-2006, 1:28pm
I been "learn'n" for 40 years!# - It's a challange,,,a reward,,therapy...,and a MISTRESS -and I love her! -when ya' "find it"...,there's not a better feel'n in the world -when ya' CAN'T...,it'll make ya' crazy!## - Of course YOUR mileage may very!##? -ricardo # http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mad.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif
mythicfish
Nov-05-2006, 1:47pm
It may take a couple opf weeks/months to learn a few tunes depending on your experience/discipline/natural abilities.
Curt(25 yrs and still learning)
jim_n_virginia
Nov-06-2006, 12:29am
Took me a week to learn to play a couple of fiddle tunes... but it took me two years before they were bearable enough to listen too! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wow.gif
bluemtgrass
Nov-06-2006, 8:21am
Well, 0 lessons.. 4 years and counting playing. The cafe
and internet provided the notes & chords.
The basic 2 finger chords G C D, a couple of minor & 7th chords,
and a capo allows one to play along almost immediately and
start having fun. The capo provided the confidence that I could
play along in almost any key while a complete novice. Because
I bore easily, it kept my interest level
high enough to continue playing, without it I probably
wouldnt be playing.( My apologys to the die-hards ) I did play a
little guitar so the strum wasn't a problem. You can even do a
modified chop with those same chords though the three and four
finger are much preferred.
#That said, when you get into single notes and double
stops, pull offs and the like one realizes you havent even
scratched the surface. And the more you learn the more
you dont know.
#Bottom line.. still finding out how little I know
#And.... I think your teacher will be one of the most #
#important factors in how fast you progress.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif #http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Dru Lee Parsec
Nov-07-2006, 1:33pm
I played guitar for nearly 30 years before I started playing mandolin. I took one lesson from a teacher to have him check my technique and that was it. Everything else I've picked up from books, DVDs or from the Mandolin Symposium.
I probably shouldn't be telling you this because I'm a music teacher and I make my living by GIVING those lessons. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Actually, I think the folks I give lessons to need lessons because they need that weekly lesson as a focus for their practice. But I will say that consistent daily practice is vastly more important than lessons. You can learn an awful lot on your own, but you won't learn anything, with or without lessons, if you don't commit to daily practice. A half hour a day of focused practice followed by any amount of playful fun goofing around music time will do you an amazing amount of good.
That's not to say that practice isn't fun. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/laugh.gif That feeling you get when you can now play something that you couldn't a few days ago is certainly "Fun".
glauber
Nov-07-2006, 1:57pm
Learning to play will take your whole life. In my case, after about a year and a half, i feel like i've turned a corner, i can play cleaner and more assertively, although not necessarily faster, but i feel i can start my tremolos when i want to, and i can hit the right string with the pick most of the time. You're likely to see several turning points like this in your musical career, and you should get progressively better, but you will never end learning.
I think depending on how much time you have to practice daily, and how much experience you have with string instruments, it can take from 2 months to 2 year to get to a point where you can play tunes on the mandolin for your friends without fear.
Oh... lessons. I've taken 3 so far, in 1 1/2 years. My teacher is a busy guy and i try not to impose on him very much.
racer122
Nov-07-2006, 2:05pm
I'd like to take a lesson some day. I've had a mando for about 6 weeks, I guess, and have had about that many gigs. But I was a guitar guy first and have found that the mandolin just makes perfect sense to me (almost like this is the instrument I was meant to play).
Scotti Adams
Nov-07-2006, 3:47pm
Hell..Im still learning everyday
gnelson651
Nov-08-2006, 11:00am
I'm self taught and have been playing about 3 years now. I use DVD's, book and this board to learn and practice daily for about 1-2 hours. My first goal was to learn to read standard notation and this took me about 2-3 months to get comfortable enough to read and play what was on the sheetmusic. Granted, I'm no sight reader and it could take several days to several weeks to get a song playable.
So far I've learn about 50-60 fiddle tunes. About 8 months in starting, I went to my first jam session. I've been going biweekly fiddle jams since and I have to say that playing with other people will improve your skills.
I'm at the point now that I can pick out simple melodies and then add some embellishments (double stops, licks, etc) to make it sound OK. But I have a long way to go before I can play a decent break in a BG jam.
Learning to play the mandolin is an ongoing process, regardless if you have teacher or are self-taught. I've find that I may take small steps, great leaps or just stall out for awhile. But its a journey and not a destination, so enjoy the ride and just have fun with it
SternART
Nov-08-2006, 1:49pm
Scotti......I'm with you.....on the "still learning every day"......but I think you do reach plateaus.
In fact if you hit a period in your life where you can't play every day, like you're use to, you can
also get worse, go take a few steps backwards. I'm in it for the long haul, but sometimes just playimg
with someone new, or a lesson with your teacher could inspire you to work harder...or hearing a tune that
moves you could inspire you to learn it....or if you want the BIG bomb, go somewhere like the Mandolin
Symposium, where you get a big dose of what you don't know or what you need to work on. Mandolin playing
is one of the hardest things I've tried to do, but I enjoy the challenge.....remember it isn't a race....music
makes you feel good, mandolins are cool....make it a part of your life.
Scotti Adams
Nov-08-2006, 1:55pm
Hey Art...nothing but the truth in your post...I agree whole-heartedly.
Jonathan Peck
Nov-08-2006, 2:15pm
.....remember it isn't a race....music makes you feel good, mandolins are cool....make it a part of your life.
Yeah, but what's up with everyone outside bluegrass circles asking me "hey, whatcha' got there, a banjo?"
Yup, it's not a race, it's a marathon...just somes days it seems everyone else got a twenty year headstart.
8ch(pl)
Nov-08-2006, 4:12pm
None
Soupy1957
Nov-08-2006, 4:24pm
I started "taking lessons" and will probably take them for the rest of my life (lol).
-Soupy1957
I took a lesson or two when I started 30 years ago, from a guy who could play both righty and lefty. As a matter of fact, I still have the 2 tabs he brought to that first lesson - Arkansas Traveler and 8th of January. I also got the Tottle book. After that, I took another lesson (from a sometimes poster on this board). Then, many years later, I took a lesson from Marty Laster in NYC. Other than that, it's been listening, jamming and learning on my own - a book here - Niles' stuff is excellent -, some sheet music there, a mando seminar or two, lots of seeing and hanging with the pros, young and old. Don't be afraid to ask questions...and play a lot.
David M.
Nov-08-2006, 5:44pm
Zero.