I've found a great guitarist/drummer/bass player/ singer who has agreed to take me through Ed Friedland's "bass grooves" book. This guy was a song and dance man for 50 years (piano bars, stage shows, a whole bunch of time in Portugal -- bossa novas, latin jazz etc). He reads sheet music slowly (ie can't sight read fast lead runs) but can write out a lead sheet after hearing the song once or twice. He reads drum music and has been asked to teach learning drummers in our area. Most of his paid work has been 7 string guitar and singing.

I'm not sure that he has had taught before but is keen to start now that he has retired from playing professionally (he did his back in and is getting old etc). I met him through a couple of gigs with the local dramatic society (amateur stuff). We get on quite well.

I've not had a music teacher since a couple of years of drumming when I was 11. Any tips for making this thing work? He appears to be very please with the amount of money I am offering (fwiw).

Great News... Like I said before, I think it is good to have a good, seasoned, professional musician critique our playing. He may not be a great bass player, but he probably knows what good bass playing is all about. We can all learn, no matter what stage we are at. Good luck, have fun.
Rocky

Avoid trying to show him how much you know. This is a time to soak it up. Make sure you have clear things to work on between lessons, and get them perfect. Dont just get to where you know them somewhat, or half way learn the songs. Do the thing right and demand perfection od yourself.
Come with questions, what do you want to learn. If you do not know what you want, how can you get it? Ask questions and let him know what direction you want to go in.
That is how I would get the most of it.

Don't be crestfallen when the critiquing goes negative. We all have room for improvement. Learn from it and become a better player.

I just had my first lesson last week. I asked a guy that teaches locally and plays in several local bands to work with me. I take our set list in and we pick a song on the list and make a lesson out of it. I was inspired to become better when I went to the Buddy Guy show a month and a half ago. The bass player was carrying on in a very good and musical way. My wife said I should learn to do that.... I may not get to that place, but I do want to get better.

I have a question for you bass teachers out there. If a person like myself (plays in a band, is competent, not great) were to ask for one lesson (or a couple)with you, what would you do? would you accept the student? Where would you start?

I plan on sticking with this guy at least through the summer. He is sneeking some theory in, I like that.