fingertalkin Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I was wondering if anybody has taken the music theory class that Berklee offers online? I am trying to learn more about music instead of hammering away on the bass (not that there is anything wrong with that) Thanks, Shane How do you sign a computer screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 I've not tried the Berklee class (knowing the little I know of Berklee it would be good but expensive). If you just buy the 'Jazz Theory Book' by Mark Levine for 30 bucks or so it has all the theory you'll ever need at a much reduced outlay. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 Here are the specs and prices That kind of money could buy a lot of private lessons! http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EddiePlaysBass Posted November 30, 2005 Share Posted November 30, 2005 *Hijacking this thread* Phil, is that a good book for someone with little to no knowledge of theory? Or is a certain level required? "I'm a work in progress." Micky Barnes The Ross Brown Shirt World Tour Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 I'm sure the Berklee class is great but you can get a very good music theory education by spending less money if you're determined enough. I'm sure the books mentioned above are a great start. You can also check HERE for some good lessons and discussion. Don't forget that some of the people on this board are very knowledgable as well as willing to answer questions. Good luck whichever way you go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke73 Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Originally posted by Phil W: Here are the specs and prices That kind of money could buy a lot of private lessons! Taking our exchange rate into consideration, and the cost of my lessons each week. I could pay for approximately 12 years of private lessons with the cost of the Theory, Harmony and Ear training course. I'm sure it's excellent, but it is expensive. http://www.myspace.com/twoshortrocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc_dup1 Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Originally posted by EddiePlaysBass: *Hijacking this thread* Phil, is that a good book for someone with little to no knowledge of theory? Or is a certain level required? I'm sure Phil will chime in but IMO if you are interested in theory you should buy this book. Some bits of it are very advanced, and unless you are at quite a high level already you probably won't work through it in a oner (I'm not on top of all of it by any means). But the early chapters are accessible (and useful) and you will pretty much have a lifetime resource - you can use it as a reference as well as something to work through. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingertalkin Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 Thanks to everyone for the info. Davio, that thread you gave me the link to is awesome. I searched theory in the search function, but must have missed that thread. Now I just need to figure out what it all means. How do you sign a computer screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Yeah, don' have much time to type now but the Levine book is truly essential. It's taken me 20+ years of bassplaying before I found it. I have been through lots of books (I love books). The great thing about it is it is written in a straightforward way that all will understand and has transcribed examples from real recordings of all the theoretical ideas. It goes from the most basic intervals, scales and modes to more advanced than most jazz pros. It won't teach you how to read music. My awful reading skills were adequate for it, however. I know not everybody plays jazz, but everybody who wants to improve as a musician had better study jazz. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 If you are going to spend all that money, you should go to Boston and enroll in the school. Playing music with all the other students at Berklee is as valuable as taking the classes. One of my young friends is going to Harvard and playing in two combos at Berklee (the two schools are very close to each other). His sax playing has improved by leaps and bounds. I believe that our friend Gospel7theZealot who goes to MIT (another nearby school) sometimes jams with Berklee people. There's a joke that if someone says they went to Berklee, you ask if they graduated. If they did, they must not be very good....the good ones meet people and off they go onto their professional careers. Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bc_dup1 Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Originally posted by bc: But the early chapters are accessibleI should probably clarify this as I've misused the word "accessible". I don't mean later chapters are hard to read or understand. But you will need to put in the hours with the material before you know it well enough for it to be useful. The *theory* of, say, the "modes" built from the melodic minor scale is not difficult to understand but I've never put in the time to internalise it properly and make it useful in a playing situation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric VB Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 Sorry, didn't bother to check out the specifics on the online class. What do you get for it besides (hopefully) knowledge gained? Some college credit? Do you get a certificate, or is it part of a certificate program? As a tangent to what Jeremy pointed out, paper credentials like certificates and degrees don't help you get gigs like they do in other fields, with the exception of teaching. Still, it would be nice to have something for your troubles in case you need a resume builder. Saying you earned a piece of paper is a little stronger than just saying you took a class. If you just want the knowledge, then Luke's 12 years of private lessons are probably a better deal, provided the instructor(s) can provide the same content (and more). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingertalkin Posted December 1, 2005 Author Share Posted December 1, 2005 I would love to go to a music school. I don't think the wifey and kids would appreciate it to much. I take lessons with an instructor that I think is good, but he is the only one that I have ever been to. All of the lesson givers in the area are full or mainly teach g****r. I started to play the bass late seeing that I am 30. I enjoy it and am happy with my progress, but I want to learn faster. Maybe I am getting ahead of myself, but I like to play. How do you sign a computer screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil W Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 If yo think you need more, I would suggest travelling to a quality bass teacher (maybe in a big city) once a month or so (or less). You'll get plenty of stuff to work on. I'm still working on/digesting stuff from my last class over a year ago! Otherwise, explain your goals to your local teacher and get him to break it down into a few lessons. Also, if you want to learn theory, you could learn it from a good g****r teacher, saxophonist, trumpeter or whatever. http://philwbass.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric VB Posted December 1, 2005 Share Posted December 1, 2005 30 ... still young! I don't think you're getting ahead of yourself. You can talk about your goals with your instructor and see if something can be done, and/or you can check out your local community college to see what they have to offer. (It's often easier working with comm. college than a big university, but sometimes you can get a night class at either one.) You should at least be able to make some contacts with other musicians that way. If the Berklee online thing really appeals to you, I don't think there's anything really wrong with it, it's just not the first choice for some of us. Don't forget to join a local band (if you haven't already), even if all you do is jam in someone's garage. That's a learning experience, too, probably in a more practical and applied way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fingertalkin Posted December 2, 2005 Author Share Posted December 2, 2005 What are your guys opinions on when one is ready to join a band? I have only been playing for 4 months or so. I'm still learning what notes I'm playing. I could probably hang with a newer guitarist or someone new to another instrument for that matter, but how do you know when you are ready. Or, is joining a group a way to really get things going and making more sense. I guess I am going to find out. My local community college does have music courses, I just have a few scheduling conflicts. How do you sign a computer screen? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luke73 Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Go join a band now if you can Since joining my first band around six months ago, I've learned a great deal - far more than if I had simply been continuing my lessons and playing at home. Not only have I learned a great deal, but I've had a great time, met some really good people, and had a very rewarding part in creating some original music. I can't recommend it highly enough http://www.myspace.com/twoshortrocks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
davio Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 Playing with other musicians on a similar or higher level than yourself is one of the best things you can do to improve your own playing. And it's a load of fun! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy c Posted December 2, 2005 Share Posted December 2, 2005 If someone wants to be in a band with you, you should do it. The answer my wife and I give to students who ask the question, "what do I have to do to be a professional musician?" is "Get someone to hire you." Free download of my cd!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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