Jazz Instruction Books for young bassists

[Daphne]

I am a jazz bassist who also teaches. I am about to start with an eleven year old who wants to learn jazz on bass. He took trp. lessons for a year until he got braces and that was the end of that.

I'm a little overwhelmed about how to feed this baby chick mouthfuls he won't choke on and could sure use a nice hip book for beginners.

Can anyone suggest a good book I can use and where to get it?

Thanks.

[BassPlaya]

Try "Creating Jazz Bass Lines" by Jim Stinnett.

[Daphne]

I was able to download a sample page of the book and liked what I saw.

In 1989 I was fortunate enough to get a (now non-existent) study grant from the NEA and studied with Cecil McBee for a year. That was my intense education on walking bass and this page shows the same thing but in a way that I think an 11-year old would be able to digest.

[jessicajones]

Gotta put my 2 cents in here...I have been working with kids with jazz for like 20 years, almost exclusively by ear. I think that is the main way of learning to really understand what improvising means on a deep level. Thats why the Old Guys had the apprenticeship way of passing on knowledge, like dharma transmission or whatever. Kids are particularly eligible for this kind of learning, its how we all learned to speak, etc. I havent taught many bass players, but my son is now 11 and playing bass and I like to use as little theory and as little reading as possible in the situation. We've worked on walking bass like, sing the note that you are going to, now find some steps up from your last note that take you there. Experiment, and if something works, use it again, but dont be afraid to experiment again.
I dont think its good to approach music from a theoretical, intimidating point of view when you are first learning it. Its better to be intrigued, and seek it out yourself (even if its later) so you appreciate it.
Thats my two cents. I will also check out the book you mentioned!

[Dig Gonsalves]

Great point from Jessica.
To amplify, make it FUN. Feed that baby mouthfulls of fun. Discovery will take the place of failure, impatience, and critical expectation.

(my brother was traumatized by a piano "teacher" and to this day, has trouble listening to piano. he even edits out piano solos from jazz tapes!)

[mtaylorjazz]

Amen to jessica and dig!! i think both answers apply to "grown-up" musicians too!

mt

Circle Squared @ CD Baby

[Daphne]

Thanks for all the comments. The 11 year old is getting fun "groove" lines that he can handle to play, is having a great time and feeling like a badass bass player. He's also learning what the notes are and likes doing that. I've got 2 other older students, one plays in jazz band at school and the other plays in a good youth orchestra. They both know scales and have some chops. They are both using the book Creating Jazz Bass Lines (thanks for the suggestion!) and they are hooked, practising a lot and also feeling real good.

[Dig Gonsalves]

Daphne, congratulations are in order for another contribution to World Peace. What a gift.
Well done!

[Daphne]

Shucks... pshaw... thanks! :0)