What You Didn't Learn in Music School [ AN's Bass Lessons #10 ]

[@keaganwall8178]

Lol I got an ad for anti depressants when this video was over

[@JayCee-hw4zc]

😂

[@larrynickel9101]

Being a nice person with people skills - who has a positive attitude and who shows up on time with the music ready to go is also an asset.

[@Symphonicrockfran]

Best professional advice. Just be a good person

[@davidkelly0]

"Offer yourself by being yourself. And if that doesn't work be somebody else, because you may suck" - Bo Burnham

[@hubblebublumbubwub5215]

You also don't learn cooking in music school. Don't forget that one.

[@rym6060]

Wulbulbul Lubbubwublub Haha, sucks when you finally make your food-money with your arts but then can't apply any of your studied information to transform that money into a bowl of rice :(

[@vanya1893]

@@rym6060 щщщщщ бош от щщщщщ. Ша 8 8 9щ щщщщщ в Москве и он

[@vintagehaynesflute]

I couldn’t afford to cook most anything when I graduated from Uni. Thank god for ramen noodles and a third hand microwave!

[@mikehunt4023]

You learn to cook grooves not food

[@Dowlphin]

There is cooking (which has to be learned) and there is cooking (which is what the food does in the microwave).

[@talkingbasslessons]

Absolutely spot on! There is SOOO much of this stuff that you never cover at music school and I suspect it can sometimes be because the standard bread-and-butter gigs can appear too embarrassing to mention in a competitive academic setting. The first time I played on a supposedly simple cruise gig I felt like a complete amateur because even though I could read well enough, my repertoire was badly lacking. Absolutely everyone around me could literally play any request thrown at them and the only stuff I'd been learning during my years at music college tended towards all things 'hip'. Very little Abba. Very little Village People! I know YMCA ain't gonna make any college syllabus anytime soon but, as you mentioned, the alumni networking is way more useful for real life gigging than a lot of the lesson content.

[@ilshyf]

Music Schools never mention their own competitive academic setting, just like you never reveal your own life to anyone except who you can trust and keep it secret. I'm not a musician, but I am currently enrolling a doctorate degree in France for communication studies (And I'm not French). Even though I'm not playing music, I can understand how much blood, sweat and money they spent (suffered a lot of problems on their own), until they finally hired by School as a professor as much you do now for music and success. Just like you complain music industry and play music (for living) to make ends meet, they do the same thing in school. It basically is a clash between different perspectives (which is, of course, hardly a matter of opinion).

[@Whitman1819]

You know what's funny... it's like this for every degree program. Unless you are a natural... you are going nowhere. One professor told us in a broadcasting class that something like 98% of people in this program will never end up in their industry of choice. He said that's the way it was for almost all degree programs. I think he was right.

[@no_nameyouknow]

@@Whitman1819 Yeah, too much competition in anything at all 'cool'. I mean, if you get a degree in accounting you can find work as an accountant. No problem. But that isn't what people go for.

[@Whitman1819]

@@no_nameyouknow yeah well in things 'cool' there is also a lot of emphasis on money so greedy execs make choices for us....in some ways I think the internet has helped the arts but not enough for someone to make a lifelong career at it most of the time...I dunno... maybe life just ain't about money... you do your money thing... then you do the thing you love for free or next to nothing... hopefully there is the time to do those things in between...

[@rekindled3624]

@eddieisfiction unfortunately most artists will find it difficult to do that. In today's music industry you're either all in or you're out. Plus, if your true passion, the reason you live for, is music, there's no point in getting another degree anyway

[@DVSPress]

You hit pretty much every point. Excellent advice for young musicians. Having taught music at the university level, I have to say that I now council young people to avoid music degrees. The main reason? Terrible *Return on Investment*. Music performance on its own has pretty bad ROI when you factor in the time spent practicing for a gig when you get paid for said gig, and the ROI is even worse when you take on massive amounts of debt for an education you could get for free off of youtube, by reading books, or by asking the right people the right questions. There is also the very big problem of *career growth* - the money you make when you are 22 as a performer might not seem that bad, but it's pretty bad when you are thirty. Unlike most other careers where income, skill, and productivity increase over time, in music those increases either doesn't happen or doesn't translate into more revenue.

[@SRV463]

I did a Bachelor's in Jazz and everything you said is 100% accurate. Young musicians should think twice before diving into debt, unless they truly are content with making good music and not much money the rest of their life. Thanks for sharing this!

[@Dayta]

most valuable thing ive learned as a musician in the last 30 years is ... *learn how to say NO*

[@aknopf8173]

That is a very useful skill not just in music but in life in gerenal. I'm still a novice, though. :(

[@Tucker.Showkeir]

aknopf you can't spell novice without 'no'

[@asston712]

yesvice

[@Dowlphin]

Rappers might tell you that learning how to say yeeeeeeaah is more important for your career.

[@Dowlphin]

@Tucker Showkeir - Also can't spell it without vice. Hey, funny, it exactly spells no-vice. (Which rhymes with I mean mnemonic device. ... Hmmmm... mnemonic device -> demonic no vice)

[@heyypumpkin]

I'm a music student at a small college in Australia, and I feel like we are pretty blessed here because they try provide material and courses that are relevant for contemporary musicians working in the real world. That being said, the alumni network is a lot smaller so you pick your battles I guess. Love your videos!

[@heyypumpkin]

Excelsia College - formerly Wesley institute. I have reallly loved being there, its a beautiful encouraging community and i think that environment has helped hone some amazing musicians imo

[@heyypumpkin]

oh great!! good luck with it all! maybe we will meet in another music life haha If I can offer you a piece of advice, do a lot of research!! know whats out there and know what people offer, and know you aren't locked into anything :)

[@heyypumpkin]

haha yeah they are pretty old.. good luck with the audition!

[@oweneaton8531]

The mention of fellow peers not taking "popular songs" seriously is something I have seen time and time again without fail. Im currently in school right now for guitar

[@AshenElk]

This video is relevant to much more than just the music business. "Industrialised education," as you called it, has its paws everywhere. You made a great point about how the real life lessons can differ so much from the classroom. Excellent video.

[@Dowlphin]

People only need to watch Momo to get a good idea of how society works and where we're heading and why.

[@AshenElk]

Momo?

[@Dowlphin]

www.imdb.com/title/tt0091537 Apparently there is also an animated version, but I haven't watched it, Might be easier for people without German language skills: www.imdb.com/title/tt0299040 Or, you know ... if you like to read books. 🙂

[@SkylarRuloff]

I have a theory on Julliard. I think many of the students there are playing classical, not jazz. So they probably graduate and immediately audition for orchestras. Where as jazz players graduate and look to form bands.

[@oicfas4523]

This is what I think too. My background is classical, and my impression is that Julliard is higher regarded in that realm than the other schools he mentioned. It would make sense why Adam isn't as familiar with Julliard-trained musicians.

[@theMad_Artist]

This is such a ridiculously stupid comment

[@neonshadowhand8634]

Abhik Mazumder care to elaborate?

[@leaguemaskthaamumugod7552]

A lot of Julliard folks go on to teach too.

[@kyuryu9325]

Skylar Ruloff u have to b ask to come n b good so u can b the best

[@RobCarrollMusic]

This felt all too real. Just found your channel man, really digging your videos.

[@darthstigater6642]

When practicing something it's best to alternate between that and something else if you want it to go into your long term memory. Don't just practice that one riff over and over, practice two riffs by alternating between them. This forces you to not only be able to play the riff but to be able to recall the riff, which implants it into your long term/muscle memory a lot faster.

[@jimbedard5989]

I am a 64yr old musician, my son a working drummer...he did a summer workshop at Berkeley years back, Adam you really nailed this.....love all your posts.... with all the EDM going on your verbiage & knowledge supports real musicians and the real tools needed so they can find a paying gig......I'm lucky left the band thing years ago to go solo being a singer/guitarist much more opportunity for paying gigs!

[@WernerErkelens]

Really hitting the nail on the head with this one Adam. Some really relevant stuff here.

[@noodle3947]

Werner Erkelens your bass is sick dude

[@evanwilliamson8338]

This is the most underrated music channel on youtube. Thank you.

[@sarahaharper]

evan williamson I agree

[@marcparella]

30 years after graduating from the San Francisco Conservatory in composition, I would have rather invested that money in Apple and today I would be able to own the New York Philharmonic. My advice to Theory/Comp grads: study on your own and put the money into a hot demo. Conductors don't care where you went to school. Either they like your stuff or not. You only get the DMA if you want to teach and the world is overrun with Theory/Comp teachers.

[@mmmpie]

the fast pace, the quick editing, the message of every video, the passion you clearly have, your musical taste, the memes, my god. I want to be best friends with you so bad its tragic.

[@alxjones]

I think the best thing you can do is "shop around" with music schools to find one that suits what you want to learn as well as having a solid alumni network, and fill in the gaps on your own time. The things that music school doesn't teach you, while maybe difficult, are all reasonable to learn on your own and especially in experience. Really, the important thing is to keep an open mind, and realize that being a musician means playing in bars, clubs, and restaurants for at least a few years. Being a musician in itself should be a rewarding experience for you, because just about everything else about it will not be. Also, I'm going to disagree about the musical memory part. In my time in music school, I was required each week to learn about 8-10 etudes on different instruments (percussion), for 12 weeks, and then play a random selection of them at the end of the semester. Both sight reading and musical memory are imperative to succeed on these exams, and the music is much less catchy or memorable compared to pop/jazz charts. When you develop the feel for certain chord progressions and melodies, and develop a strong reading ability, then really all you need to be able to do is make charts/sheet music for what your playing (if it doesn't exist already). Buy a fake book, and practice notating by ear with Sibelius or equivalent. Whenever you transcribe something, put it together in your own book, so that you have a massive collection of popular tunes and tunes that you've played. These are all things you can do while being a music student, including playing gigs around town. Take control of your own learning, and you will learn. Lose the superiority complex that comes with a music degree, and make sure that you can do everything the layman musician can and more. Network with everyone in the industry and just be a likable person. If you do those things, you will probably get some small time gigs. If that's not good enough for you, quit now because some very talented musicians are out there still playing bar gigs after 10 years.

[@Kipperbob]

I literally learnt everything I know about music theory in college studying music, I could play guitar before but I was literally just searching for sound alone without names for the notes or chords, I had visually absorbed the shapes of chords from watching guitarist's fingers and used them to imitate the sounds, music theory and aural perception classes have proved to be invaluable to me since, now I know what I'm doing, whereas before I was totally bluffing 100%of the time

[@mariorodriguez981]

Sort of in the same boat, started college last year and have been learning my theory/ear training/sight singing. How has it been? Kind of scared this is a useless degree or something but music is my passion

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Ah, my fellow Manhattan School of Music alum. I get the feeling you're entering the world of club dates. It's a shame the industry is all but dead. Even back in the 80's to anyone doing club dates it was clear that there were basically four types of musicians -- all of whom wound up in a wedding band at some point in order to pick up some extra money. (Today you have top players killing to get a club date gig to survive, but that's another story). You had the Berklee guys -- who as you mention, understood music, mostly jazz, but had no feel. They couldn't groove or even latch onto one. The guitar players could play like Alan Holdsworth but could n't play the rhythm to Proud Mary. Then there were the guys who were in original bands -- they tended to be the most creative and artistic but sometimes did not learn the songs correctly. You had the wedding band hacks, who usually played everything half-assed but could fake better than anyone and transpose anything into any key on the spot. And you had the bar band musicians. These were the guys who usually had no formal training but the best of them learned the songs like the records, learned the vocals parts and the harmonies, and played in a way that insured they'd be called back by the club owner. I've done a bit of all of it and there's something to be learned from all of it. And that was the biggest lesson to getting better. Do it all and don't think YOUR thing is the shit over anyone else's. Talent comes in many forms. You are correct that the business is very cliquish. And warning -- once you're over 50, that clique gets a lot smaller and the guys coming up want little to do with you.

[@olflatop]

Miles Davis went to Julliard. Then he met Charlie Parker and said screw Julliard. lol

[@z0mbyz624]

Thats almost 80 years ago bud

[@z0mbyz624]

@mentalroof its interesting, actually

[@adityatyagi4009]

@Candidateforpresident I'm glad Miles made it to NYC because that's where he learned how to curse properly. :D

[@thestonecutters6177]

I'm a bassist/bandleader working in LA.. I didn't got to music school although I trained myself on Bach, Bird,Ray brown, Jaco.. etc.. Every musician I hire (I hire 6 or more people a week for weekly recurring gigs) went to college for music.... They are exactly as you describe! They know a bunch of chick corea licks but don't even know how to play Mustang Sally (or what that is).. These are the guys who are going to get jobs teaching at the schools so the cycle will continue....

[@kingjliow]

..and here i am teaching music at school

[@fabulo19]

I'm in music school right now, and even though I mainly study music production, we still have ensemble classes where we get to play on more orthodox instruments, and we actually got to play mustang sally last year :D

[@thestonecutters6177]

bass is not an orthodox instrument... The lute or the 5 string cello de gamba are orthodox instruments

[@RicardoUrquizaMusic]

So what's your brilliant plan Mr. succesful musician? Know how to play every pop song and be mediocre because the media demands it? Put any of those who you "hire" a sheet of paper in front of them and they will play it, while you in the exact same scenario would've shit your pants wondering what does the word "improvise" mean.

[@Jamie-zs8ok]

100 percent agreed

[@luisewing984]

So spot on, I'm a percussionist and when I tried to learn more popular music, which can actually more helpful for gigs. But, I was almost to the point discouraged because it wasn't classical repertoire

[@eliasscimeca9727]

Juliard teaches classical music, berklee is known for teaching contemporary music. In contemporary music business connections are everything but in classical not so much. It’s like trying to compare cricket and baseball just because someone throws a ball and swings a bat

[@michaelladerman2564]

Elias, do you play classical music? Because I'm wondering why you're saying that connections aren't so important in classical music.

[@biggiecheese5953]

@@michaelladerman2564 boi classical music is dying. Im in highschool, play Chopin, win competitions, and love it, but going to school for it, there’s almost no fking way.

[@ChrisChronos]

I never went to music school, but in my highschool in UK I was lucky enough to have the former music professor of Sydney university as my music teacher. He taught me exactly what you just said, and he had the connections to help me find my way. Now I'm in Spain doing 4 to 5, "45 minute shows" a night, 5 nights a week. I wouldn't have got anywhere if it wasn't for him. Great video Adam!

[@robashley7721]

This is bang on. Amos Heller (Taylor Swift) put me onto this type of thinking a few years back. I was really inspired with his story of moving to Nashville learning every song that every performing band was playing in town at that time, resulting in having 500+ songs on speed dial (WTF) and hustling sub work. Being able to slot into sub work and get the job done will open doors and again to quote Amos - "Until you are a professional musician, act like one", It certainly worked for him, ultimatly landing a great gig with TS. Adam again your work is an inspiration - thanks for reinforcing the message - Best from New Zealand.

[@camerongolinsky]

I totally agree with you and I experienced this after I moved to Taiwan when I graduated with a bachelor of music in trombone. There was no demand for trombonists, but there was a demand for arrangers in the vocal scene. I adapted my skills and started an a cappella group with which I could arrange for and have been fortunate to meet many people in all levels of the popular music scene. Very few of them had ever studied music at a university level. I have maybe ever met a handful of people who had studied music in this field and it is those I find the most difficulty to work with due to egos and inflexibility. It's been a really awesome adventure so far but the actual performing aspect of my life as a musician is by far the smallest.

[@wintonwhite7909]

Do you still live in Taiwan? I just moved to Japan trying to do my best to do music gigs and going well so far. I'll actually be in Taiwan end of next month. If you have any gigs I'd love to check it out!

[@camerongolinsky]

Winton White I do still live in Taipei! Awesome city. We might have some gigs, depending on when you are coming exactly! You can search 問樂團 Guess What on Facebook and we will post about gigs we have that are open to the public. I hope you are having an amazing experience in Japan. All my friends there love it.

[@wintonwhite7909]

Awesome! That's cool you're doing an pop a cappella group there. I actually played tuba for 12 years, now mainly a composer but I've been singing for the past 8 years now! So like you, from low brass to vocals :D I'll be there with my friend 12/29-1/6. If there aren't any gigs or we can't make it, if you want, I'm totally down for meeting up for coffee or tea just to shoot the shit. Let me know either way!

[@camerongolinsky]

Winton White I'm back from Vancouver Jan 4th so sounds cool!

[@wintonwhite7909]

Cool man. I'll let you know when schedule's finalized more and see if we can meet up! :D

[@pedroV2003]

This is pretty much true for all degrees. After leaving music school I spent the next 3 studying accounting and I'd say in the 40+ years since I'd say that about 90-95% of what I do day to day I learned after I left school. Good videos Adam.

[@Corklops]

Every single thing you said from 0:30 to 0:50 resonated with me so well that I'll be linking back to this video at that timestamp every time someone asks me if they should be a pro musician from now on.

[@GnumatiComa]

My eyes are open! I'm greatly appreciating your videos, and especially this one. I've followed a specific graduating class of Berklee, those including groups like Mad Satta and Alissia Beneviste. It all makes sense now!

[@AdamNeely]

Mad Satta is dope! I play with their keyboard player, Kevin, sometimes, and I've been following them for a hot second. Very groovey, and forward-looking.

[@ryanweston7547]

I'm a 34 years old amateur musician. I decided to go back to school for music about a year ago after getting a hernia from construction work. I'm really enjoying it even though it's incredibly hard for me. I only started learning to read music when I entered a year ago, so I'm definitely behind as far as keeping up with the expected pace at an institution. Despite my struggle, it's incredibly rewarding. I'm so appreciative that I'm able to do this at this point in my life. However, I will say this about my experience so far; It's been one of the least creative years of my life. All my time is used up learning what's expected of me to make good grades. I spend very little time working on personal creative pursuits. With my limited experience, I totally agree with this video critique. It does feel like institutions could be more progressive about how to approach classical training. Sometimes I worry about my brain becoming atrophied creatively. Thanks for this video!

[@knightlautrec4311]

If you don't turn the Bass Lessons tune into a full track I will

[@AdamNeely]

go for it! steal away

[@knightlautrec4311]

Maybe I will!

[@PepinoMichoacan]

Well, sign me in for that !

[@Corvid]

On a side note, where does the crazy 80's robot dancing guy visual come from?

[@tonyhakston536]

+Knight Lautrec Well if you won't do it then I guess I have too!

[@bobsmith-ov3kn]

Jon Batiste (and his whole band I think) are all juliard alumni who are the band for Colbert's The Late Show, if that counts as a "new york city" gig,

[@BarnibusMaximusMusic]

I'm surprised I went to the not particularly prestigious university of huddersfield doing popular music and the whole learning a ton of shitty pop songs was very much ingrained in everyone here who was going into performance. We learned how to write a setlist suitable for a cruise ship, a 50th anniversary party, a 70s disco night etc etc. Most of which you would have to learn more songs than we would actually play at the performance and during the grades they would pick random songs for the band to perform as "requests". It was ok but as someone who moved very quickly away from commercial music I would have enjoyed more theory. I got into Slonimsky by myself because I personally love jazz and Coltrane is my jam. Most the people from my course are still into music in full-time function bands, tutoring music, or creating jingles. I teach for my wages, play when I get a chance, and write music for fun. I'm not in it for prestige or money. I just want to make a simple living from the one of the few things that i'm both good at and enjoy. I had a job in outsourced sales and marketing and it was there that I discovered the true face of narcissistic ambition. They wanted to 'live like rockstars' and when i see people getting into music 'for the fame' i just think of those pyramid scheme fuckers and how when it came down to it their idea of success was snorting special K in the bathroom of an overpriced strip-club. Use your ears and you'll figure out what music is supposed to be about. I worry that it could attract even more of the "I wanna be famous" lot if the music schools focus too much on commercial success.

[@Rakoah]

Dude I've been watching your videos for the last like 4 hours. I go to school at Full Sail University, but your giving me more insight than some of these teachers. Thanks for the vids man!

[@martydurlam]

I agree with this video 100%. I learned much from music school (I have an AA in Instrument Performance), but I learned WAY more from a modest church gig that I held onto for the first ten years of my musical career. Take lessons from someone. Learn to read and write music. Surround yourself with musicians more experienced than you. Train your ear.

[@clicks59]

I was really fortunate to have a middle school orchestra teacher that taught out of the box. He was all about teaching the fundamentals but he also promoted soloing skills. He would randomly choose someone to play a solo......... just to see what his students were made of. This same teacher also led the jazz choir. His bass charts consisted of chord symbols......... no notation. He told me this and I quote "play what you feel and be as creative as you like". So here I was , a freshman in high school basically looking at Realbook charts (we're talking mid 70's here)............ I'll always cherish that man. He was a great bassist/teacher and best of all, a wonderful human being. Thanks Gerald Lopes.

[@estarling8766]

A school diploma generally speaking is confirming your intentions in a certain field. The drive, the work and the study are yours. Depends all on you how far you want to go with it.

[@1mespud]

Kudos for explaining the realities of the music business. I find no disagreement. School is one thing and the real world is totally another. After almost 50 Plus years as a professional musician, I have learned that it isn't about how "good" you are, but can you make a living with that good. Nowadays everyone is good but the competition is fierce which is why the pay is at a minimum. Most of us chose to be musicians and artists for self expression and because it's so therapeutic. I was raise around a lot of Ike Turner, Chuck Berry, Albert King backing musicians. The rule was to play what people listened to at home or in the car (or strictly covers) and "not" to play what the "band" wanted to hear - which was the best way to get money from the patrons. Performing original material is a whole different universe and attitude. Most people are not patient to hear new music unless the media has already saturated their minds with it. None the less, I continue for it's all in the struggle. Sorry for the rant. Everyone be careful out there..

[@roosterlacrossejr8842]

I think you hit it .45 yrs ago I didnt start playing thinking im gonna be rich no you love it thats what makes you better

[@jgonsalk]

Solid advice. Respect for dedicating your time to speaking about things you truly have a detailed grasp of and sharing that knowledge with us. Very impressive channel overall! :)

[@corrda1993]

From what I hear most Julliard musicians audition for orchestra spots, sometimes get some and then play there till they die. Probably why you don't meet many.

[@foxstarproductions]

I wish I had found this video two years ago. I'm up in Canada so of course academia and the music scene are, of course, different. What you said about the "bubble" seems to be this ubiquitous problem and not just in music. I hold an English degree and most of my courses involved reading books and being told what they meant and why they were good. EXCEPT in my creative writing courses, premium small classes of 12 students or so that were incredible difficult to get into. It was here that I first realized that if you were writing poetry for instance, writing a sonnet or re-writing some rhyming couplets that sounded like T.S. Eliot you were already dead in the water, people weren't writing and especially weren't reading NEW works in that style. Fast forward to post-graduation, some friends, my partner and I opened a small studio for music lessons. Of the five of us I was the only self-taught player with no formal training, but I had played in cover bands and been writing my own tunes just for fun on the side for years. After years of my partner and his University friends joking about me being a "dazzling" amateur (in retrospect quite rudely) I was horrified to find out that not a one of them could write music of any kind, arrange a song from scratch, join into a jam session without complete sheet music and only my boyfriend was even remotely capable of accompanying himself because I'd taught him some guitar along the way. So as we run this studio our jam nights became me on stage with all of these classically trained musicians playing an accompaniment with backup vocals in an arrangement I came up with. Then the weird rivalry seemed to start, almost out of nowhere. "Well let Jim sing this part, he has the better range" I've already been biting my tongue for a while over comments like these and I say, "He really doesn't." I had been doing these arrangements for months and while my boyfriend went to University I actually read his text books and spent some time learning theory, and now that we'd been doing this professionally I spent all my time catching up. They actually made me range competition with this guy. (Like, we're partners, we're a team) with the others obviously cheering on Jim. I'm a firm believer in your edict of tone and phrasing by the way, in my scrub days I would call it a songs "feel" and "flow" and always felt that the music program they were in sacrificed tone for volume and those big belty high notes. But my range is pretty good anyway, when you're harmonizing all the time you develop your range in both directions. When I "won" this "competition" it became all out war at out place. I understand musicians wanting to justify the money they spent on their education and indeed back then they definitely had better ear training, which would be extremely helpful with my writing, I'd hum the tune I wanted and somebody could tell me the notes right away rather than me clumsily plunking it out for 20 minutes. But other than that they had next to ZERO practical skills. All of them have since moved on (I got my ass dumped too over this and it's not like I was jerk about anything), only one (my ex) is still in the music business, doing opera and I believe doing semi-well. I continue to learn theory and I'm composing a chamber ensemble for performance with grant money I earned with an original composition. That elite bubble you talk about, I think burst for them and I think of that quote "the more I learn more I come to realize I know nothing." I still know nothing it seems, but I can DO a lot. Thanks for reading. &ru

[@freeedom22]

Studio Zero your comment is inspiring. Just wanted to let you know. A dabbler.

[@foxstarproductions]

@@freeedom22 Keep dabbling! You can dabble your way to proficiency. An update since I wrote this, I release my first single with my "Band" consisting of me and a great producer I got in touch with. A cover of Don't Fear the Reaper. I'm working on my first album as we speak. kzbin.info/www/bejne/lZKqd4qOfdybf6s Arrangement by me. Every part played and sung by me. The self-taught scrub. :p

[@corybonnett2037]

Several years ago I was involved with a project with incredible musicians. We and our backers invested MASSIVE amounts of time and $ to successfully achieve my/our definition of "perfection", using both organic methods as well as those possible only via the miracle of DAW editing to do so. Poised to ascend to the next level and few guitar solos (mine) short of wrapping, I suddenly found myself imploding, unable to continue and with the work left sitting on a virtual shelf untouched ever since. Adam, your video not only succinctly summarized YOUR own how and why, but MINE as well, in a way I needed to hear SO badly. Though I continued working on others' musical endeavors in a professional capacity, the artistic and creative purgatory where I received my musical mail was a personal prison from which I desperately yearned to break free. That desperation was fueled by my complete inability to finish the original project and move on, all thanks to what I saw as yet ANOTHER of my failures: a frustrating inability to pinpoint exactly WTF went went awry so close to the (almost) culmination of those initial stages way back when. I had NO IDEA why my super-car's engine flamed out so spectacularly/boringly during what SHOULD have been the most joyous period of my musical life thus far. As you can imagine, this left me INCREDIBLY depressed and worried, knowing history would almost assuredly repeat itself if I tried to move forward without solving the underlying and heretofore unknown issue once and for all. I grew up in Yellowstone National Park before attending GIT at Musicians Institute in Hollywood, CA, so unlike most in the middle I have seen the spectrum from one end ALL the way to the other. Yes, remote locations and memories of the "good ol' days" do have their place, but inventions of modern civilization made it possible for you to convey ancient wisdom and change my life unquestionably for the better. You see, thanks to the WWW plus other byproducts of modern ingenuity and Space Race tech, earlier this evening I was allowed the privilege of viewing this video about your Berklee recital here whilst sitting in front of my screen in rural Wisconsin. Your experience coupled with the philosophy overview was a unique delivery system, serving to clarify those ideas which are so deceptively simple with their ethereal natures that they can often be exasperatingly difficult to explain. You reached me in a way nothing else has, and all sent across the miles via the interwebs. Adam, I AM absolutely grateful for those men and women who created such tools, to be sure, but it is YOU to whom I shall be forever in debt. BTW, I have ALREADY finished the first of those remaining few solos. The rest should be finished in rapid succession now that the most significant barrier (by FAR) has been removed. Thank you, my friend I have never met.

[@mrdilonemusic]

"Berklee Funk" So fucking true.

[@richsackett3423]

Then a picture of John Scofield. Even truer.

[@anewagora]

I could never go to school at this point. I have achieved many things people told me were impossible and dropped out of high school. It was one of the best decisions of my life and shortly after that some of my younger friends went to college- and they really struggled. I enjoy us going on different paths and not having to be all the same, but having that happen really ingrained in me that I made the right decision more than I ever could have imagined. I am proud that I prove to so many people that my life is an example of success outside of school AND because I am outside of school. This video is personal because music is one of my best skills and I would never go to school for music to let someone interrupt my creation process, interrupt my way of doing it. If you want to have a say in my music, you better be playing what I wrote or playing with me. Musician's stake as I call it. Music school sounds like a depressing hell hole of false grandiosity, hype, and cookie cutter restrictions.

[@hyalinamusic18]

I memorize all my jazz band music so that way I only use my music to learn it. I don't really need to bring my music to concerts or festival. It's really useful to not have to worry about my sheet music.

[@bengalinsky4300]

Some great points. It is common among graduate musicians to look down upon pop standards as 'beneath them', that works as a great defense mechanism rather than having to admit playing dotted eighths for 5 minutes is way harder than Giant Steps.

[@alexschuster1618]

A new Weather Report album... Every week? My hat goes off to everyone in that group. Also, I can attest to the "song library" being a huge part of getting gigs, one only has to look to craigslist to see what the demand is of other musicians. It could be scoffed at, and passed off as "craigslist," but what I see in bars and craigslist seem to go hand in hand.

[@Randomguy190]

Real talk mode, activate. Form of, realistic, modern working bassist. Can't thank you enough for these tidbits Adam, please keep them coming! And thanks for addressing what i had asked you about on your other video, your opinion on the validity of the traditional inroad for professional musicians was much anticipated and is greatly appreciated.

[@wachiquinonezlindao2279]

I am from Ecuador and I completely agree with all the points, especially with the Alumni network. Without contacts it is very difficult to get a gig

[@tyronewarren6944]

This video speaks the truth. I also graduated from Berklee, and discovered the same realities not long after graduating.

[@mariosuena]

When i first got into Berklee College of Music i arrived and explored Boston a bit, i came upon a public piano in Quincy Market where i met a homeless man who was absolutely amazing on the piano. We chatted and he told me he graduated from Berklee in the 80’s , i asked what he majored in there and he said songwriting. And it was at that moment that i knew songwriting is not a legitamate field of study and Im glad to say that after one semester there i am no longer wasting my money at a music school.

[@golfjunki]

Been playing for 30+ years, started in the Military band system when I was 17. You sir, have done the world a great service. The only thing that I would add is that as a bassist, you need to have a convincing stylistic feel in every genre you can name...if you want to work. It is definitely "who ya know" out there in the real world

[@trushack]

Just a guess, but I'd expect that most Julliard grads either end up teaching somewhere or do the orchestra thing, which is probably a very different scene than the pop/rock/jazz/theater/etc gigging scenes described here. I know a classical-focused guy (did not go to Julliard, but has a handful of advanced music degrees) and a lot of his career development has been through teaching positions and the like. I also wouldn't be surprised to find out that many of them end up in the U.S. military bands, which is a good way to make money playing music IF you can through the audition process.

[@blahpunk1]

I started working on a jazz performance major in New Orleans (a long time ago) and I finally realized the importance of the alumni network. I also realized that I wasn't nearly talented enough or devoted enough to make any use of that degree. Great channel. Harmony is like a drug to me and the directions you take it blow my mind.

[@thescowlingschnauzer]

Alumni networks are the best reason to go to school. I didn't go to school for music, but the reason I have my dayjob is because alumni of my school were doing the hiring. That's not to say that they gave me a pass. Being alumni of the same school just meant they didn't have to waste any time checking my credentials. They already knew what I was worth.

[@dandrew3386]

As a musical theater performer, im really happy that being alive from company is being done often enough to be mentioned here

[@corrda1993]

Part of the issue with a school with Juliard is that its so classically focused. At least at my school (which was classical) everyone graduates with qualifications to do 1 thing. Classical (90% symphonic) music. So everyone goes and auditions for Orchestras of which positions are becoming fewer and applicants getting greater. PLUS often times its still about who you know. This is the reason a lot of classical musicians I know struggle to find work. Its an all or nothing shot. Either land an orchestra job or miraculously get funding to start a chamber group. If you fail at those two thats the end of the road. Give up music, get a desk job.

[@kenhimurabr]

Exactly. And this game is harder for composers in the same scenario. Winner takes all.

[@zeMusicluver]

4:35 - VERY true. It helps to just be a willing party, as well. Sure, a lot of the stuff you may play may not necessarily be prestigious (or even fun sometimes--I've played a lot of boring gigs, man) but showing yourself to be reliable and down for whatever is needed for the particular gig only ups your chances of being rehired, or at the very least having your name passed around. And this is *especially* true and helpful if you live somewhere that doesn't really have a huge music scene like I do. And kind of jumping off of that, a lot of the musicians I've worked with in the past haven't even been the most amazing players out there, but they were solid and just plain decent people. Basic stuff, but that really goes a long way. I've played a lot of repeat gigs and if there were ever any musicians there that gave off the vibe of being too good for the music/venue/gig/etc., they often weren't rehired.

[@vojinvmilojkovic7622]

Same problem just art/painting school, they teach you to be artist but not the fundamentals

[@williambrandon9660]

After finishing my undergrad w a bfa in dance, I feel all of this man. its pretty much the same for dancers who choose the university route

[@joseph8057]

i know treasure so i feel better about myself now

[@ASMR_HWD]

Adam. You are fucking fantastic. As a recent Berklee grad, you've captured pretty much everything in 7 minutes.

[@Dowlphin]

4:30 In China that's called guanxi and many people think just because it has a weird name it only exists in China and isn't the same as connections. Also, networking is one of those things that look like having a reasonable purpose and usefulness, but that's a small-picture view. It only makes sense for managing societal flaws. But it's also a bit like what going on with Hollywood. Full of sensitive, troubled, dishonorable people, big money, ego etc...drama (go figure) - So many people are afraid of taking any risk and want references, people that vouch. Such a system can so very easily mutate into a kind of extended nepotism, with the result that self-marketing and social manipulation becomes a main skillset. ... 5:15 As underlined subtly by your corrected speech, heh. People with whom to play are your peers, people to play with are toys. P.S.: Pragmatically I can understand it. I had someshattering encounters in regards to working together. It is shocking what kind of people are out there, and I realized that sitcom characters are often not at all exaggerated. ... Due to societal ills people are really good at pretending to be someone else. ... Immaturity is fear. Lots of that out there, my god.

[@jakubskyba7946]

I truly like your attitude, it's like you see things with clear perspective while still keeping space to differences. More teachers like that!

[@Jbm0230]

I'm almost done with my degree. You're making me wish I had studied something else. Is the music industry really declining that fast? That's so sad.

[@peterbull3955]

Jacob Moreno it's just changing.

[@TheresaTV1]

The vast majority of music school graduates need a “day job” and can’t support themselves just performing music. Usually they teach during the day and gig nights/weekends. I know some with graduate music degrees that have careers completely unrelated to music, and music is their “2nd job”. It’s not the music industry, it’s just life. Too many musicians and not enough jobs, simple supply and demand. If you really want to make money as a musician, you need to be a very good string player (violin, cello, etc.) since there are less of them at a high proficiency level.

[@Operaandchant90]

As a church musician of 17 years, I can say the quick learning of music and sight reading skills I have learned from the years doing that are invaluable. However, countless numbers of my opera singer friends lack this skill as it was not taught at university level.

[@paolopizzi5603]

Juilliard still has a lot of influence in the classical music world. My wife went there and it's the first thing everybody notices in her curriculum, even if there are more impressive things in there. Oh, and BTW, it's not only Berklee musicians who sound all the same: originality is virtually gone in the pop/rock and jazz world. In the 70's and 80's, if you were "different" (i.e. original), people would listen to you. If you're "different" today, people would consider you a weirdo.

[@paolopizzi5603]

Edouard Blain-Noël Yeah, what the hell do I know, kid, right? I only have two music degrees and a BS in Acoustics and I've only been a professional musician for 35 years...

[@paolopizzi5603]

Actually education and experience are absolutely necessary to *recognize* innovation. The fact that you don't know that proves that you don't have either, kid.

[@darkravenguitar6392]

I’m not seeing the concept of “being different” in music makes anyone “weird” amongst the youth, in fact, a lot of the youth are enjoying the different approaches. The people who complain about what’s different are the older folks who feel that the way things were in their time was the best. Other than that, a lot of youth are constantly defending our differences, against our elders. Truthfully, I think music schools have typically been rigid in their teaching of music, for example the canon that’s necessary to learn to graduate, which has lead to a lot of musicians having to learn the rest through experience. So, I seriously doubt originality is virtually gone. It’s likely just not getting the attention it should. But there are a some players I’ve seen who are getting fame due to originality, so, it appears that there is desire for something different. I think the good thing is that these players took what they learned in music school and sought their own voice. I think education and experience are important, but not necessary to recognise innovation. People who are not educated and experienced, let’s say experience in music performance, can hear or recognise innovation. But then there are those who are educated and experienced but shut down innovation, unable to see it as innovation, pushing someone to go outside of the academia and musician world to get the necessary recognition by those who lack education and experience.

[@ethantrimble4823]

I'd say this somewhat hits the nail on the head. I'm a French horn player first, a bassist outside of my academic pursuits, and working on my masters in theory/composition. As much experience as I feel I've gotten, schools seem to be lacking concerning the business end of being a musician. Through networking and asking your professors the information is there, but it's all subject to their individual experience. Where repertoire is concerned, I haven't seen any professors that don't emphasize repertoire knowledge to their students on their main instrument, however the bass guitar is left at a loss since not many music schools offer bass guitar performance degrees - at such schools, bass students pick up upright bass (if they haven't already) to play in orchestra and then play bass guitar in jazz band. Some programs will have two bass professors - one for classical, one for jazz, but generally the program will only differentiate at the graduate level, and bass students at the undergraduate level are 'stuck' playing classical repertoire even if they aren't interested in continuing to play in that style. Hence, bass players outside of the classical sphere don't get much out of college music programs outside the 'basic training' as I call it. One thing I have seen work out for many bassists and guitarists alike is pursuing a degree in vocal music education. Adding singing to your list of musical skills will never set you back, and it sets you up for a career in teaching music should you choose to continue that path. Along with the same theory and aural skills training you would receive pursuing an upright bass degree, all these people I'm referring to continue to apply that knowledge to their instrument of choice, and make themselves a much more versatile musician in the process, and also have the opportunity to play guitar or bass in school jazz bands. Long story short, as cookie-cutter as a lot of music programs can be, there are many ways to expand your horizons on both ends of the spectrum simultaneously - it just takes a lot of dedication and the will to ask questions.

[@Aleph_Null_Audio]

You're speaking English, not Latin; you can end sentences with prepositions whenever you want to!

[@leedsmanc]

People should also feel free to joyfully split infinitives.

[@leedsmanc]

Perhaps in front of adoring audiences of octopuses on tours of big stadiums.

[@joneszilla7087]

Yes. Saying that you can't split an infinitive is like saying thateverywordhastobeconnectedtoeveryotherwordbecauseinagglutinativelanguageslikeinuktitutandturkishyoucanhavewordsthatstandforentiresentencesandifyoudontdothatyoushouldgotoschoolbecauseyoucantspeakenglish

[@alisonsalter8352]

He's not speaking English - He's speaking American English. Huge difference. Like most Americans, he has no idea of how to speak and let their audience digest what they are saying...just 7minutes of constant monotone robotic babble without barely coming up for air. Feckin awful. I've no idea why American's think it sounds cool to speak like this cos to English speakers it just sounds pure thick.

[@B3Band]

^ Elitist jingoism at its finest

[@wolowolowolo]

This video is pure GOLD! I studied in NYC and once I came back to my country I thought I was going to make it only as fusion drummer. The real world was totally different..I did all salsa, wedding gigs, tribute bands, salsa, heavy metal...And im still playing Margaritaville and oye como va...

[@tommcnulty1673]

I played around Boston in the 90's, and could identify a Berkley bassist by the way they held their basses - highly, almost oddly uniform, as though all differences had been beaten out of them...

[@sensationalleslie3237]

Thanks Adam - great content as ever. As a Brit - can I just say most of us find the way you speak both clear and engaging. Baffling this is the biggest debate on this thread.

[@tomek1995v8]

I must really agree with the one : "...It's mostly an old boys club." THAT IS SOOOO F*CKING TRUE... And it annoys a lot of people :D

[@KellygenXYZ]

As an old mostly retired musician, I can say you nailed this. I went to school at the University of North Texas (It was still called North Texas State when I was there) - they taught absolutely everything you never get to play on a gig. Music school was a fine chops fest but everyone came out sounding too much the same. Since I didn't stay in the area, the network didn't do me much good, but I'm sure it would have helped navigate that insanely overcrowded Dallas/Ft Worth market filled with 50 pretty damn good musicians for every available gig. I thought it was smarter to be the biggest fish in a smaller market, which is somewhat true if you are only competent, but very true if you are pretty damn good. As you mentioned, gigs pay the same now as they did in the 70's. I grew up thinking music was a reasonable career choice - I made more money than my father when I was 16 years old, lying about my age doing a house gig (thing of the past since disco.) It is now only a viable career choice for those willing to claw their way through the clutter, which isn't for everyone.

[@seanemmettfullerton]

You had me at "academic industrial complex." :) Yep, students and parents are being led to the poor house in pursuit of an absolutely worthless piece of paper... buyer beware

[@jeroenstrompf5064]

Thank you for such a courageous and well-balanced video!

[@realemmcee]

I went to AIM in sydney and almost every single band formed there produced the same style of "berklee funk" you mentioned.

[@ElvannReacts]

So much truth spoken in a single video. I second you on every single word you said here.

[@diegomoreno5927]

And I bet you don't learn to use AutoCad Either

[@ggauche3465]

Great vid! Great editing too! I do enjoy your down to earth frankness, all the way from rural NSW Australia! Friends and colleagues are everything, no matter where you are!

[@NelsonMontana1234]

Music schools often ignore the "art" of it all. And the only way to develop groove is to move audiences. I also feel the best thing for music memory (besides learning hundreds of songs) is to learn/play prog rock.

[@danielshade710]

Word. I got so good I can remember the names of prog rock bands now.

[@medicalinterest9091]

Hi Adam, I am two years late with my comment. I got my degree for teaching media and sociology (B Ed.) There were no secondary schools with TV studios in the 80s. I bent the course to music. Joined my first band at College and payed my fees with the income. Those were good times money wise. As you say, it is who you know.

[@b.strong9347]

This is absolutely correct. Trained musicians seldom have something that can really set them apart from other trained musicians. Whereas, self-taught musicians are often more memorable.

[@SeverMetal]

Yeah I don't know if that is the point Adam was trying to make. Music school doesn't teach you everything, but that doesn't make self-taught musicians better, somehow.

[@b.strong9347]

SeverMetal I could have probably used better terminology than that above, but I'm trying to iterate that, more often than not, music is not something that is purely academic like, as I have personally observed in my music department, many musicians believe. There is only so much that you can learn before it comes down to whether you can just "feel" it or not.

[@TheAlfredo094]

Not true at all. In most situations, a trained musician is much better than self-thaught musicians.

[@b.strong9347]

Alfredo​ Depends. Also, to add, a self-taught musician that has also received training is generally better than someone that had to be taught everything they know. I still stand by my *opinion* that some folks have it and that some folks just don't. While it is an opinion, it is an opinion backed by experience.

[@daniels1293]

Alfredo anyone can practice and learn how to play an instrument that's called memorize, regurgitate, and repeat. Most formally trained musicians can hardly play without sheet music let alone actually create their own music. That's what sets apart most self taught musicians from formally trained ones. Self taught musicians tend to be regarded as more memorable because you can't teach someone to write straight from the heart. technical skill doesn't matter if there's no sincerity.

[@baddayoverdosed]

The alumni network is true for visual art school too! Even with all the skills and head knowledge I've acquired, the people I've met through school have been the means to 80% of my art shows, sales and commissions.

[@DavidVaughan00]

2:45 Woahhoh shots fired at Petrucci, who happens to come from Berklee?

[@paolo_goli]

David Vaughan i'm not the only that have recognize him 😂

[@VikramShankarMusic]

I know right? That Petrucci shot made me sad!

[@DarkHound9999]

actually the JP Rock Discipline was one of the best lessons Ive ever taken... :))

[@TheDarkMessiah]

Weirdly enough, though, I'd accuse julliard-trained Rudess to be more guilty of cramming in notes that have zero emotion in them.

[@abhushan88]

He dropped out so idk if that counts

[@meyep585]

I studies at MDU, which for the Midwest is a very good schools of music; but what he said about networking is very true. It doesn’t matter where you studied, it matters who you know.

[@awreckingball]

You're clearly an authority on all things music. Thanks for setting us all straight on this subject, young pup.

[@AdamNeely]

you're clearly a youtube commenter contributing to the conversation in a real and concrete way!

[@girlinagale]

+Adam Neely can I have the TAB for your comment pleeeezzzeee

[@TIMExBANDIT]

Anyone with a lick of sense knows this is one persons perspective.

[@rondobrondo]

@@AdamNeely lmao Jesus Christ thank you for taking a brief moment to reverse choke slam people like this who confuse rhetoric for argument -- love seein content creators go after toxic thinkers

[@stephencoxbass]

Well stated, Adam. I didn't finish my Jazz Performance degree (at Georgia State University)...mostly due to financial reasons...but I found many of the same things to be true. Network, play jam nights...get gigs out of that, expand the network by trading (business) cards with everyone on those gigs, stay in touch with former class mates...ALWAYS be prepared on gigs so you get recommendations...yada yada. If all else fails...play guitar and sing on the side...Nacho circuit, baby!

[@DTension]

When I am auditioning musicians and I find out that they're Berklee cats, my first instinct is to say "NEXT". B Funk is real.

[@joelciaccio62]

Love that you put in a video clip of jersey band! I went to school with those guys and listen to their Christmas album every year.

[@TransformsIntoAGuitar]

Grammar Nazi input: it's fine to end sentences with a preposition. That rule was made up by a man obsessed with a dead language (Latin) and somehow it stuck.

[@healthfullessence9503]

Transformation speaker

[@beakf1]

Again a great video. Love the amount of info you get into a small video. My biggest hate on u tube is people with no knowledge explaining something easy over a long period with hundreds of camera cuts every minute and an extremely loud dubstep that will randomly blow my ears of leaving me more worried about the volume than absorbing information. Great channel wish i knew someone like you in the UK.

[@weldon29]

I guess I don't need to study in American colleges if I won't be able to stay there after graduating. And isn't julliard mainly a classical school?

[@viejochase]

I like your videos too Adam. Thanks for the preparation and kudos for the delivery. This video needs to be seen by all undergraduate musicians soon.

[@KnjazNazrath]

So what do you do when you have bad memory? I've learnt lots of songs in my time, and I've forgotten every one of them within six months. Same problem with licks. Sure, I know what I'm doing when I'm learning them, but if I haven't played it in a week, it's gone. Doesn't bother me so much when I've forgotten a few Bowie songs I can re-find online and refresh my memory, but forgetting the Digital Love solo when I spent a month learning it by ear and wanting to play it again is a bit of a git...

[@anewagora]

Learning by ear is valuable for memory as it decreases dependency on sheet music- it's closer to memorization. It puzzles me that your longterm musical memory is not good. Perhaps you are too conscious, your focus is in your brain instead of your hands (muscle memory). Pay attention to your process of learning the songs to begin with. You have only memorized a song when you can play it (mechanically) while entirely distracted mentally. You could also practice improvisation to decrease dependency on sheet music. Even if it sounds bad, practice sounding bad on purpose so your reflexes are trained to play instead of stall- and this will open the door to muscle memory and your brain not taking control. Eventually, you will incorporate other skills into the memory too. I'm at a point where I can cover up mistakes with improvisation and it's not noticeable, but also where I shouldn't "think" at all while playing and just feel it in the moment. All my memory is physical.

[@ExecutionSommaire]

Can you sing the tune for a Christmas song, or anything very popular that everyone learns as a child? I guess you can, even if you haven't heard or sung it for months/years. So now, it's a matter of finding out what was the difference in the memorization process, from that popular song to the ones you learnt and forgot. My experience is that if I learn a lick on day 1, able to sing it loud etc... on day 2 I'll have forgotten it almost totally, have to get back to it. Then on day 3 I'll have forgotten it again, but notably less than previously, just needs a short refresh to come back. Let's say I can fully remember it without effort on day 4; then if I do nothing with it it'll go away again. Basically, during a certain amount of time (months? years?), if you don't get a refresh once in a while, either by hearing or playing it, you can expect it to vanish. Eventually I think the memory will get really persistent, depending on how complex it was of course... Maybe for a full Coltrane solo you will always need to get back to it from time to time, whereas a simple tune will stick no matter what. I also suggest not relying on muscle memory but rather on auditory memory + mastery of relative pitch in order to translate to any instrument, in any key. Auditory memory is the safest way to go. And learning "by ear" does not necessarily involve that: some people will use the record in a way that translates into finger memory only, meaning that even though they use their ears to find out the notes, they won't mobilize their auditory memory to retain the info. So you got to be careful with how you "learn by ear".

[@KnjazNazrath]

Audially I can remember things, but playing them is the problem. Heck, I can recall entire Ligeti tunesin my head, but I can only hear my fingers fumble for the notes. I learnt "House of the Rising Sun" as a kid, but beyond that there's nothing I learnt I can remember, even though I've learnt a lot of songs. Every time I try to play "Sweet Thing", I've got to look up the tab. Same w/ "Rain" by Kanno, same with all different songs I knew for five minutes, could record, then would forget how to play. Lucky I can sing, but no-one wants a singer.

[@ExecutionSommaire]

Not much of a big deal then, looks like you got the essentials if you have no problem singing the stuff. Then maybe it's a matter of overall technique on the instrument, knowledge of the neck, poor relative pitch? The last item is suggested by the fact that you do better with the tab, which would indicate a case of "can hear stuff in my head but not easily translate to intervals". If this aspect of your ear training has no weaknesses then I'm a little clueless.

[@KnjazNazrath]

Nah, I learn chord charts. I can work out stuff by ear for lead runs, but my fingers never learn where the notes are to my ear. I even went through training to get it to work (singing a note then playing it etc), just doesn't click because my memory forgets the muscles.

[@VeronicaMcCarrison]

Adam I think you are an amazing teacher I really appreciate you we need more people like you on KZbin.

[@jasper24601]

Not particularly sure why I watched this, I’ve never touched an instrument 🎷 🤨

[@charleskleesattel6477]

Bravo Adam. Well done and marvelously on point. One thing that could have been added is: go to the best school you can get into and afford. Keep up the great work.