The Most Asked Question In Music Education

[DojoOfCool]

Some things never change. I first went to music school in the 70's and worked at the school for about 8 years afterward. Even then the discussion was pay for expensive music school (back then music school was around $3000 per year) or skip school use that money to move to New York get a good teacher, practice all day, and gig, go to jams or friends gigs at night. Now the big difference between then and now back in the 70's there was lots of clubs, lots of opportunities to play with other. That started changing in the 80's and has continued to get worse. For young musicians there just isn't that unlimited source of places to play that is necessary to learn to play and learn to deal with an audience. Today music school is more important as a place to play and to start networking with other musicians. I see cliches of musicians that formed in music school continues on into their working musician lives helping each other work. So the importance of music school the educational aspect hasn't changed if fill holes in peoples knowledge, but importance today is it's is a play you can perform and jam a lot and start making those important contacts with other musicians necessary to start our career.

Which also points out don't go to music school to learn to play music it's a waste of time and money. When you go to music school it always has been about playing, making contacts, and getting some name player to hear you and polishing your skills. If you're still learning get a local teacher take music classes at local school before spending $$$ for music school.

[oliplaysbass]

Janek: 5% practice, 95% networking
Also Janek: practises for 6-8 hours in 1 day 😂

[tommydoggettsaxophone]

I love the truth in your message. There are so many reasons to go and not to go to music school. I say that as an educator with degrees. One’s path is unique to themselves and nothing is ever a waste of time. I appreciate you turning the topic of the video to curiosity and asking the question: “what’s the musical moment that makes you want to go practice” The answer to that question will determine what you do next.

[TheSaemi]

I had one year left in my master studies but I quit because I felt like I was developing in another direction than my teachers and the school program. The only teacher I learned a lot from was Larry Grenadier although I only saw him once or twice a month. We were just playing and he was not telling me to play this and that but to find my own lines. To quit school was the best decision. I now play the music I want and I am much more committed than I ever was in music school.

[jonsirola]

The value in the questions you pose is tremendous. Thank you! It feel we always know where the rough spots in our abilities are, yet we are somehow scared to just put in the work. Honesty and commitment are the keywords!

[NathanielFlick]

As always, love your passion, mate, and your knowledge. Thank you!

[sigiriabeysekara]

8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16 8:16

[mikemckendrick-]

Lucky to live in Los Angeles where there is a jazz scene & there are local community colleges that have university level instructors and facilities in lieu of xx, xxx.xx per year schools.

[mr_ock]

"What can i play over a II-V?"

[stevebergmann]

You talk about transcribing music, which I feel is good ear training, but if you listen to music all the time, you will internalize it and it’s imprinted in your brain. So why would I spend hours of my practice time copying someone else’s licks when i could use that time to develop my own sound and my own interpretation of what I want to sound and play. I’m not trying to be confrontational, it just the way I see things. If I spend months try to play note for note a line that Jaco plays, the end result is I sound like Jaco. If I spend that same time developing what I hear in my brain, the end result is I sound like me. This is how I approach practice and I use a lot of your textbooks in that process, lol 👍