first week at bass school (icmp)

[tiffles]

So.... for those of you who don't know... after i left Switzerland and the wonderfulness of Oli's bass and the mountains, i came back to my home away from home, which i wish could actually be home... (london)... this was to do what i had only dreamed of but never thought would happen..enrol in a ICMP course!!!

I am doing the intensive 4 week summer school where we cover blues, r&b, funk, harmony and theory, we have live performance classes in band situations, rhythm workshops, and session musician recording classes.... its intense.
Wow does it get you working aswell... this week i've been through the "i suck so bad" feeling (thanks benny and jodi for cheering me up) but on friday i had our session musician recording class with a UK producer and i was *$&% scared but i managed to get it in one take!!! that ended my week well.
I've been practicing today (covering everything i crapped up during the week) and oh my gosh i got it!! some of it needs getting up to speed but i can play it. biggest thing is trying to get my head out of it... when i think about it i stuff up... and when im up on stage in front of all the tutors/session musicians i definitely start to think about everything!! eek!

So anyway that's just an update and a huge huge huge thanks to Blind Lemon who is lending me a Bongo to study with!! Cant thank you enough Pete! They are an amazing school.

 

[Grand Wazoo]

Well done Tiffles, is your teacher Terry Gregory by any chance? Left handed man plays upside down ie the bass is strung right handed? If he is, you are in for the best of the best. He was my teacher too way back in 1990.

Keep up the good work, it will all make sense to you.

 

[five7]

You are a lucky gal, do us proud!

 

[oddjob]

Great stuff Tiff!!!!!!! You are an inspiration (really!!!)

 

[maddog]

guys, don't let her fool you. She can play.

Have fun, Tiffles!

 

[oddjob]

guys, don't let her fool you. She can play.

Have fun, Tiffles!

Oh, I know she can play... She caught Cliff hugo's ear at the last OH - still great stuff

 

[TheAntMan]

Bravo, Tiffles

-- Ant

 

[Davecg2]

awesome, that would be an amazing experience.. getting to study bass with a bunch of talented and focused teachers, very cool stuff. im sure youll do great and have a blast. im still a total noob so bare with me, but what does ICMP stand for?

 

[Colin]

you go girlfriend

 

[Estee]

awesome, that would be an amazing experience.. getting to study bass with a bunch of talented and focus teachers, very cool stuff. im sure youll do great and have a blast. im still a total noob so bare with me, but what does ICMP stand for?

I had the same (newbie, possibly?) reaction so I did a Google search, and came back with Internet Control Message Protocol, so, figuring THAT wasn't the proper acronym, did ANOTHER Google search for ICMP Music and found:

Institute of Contemporary Music Performance - a UK address that looks VERY much like LA's own "Musician's Institute", and all of its sub-genres for Bass Institute, Guitar Institute, etc...

Now we can all sleep soundly tonight...

 

[Kruse]

... this was to do what i had only dreamed of but never thought would happen..enrol in a ICMP course!!!

I am doing the intensive 4 week summer school where we cover blues, r&b, funk, harmony and theory, we have live performance classes in band situations, rhythm workshops, and session musician recording classes.... its intense.

Congratulations Tiffles! Cool thing you're doing!

I kinda know how you must feel. In spring '08 my guitarist buddy and I went to Hollywood attending Musicians Institute for one quarter. Absolutely great experience!
And now, one year later, we're back in Hollyweird for the summer quarter... Welcome to the addiction.

 

[SharonG]

Good for you Tiffles! And I'm jealous - what a great thing to be pushing beyond your comfort zone and learning new stuff! Have fun with it!!

 

[tiffles]

Thanks so much for all the support guys! You are all way too kind


GW- I was in year one in 1990!!! One of my teachers (my favourite) is Phil Mann, a guy who studied at ICMP then went on to study directly under Jeff Berlin, he's about to become a doctor of bass...he's only 30 and he is fantastic. If you go to the ICMP website you will see a list of all the tutors there...

Oh, I know she can play... She caught Cliff hugo's ear at the last OH - still great stuff

WHAT??? I don't remember this....was I drinking?

 

[Big Poppa]

TIffles this is great.....Im glad that the forum and all of the knuckleheads have been there for you in your wild journeys. Blind Lemon...thanks too! Next time someone bashes our distribution look at this...OUr distributor is loaning a knuckle head from another country a bass no questions asked. Where else would that happen?

TIffles very proud of you!

 

[oddjob]

Thanks so much for all the support guys! You are all way too kind


GW- I was in year one in 1990!!! Terry is not at the college anymore, but one of my teachers (my favourite) is Phil Mann, a guy who studied at ICMP then went on to study directly under Jeff Berlin, he's about to become a doctor of bass...he's only 31 and he is fantastic. If you go to the ICMP website you will see a list of all the tutors there...




WHAT??? I don't remember this....was I drinking?

Weren't we all... there was the guitar/bass display next to the stage in the string factory... I was hanging out with Dave M and Cliff you had a were jamming on a Ray... somewhere in the conversation Cliff looked over and said that you were pretty good (and yes, it was aimed at you). Simple to the point and VERY cool. Thought I told ya but then again, there was that drinking thing

And for the record, I have to say that Dave and Cliff are TRUE CLASS ACTS!!!

 

[tiffles]

OK! I've been dying to give you guys the full update on my short, but amazing 4 weeks.

WOW. WOW. WOW.
So I started with the most basic bass knowledge, both practical playing and theory. I would freak out and mess up when performing in front of intimidating genius tutors. Practicing maybe 2 hours a week before this all started.
Now, well I can't stop playing, even 'boring' things like pentatonic inversions and intervals etc. I've learnt more in 4 weeks at ICMP than I have since I started playing, and I think I'm starting to chill out a bit with daunting performances and I'm doing quite well with the recording stuff we have done.

ok reports on my classes...
Blues & R and B/Fretboard skills and Live Performance Workshops with Phil Mann. This guy is a sadist He works you hard, but with the biggest smile on his face, I've learnt so much from him and I'm going to see if I can afford private lessons from him till December. In our last LPW (live performance workshop) we were playing 'Time is Running Out' by Muse, I played every time (minus 3) for 2 hours. Each time we finished Phil would come up with notes for me, try this, don't do that, watch timing in that bit. I wondered whether I was ANY good AT ALL. The great thing was though that as I was up there the whole time the nerves started to lessen and I could concentrate on actually feeling the music and alot of stuff seemed to fall into place. Well I thought so anyway lol. After we were finished one of Phil's students in the degree course (who fills in for him on some gigs!) came up and told me I sounded really good!! So that was just fantastic! She didn't have to say that! Made my day.
Oh.... one of the times I didn't play was when Phil stole the Bongo under the pretense of 'giving me a rest' haa haaa..... he wants one now mwaa haaa haaa!!! LOVE IT!

Funk/Harmony and Theory with Alan and John Currie
I love these guys. Brilliant teachers who have the ability to make you feel like you are making real progress, and you do.
Funk was probably one of my favourite classes. I learnt so many fun songs. Good Times by Chic, Boogie Wonderland (love that song), Uptight, Cissy Strut... etc.
I really enjoyed it because this is the sort of thing that seems to come naturally, being able to feel the music, and to play along to these songs... wow. John also helped me with my sight reading.... I am still in infantile stages.

Rhythm Section Workshops
These were great, full band but remove the singers. For the final two classes, I was the sole bassist. This was another opportunity for me to get things tight with the drummer and to try to relax when performing. So much fun. We covered Blues, Country, Funk and Rock.

Finally... Session Musicianship - Jay Stapely and Jay (don't know his last name)
I was surprised at how much I could do in this class. Obviously the producers who were teaching it understood our level of ability, they were so encouraging. The first two weeks we had to sight read and perform 'Can you feel the love tonight' and 'Smooth Operator' (harder because it was pure notation, no chords or tab). The second two weeks we got creative and recorded a jingle and then worked with a dance music producer and recorded riffs to go with an existing bass/drum track and then some extra stuff that he formed into a new song. I loved the dance session! And Jay loved what I played, and it sounded so good recorded!! The Bongo sounded AMAZING everytime! I wish I had a copy of what we did!

Anyway so I hope you weren't bored reading, but I thought I'd give you a proper run down.

I really miss school. bad. I desperately want to keep studying but it's so expensive there. My only hope is to sell an organ or wait a WHOLE year and audition for the EBMM scholarship. You've gotta be reeeeeally good though. I have to go back to Australia in December so I'm going to get lessons with Phil till then.

Anyone want a spleen? or an appendix??

 

[Grand Wazoo]

awww well done tiffles, you should ber proud of yourself. I wish I had the time to get some more tuitions, always helps, doesn't it?

Congratulations.

 

[MrMusashi]

you make me wish i was there!

MrM

ps: 2000 posts coming up next!! any anniversary plans for that?

 

[five7]

Killer report!

 

[GreyDad]

Good for you Tiffles, well done and I enjoyed reading your reports. Wish we could hear it too!

I've looked at several of these types of courses over the years and never had the time available from my job to do one. I'm completely self taught with all the faults and bad habits that means and I'm sure lessons from a professional would work wonders. I'm glad you're doing it and I'm sure it will pay off handsomely for you - hang the expense, you only live once.

And Pete I raise my pint to you - super to offer the Bongo. I am also benefitting from the trust and generosity of a forum member like this and I'm constantly surprised how often it goes on.

All the best

Neil