Last Thursday I got an email from Murphy Karges, the bassist from Sugar Ray. He was asking if I could have a zoom call with him to talk about his new bass course. Shocked! So I said, sure, and made an appointment for the next day.
I jump on the link the next day and, sure enough, it’s Murphy! We chatted for over an hour about how I got into bass and what resources I used to learn how to play. Obviously I told him I took the BassBuzz course among other youtube channels.
He then told me what he had planned for his class. I forget what he called it, but it was something bass camp. It’s a year long course with him and other friends of his. It would include two group video calls a week that are two hours long. It was a three level course that is built on learning fun songs and creating your own bass lines for your skill level.
He asked if I wanted to be part of the first group from which he could get testimonials and reviews. I had to ultimately decline. The price was too high for me and my goals. When he goes public with it in a couple months he said it would cost $7000 but for this beta class it would be around $4000.
I’m still temped, but I would have to take more hours with my second job.
Anyway, if any of you guys are really serious about taking your bass playing to the next level look for this bass camp in the next few months. It sounded pretty cool.
Did you ask him how he found you? Or why he was contacting precisely you? Could be interesting to find out…
A year-long commitment with one-on-one or group video calls is not a bad thing and potentially much more effective than our “do a little bit here and a little bit there” approach we tend to have without a teacher constantly “pushing” us and providing some kind of accountability. Once you dish out a serious amount of cash for a program like this you are also more likely to stay with it and put in the time and effort. At least, that is my experience.
If you know the guy and have a good connection/vibe with him and his teaching style, and if the program’s goals align with your musical interests and goals, then I’d really consider something like this.
I think I was on his mailing list from buying his book. I’ve also been pretty active on his youtube and instagram accounts, but i think mostly it was from buying his book.
If I could comfortably afford it I would be signed up for sure.
The price comparison is a valid point. Also, one should look at the “other material” provided - are there any backing tracks produced for the teaching? How good are those? Is there sheet music for that? Is there a variety of genres covered or “only” rock? Are there other resources available (videos etc.)?
He might be able to convey more “inside” information, e.g., on gigging, on (his) equipment/instrument(s), on tone shaping, on composition, on arranging for band, on recording etc etc. (Of course, the other teacher might also, but it could be the difference to a gigging/recording “rock star”).
None of this is necessarily better or worse; but, it might make a difference in deciding.
A word of caution. I like Murphy but he has kicked off a few series on YouTube in the past that never got very far before being abandoned. I think one was due to a burglary and totally understandable. But $4k is a pretty big committment and I just want to make sure you check the tires before driving it off the lot.
$4K is a big commitment. 4 hours a week for class is a big commitment.
So I would ask myself, what are my bass goals? I could buy a pretty damn good bass for that kind of money and get private instruction. Is this course the best way to reach your goals?
If you don’t have goals than no, this is not money well spent.
My second and better thought is find some local musicians and play with them every week and you will learn a lot more and it won’t cost you other than gas.
I agree with this. And that is what I told him. I’m 42 and my goals are simple: play in a band in front of people here at my local dance hall and write my own songs. I don’t need him for those things.
I did tell him that if I had a teenager that wanted to be a bassist in a rock band and that was like a major goal of theirs then I would sign them up as it would fit that goal better. Learning from someone that has been where you want to be and knows people. But ultimately not for me. If I had the money I might consider it because it does sound fun.
This is what I’m actually struggling with. I live in a small town, very small. There are not a lot of 30-60 year olds that I’ve met that play. I know a few and we’ve tried for two years to get together and jam and it hasn’t worked out yet. I’m still hopeful though.
This is kind of where I fall on this. I’m looking around the metro area now to see what the tutoring landscape looks like. I thank I’d rather sit in front of someone and have them point out all of my bad habits, help fix them, then work on being less bad. Then at the end, maybe upgrade my BB300 to the active 1200 when I find folks to play with.
I can pick out a few. I seem to struggle with the discipline to correct them. I do better when there’s some level of accountability to correct, and that as much as anything is what I hope getting private lessons will help with. I’m also looking for help to get better in general.
Who’s his target audience because $7000 for an online group lesson is pretty steep.
A young person is very unlikely to have that kind of money and an older person might but would their commitments allow for 4 hours a week for a year and would it be a priority when there are cheaper options.
yeah, i’m not sure. I think he’s having a hard time finding enough people for a beta group. He sent out another email looking for 12 bassist. When I talked to him he was trying to get a group of 16-18 people.
