Billy Ward Lessons?

**matricks** · January 16th, 2005, 01:21 AM

Billy Ward is going to be offering some lessons up here, during his clinic tour. My question is, what is your idea of what you would be willing to pay for a lesson with him? He is charging $100 per hour, and that is more than i have paid for lessons with Chapin and Rosenblatt. They each were, i believe, $50 an hour. I know for a fact Jim was because i have studied with him a few times... Joel may have been between $60-$80... not sure.

Anyways, Billy is such a unique player and has alot of offer, i am sure. I have taken a master class with him before and it was truly a great experience. However, $100 for an hour of the man's time... what are your thoughts?

I know guys like Weckl and Thomas probably charge upwards of $200 or so. Billy, in my opinion, is to groove and uniqueness, what Thomas and Dave are to chops in a "technical" realm.

I would usually drop $100 in the blink of an eye for lessons with him, but after losing some hours at my job and the holidays just having past, i have to think this one over (unfortunately).

Any thoughts?

**Kris Castillo** · January 16th, 2005, 01:44 AM

Hey,

I think it is a little too much, but back in the day I did pay the $100, the difference was what he showed me was not on DVD yet. Now, his DVD covers everything he would teach in a private lesson. Get his DVD, and you will have more information than in an hour long lesson.

This is my opinion anyway.

Keep the Groove Happening!

**matricks** · January 16th, 2005, 01:56 AM

How much did he offer you in the way of really analyzing what you were doing and really offering some concrete things to work on? I wouldn't really want to leave the lesson with an abstract concept bouncing around in my head of what i need to work on, leaving my more confused that before i walked in! I function better when someone says, "Hey, ok, see that, you should really work on this... maybe this suggestion will work."

I know Billy focuses alot on abstract ideas, which is great and i love it, but when it comes to private lessons... i would want someone to really take my playing and offer my a bit of both, concrete suggestions and maybe some abstract Zen [img]tongue.gif[/img] ... if you will [img]wink.gif[/img]

**Steve Holmes** · January 16th, 2005, 02:22 AM

Ward is insane to be charging that much.

Look. He has a DVD out with extensive info about his approach. Secondly and most importantly, it's not that I dont think he has anything to offer, but I do think that what makes Billy special can't be taught.
He's a fantastic player but I think the Ward hype outweighs the Ward.

This is another post where I think I'm being a dick but I am being honest. It's a conflict of interest sometimes.
Honesty VS Soical Discretion. ROUND ONE. FIGHT!

**matricks** · January 16th, 2005, 02:49 AM

Look. He has a DVD out with extensive info about his approach. Secondly and most importantly, it's not that I dont think he has anything to offer, but I do think that what makes Billy special can't be taught.

That is very, very true... that is what makes me wonder about lessons with him, if that 'thing' he has can really be taught... and if some of this approach COULD be taught, i would guess it would mean many, many sessions with the guy over a couple/few years, not one hour.

It is very tantalizing to think of getting lessons with a player that i dig... however, i don't know how changed one could be after an hour, especially the type of things i am sure he is going to be teaching... those are osmosis-type things/wisdom things, not, "hey, we only have an hour so check this out" type-of-stuff.

With a player of Billy's depth, i just wonder what i could get out of an hour... i wonder how much of it could truly sink in that amount of time. [img]confused.gif[/img]

[ January 18, 2005 10:02 AM: Message edited by: matricks ]

**CLWarunki** · January 16th, 2005, 08:49 AM

I AGREE - Billy will not be able to teach you anything ontop of what has been covered in his DVD... what makes him unique can not be taught, true.

The $100 is for his name. I would pay that price for a TOP technician like Mayer, Virgil or Lang, but not Ward.

P.S. matricks... when will Ward be in Seattle!?

[ January 16, 2005 04:50 AM: Message edited by: CLWarunki ]

**PocketPlayer** · January 16th, 2005, 04:36 PM

I know Billy is doing a West coast clinic tour--not too many dates. If you live in an area that does not offer many clinic or private lesson opportunities--it's worth it...even if it may seem a bit over priced.

I think we'd all be surprised how our local colleges probably offer us great players and far cheaper lessons.

Living in LA is NOT normal musically. I recently found out my favorite drummer from my high school years lives only miles away from me. I Emailed him and he said he'd give me a lesson. I'll probably do it just to see the guy--early impressions run deep.

[ January 16, 2005 09:35 PM: Message edited by: PocketPlayer ]

**PocketPlayer** · January 16th, 2005, 05:33 PM

BW Clinic Dates

30 JAN 2005
Lemmon Percussion
1427 The Alameda
San Jose, California 95126
phone: 408/286-9150
Clinic Time: 6:00 pm
(with masterclass/lessons on 31 JAN 05)

02 FEB 2005
American Music
4450 Fremont Avenue North Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98103
phone: 206/633-1774
Clinic Time: 7:00 pm
(with possible masterclass/lessons on FEB 5, '05. Call the store for details)

03 FEB 2005
Donn Bennett Drum Studio
13212 Northeast 16th Suite 7
Bellevue, WA 98005
phone: 425/747-6145
Clinic Time: 7:00 pm
(with masterclass/lessons on FEB 4, '05)

07 FEB 2005
Hi-5 Music
530 Northeast Garden Valley Boulevard
Roseburg, OR 97470
phone: 541/492-8533
clinic time: 7:00 pm

10 FEB 2005
Musician?s Institute
1655 North McCadden Place
Hollywood, CA 90028
phone: 323/860-1142
Clinic Time: 12:00 pm

12 FEB 2005
Rhythm House Music
652 Stevens Avenue
Solana Beach, CA 92075
phone: 858/481-3069
clinic time: 1:00 pm

**matricks** · January 16th, 2005, 07:19 PM

Yeah:

02 FEB 2005
American Music
4450 Fremont Avenue North Suite 100
Seattle, WA 98103
phone: 206/633-1774
Clinic Time: 7:00 pm
(with possible masterclass/lessons on FEB 5, '05. Call the store for details)

03 FEB 2005
Donn Bennett Drum Studio
13212 Northeast 16th Suite 7
Bellevue, WA 98005
phone: 425/747-6145
Clinic Time: 7:00 pm
(with masterclass/lessons on FEB 4, '05)

However, the American Music Store clinic will be at the Seattle Drum School, 206-364-8815.

So Billy is basically doing two clinics in Seattle... [img]graemlins/thumbs_up.gif[/img]