Tuition or no tuition.

[GBF]

.......  George .... did you seek tuition because you really wanted to learn specific things ? or wanted to improve your knowledge  / skills with the intention of becoming a full time turner / teacher ?  and who would you most like to go for tuition with ?       Also I have met a few turners who have spent a lot of money on tools lathes etc ( VB36 ) yet only make small , basic stuff , so in that context tuition is not that expensive .... Terry ..

Hi Twig .
Everything I have done in life I have wanted to be very good at it and having created several very successful bushiness at fifty five years old I decided to retire from business and be a professional woodturner that was 12 years ago.
If you read the beginning of this thread you will see that I have had tuition from a number of Pro turners each one targeted to teach me the bit of turning that they specialise in.
Who would I like to have tuition from  a week with Richard Raffan would be good.
I do not own a VB36 i don't see the point in them I think a lot of turners own them because the see them as a status symbol.
I hope this has answered all of you questions

Regards George

[TWiG]

Thanks for the reply George ... good reasons !!    Seventh devil ... maybe the internet is 24 years old , but I doubt there was much about turning on it then ... and I have only had it for about 4 years now     Terry..

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

When I have a student they usually make a bowl the first time. I think most do. When asked what the secret to becoming a good woodturner is I answer that there are two things guaranteed to make you a good turner, one is sharp tools the othet is years of practice, that's all.
   Terry you asked George who he would like to have tuition from? I would dearly have loved to have had tuition from Bill Jones, he was a true master of woodturning.
I also think it would have been good to have lessons from Bert Marsh, I saw him demonstrate once and he was incredible.
  Mark you say about the practice you did, as an apprentice when they were machining windows they would always run extra glazing bars out so that the apprentices could practice scribing joints or halving joints or whatever. As an instructor in the forces they had standardised methods for teaching/learning, it was..........Watch my demonstration, listen to my explanation, learn by imitation and PAY ATTENTION!!

[GBF]

Hi John.

I was going to say Bert Marsh but I was not sure it it would be taken as I would have meant it.
I see an opportunity for another good topic

Regards George

[Graham]

There is no point in asking Pro turners if they believe tutoring is good. That is like asking turkey farmers if they believe in Christmas. I am an amateur in every sense of the word and can count my experience in months rather than years. The obvious answer is yes but I am not really sure that it is something you should do to quickly I have been teaching myself, almost entirely from youtube ( which is great but you need to be selective ). I can now produce a bowl and a spindle but have discovered the things I still need to know.
I would benefit from a day or two with a tutor who would show me ( in close up ) the correct use of a bowl gouge and skew. I would not care if there was anything to take home or not, I have got past that.

[Eric Harvey]

I think if your an amateur turner,belonging to a good club that has demo`s and hands on days/evenings you will learn as much as paying for private tuition from a "professional turner",there are so many good club turners,some even world famous turners who give great advice even down to how to hold a tool properly,how to put the right amount of pressure on the tool so you can get a shaving that`s finer than lace after doing roughing cuts with the same tool.I thought I could turn ok till I joined Fairlop woodturners,then I found I was quite bad at it,but after 3/4 yrs there got so much great advice and tuition it made all the difference,I`ve since moved to Norfolk and go to to great clubs up this way,both of which have some really marvelous turners always willing to impart advice and help when it is needed,I do think demonstrators help allot to,as you can pick their brains in the intervals and get advice that way ,apart from getting techniques from them while watching them demonstrate,cheers,

Eric.

[The Bowler Hatted Turner]

You shouldn't think it is just amateur or hobby turners that learn by being a club member. Nothing springs to mind now but I do know that I have been taught a thing or two by club members who just do it for fun.

[Eric Harvey]

oh no,I think all can learn from them