Good time
Rhythmical understanding
Good technique
I don't consider good technique part of "the basics".... whatever that term means ....I assume he means fundamentals ?
none of my beginner students give a scratch about technique and most get bored to tears when we discuss it
I have always believed a student absorbs something like technique more completely when they develop a desire to seek it as apposed to it being suggested strongly or forced upon them....sure I sneak things in a way where they don't even know they are learning certain techniques ...... but I don't find it to be all that important until a certain point in ones musical journey
most of them just want to make music....which to me is what it is all about ....I find that to be a beautiful thing
and you certainly can make music without this subjective "proper technique"
we certainly get awfully wrapped up in techniques in this day and age and it often distracts from the much more important picture
I see guys with impeccable technique who sound like robots all the time
so instill the music and how it feels to accompany other musicians while keeping his/her own time steady and technique and more importantly the desire to seek technique is sure to follow ... in my opinion anyway
I leared to play music by listening to music and did not have a teacher until many years later.....I wouldn't trade that foundation for anyone elses foundation
I developed a very keen musical understanding at a very young age that made everything else very easy to learn because all the intangibles were deeply instilled due to being surrounded by great music from day one
it's like understanding the goal before someone tells you what the goal is
an amazing advantage
I always say....be a musician before a technician