My Teaching Philosophy
My goal for you as my student is to give you a solid foundation on bass guitar and in music that will serve you for the rest of your life. What that means is showing you how all styles of music use the very same components — chords, scales and rhythms. The only difference between styles is the combination of these different musical components and the instruments playing them. Bach, Mozart, and Beethoven used the same things Miles Davis, John Coltrane, The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, and Rage Against the Machine did. Put in your favorite CD and you're hearing the same notes that have been around for centuries. It doesn't matter what you're into, music is music. Having a solid grasp of chords, scales and rhythms on the bass guitar will enable you to play any style of music that exists or will exist in the future.
In my bass lessons I try to maintain a balance between fun and hard work. There is a lot to learn, but there's no reason it can't be fun too. We can go at whatever pace makes you feel comfortable. I love teaching students of all ages and levels and I'm extremely patient. If you ever get stuck on something between lessons, you're always welcome to contact me for some extra help.
I'm a very organized teacher. All of my lessons build on the previous ones. I'm proud of the curicculum I've developed from teaching hundreds of students how to play bass. By now I've seen every problem and have developed ways to overcome them all. I think what sets me apart from other teachers around town is I have definite goals for you and a well thought out roadmap of how to get there. I never present useless information. Everything I teach is applied; you will know the what, when, why and how of whatever I show you. Your motivation to practice will be strongest when you see what you are working towards.
Some of What We Will Cover in Our Bass Lessons:
- Basic electric bass technique - plucking, fretting, and proper muting.
- Bass concepts - common patterns, scales, chords and rhythms.
- Real world examples - how others have applied these concepts in actual basslines.
- Songs you want to learn - I'm happy to figure out any tune you want to learn.
- Famous basslines - basslines by many of the world's best bassists.
- Composition - Creating and improvising your own basslines and solos.
- Other bass guitar techniques - e.g. slapping and tapping.
- The elements of different styles - Blues, Rock, Funk, Reggae, Jazz, Classical, Country, Polkas, you name it!
- Music and bass history - For a solid foundation you need to have a thorough knowledge of what has come before you.
- Eartraining - developing your ability to hear musical details is critical to your musical development.
- Your sound - Developing your own style and expanding your creativity.
I'm leaving out a lot, but that should give you an idea.
Click here to read more about what to expect from my lessons.