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I teach electric bass guitar to brand new beginners up to seasoned bassists. I give 30 minute, 45 minute, or one hour lessons, typically held once a week.
Bass, or notes played in a low frequency, is integral to any piece of music. There are many types of bass instruments, such as the double or upright bass, bassoon, tuba, and of course, the electric bass. The electric bass is an essential instrument in many musical ensembles and bands, and provides foundation, rhythm and style to any form of music. Bass draws our attention and makes us move. We love some of our favorite songs because of iconic bass riffs, like Another One Bites The Dust, Billy Jean, Money, Stand By Me, My Girl, Come Together, Disco Inferno, Good Times, Give It Away, Low Rider, Never Too Much, Nuthin But a G Thang, and Rapper’s Delight to name a few. If you love listening to bass, imagine what it’s like to play it! Simply put, bass is so much fun!
What will you learn?
- THE BASS: I’ll teach you the parts of the electric bass and why it’s structured the way it is. I’ll show you how to tune your bass and how to use an amplifier.
- TECHNIQUE: You’ll learn how to sit and stand with your bass properly. I’ll show you how to position your arms, wrists, hands and fingers to play most efficiently. You’ll learn alternate finger picking (or walking fingers) first, and eventually conventional flatpicking.
- MUSIC THEORY: From the musical alphabet to scales, rhythm, pitch, melody, harmony, dynamics, and song structure, we’ll delve into the foundational aspects of music theory.
- READING: Initially, I’ll guide you through interpreting simple notation, and as your technical skills increase, we’ll switch to tablature. (I will teach you how to read sheet music if you request it.) We’ll also incorporate YouTube tutorials, an invaluable resource for learning songs.
- EAR TRAINING: Listening and processing music is one of the most important aspects to learning an instrument. I will teach you how to analyze and interpret the world of sounds around you whether playing your instrument or just simply listening to music.
- SONGS: The strongest connection humans have to music is through song. I prioritize teaching you songs. I’ll start teaching you bass lines to some simple songs within the first few weeks and train you towards playing the bass lines to your favorite songs.
- PRACTICE: Playing often, of course, is crucial to improving your skills. But, I always tell my students, “It’s not HOW MUCH you practice, it’s HOW you practice. I will teach you how to practice effectively and efficiently, shifting your perspective from viewing practice as a chore to embracing it as a love of playing your instrument.
MUSIC APPRECIATION and EXPRESSION – How to become a Musician:
As you embark on your musical journey, you’ll encounter new songs, genres, musicians, and an entirely new understanding of music. Drawing inspiration from the musical and non-musical world, you’ll enhance your playing skills and deepen your general knowledge of music. I’ll help you cultivate your unique musical style through personal expression, fostering a lifelong connection with music.
- DIVERSE REPERTOIRE: Whether you’re into pop, rock, funk, hiphop, r&b, indie, alternative, heavy metal, blues, classical, jazz, video game music, movie music or any genre in between, I tailor lessons to your musical preferences. Together, we’ll explore a diverse repertoire to keep your musical journey dynamic and inspiring.
- MUSIC APPRECIATION: I encourage my students to explore all genres of music, and select songs they’re passionate about learning. As you learn a favorite song, we’ll discuss it’s composition and feeling. I may also touch on the song’s meaning and historical context.
- CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT: Through simple creative exercises, I’ll guide you through the processes necessary to improvise. Over time, I’ll help you develop a style, your style, by emphasizing your strengths and tap into your creativity. We’ll explore songwriting if you’re interested.
- PERFORMANCE: I’ll mentor you in preparing for performances step by step. Whether performing for yourself, family, friends, classmates, or in recitals, I’ll teach you how to maintain confidence and composure on stage.
- PLAYING WITH OTHERS: Making music with other musicians is an incredible experience. Starting from basic duets, I’ll help you focus on your part while hearing other sounds, paving the way for collaborations with multiple musicians.
- MUSIC and LIFE: My ultimate aim as a music teacher is to ignite your lifelong passion for playing an instrument and fostering your deeper connection with music. For all of my students, I strive to illuminate the profound connection between learning music and life, demonstrating how enriching and healing the experience can be.
Are you ready to start your musical journey and unlock your fullest musical potential?