Prospective Students

Why Study Music?

Some of you may ask yourself, if most who study music do not make a career of it, why study music? Is it a mistake? No, certainly not. Psychological studies continue to uncover more and more benefits that music lessons provide to developing minds. "Music improves cognitive and non-cognitive skills more than twice as much as sports, theater or dance." One study found that kids who take music lessons "have better cognitive skills and school grades and are more conscientious, open and ambitious." Click here to read more.

The Lesson

The ultimate goal during the lesson is for the student to learn while enjoying the process. I do this primarily by using books and music that turn fun songs into engaging exercises for the students. Also, by encouraging regular practice, the student will feel a sense of accomplishment and thus enjoy them self that much more. And, oh yeah, we laugh a lot too. Click on the links below for a detailed outline of a typical lesson.

My Role As A Mentor

The private lesson setting allows, and almost requires, me to be more than just a bass teacher. The life of a student is typically busy and interconnected, and therefore bass lessons and practice do not exist in a vacuum. I work with all of my students figure out how bass can fit into, and even enhance, their busy schedule.

Schedule

Lessons take place each week at my studio in Wayland or in your home if you can't make it to the studio. The lesson time will hopefully stay the same throughout the academic year; however, if it is necessary to change the time we can work together to find a new time that works for both of us.

"Performance = Potential minus Interference | While most teaching involves increasing potential, we must also work to reduce interference."


Styles of Music

I cover each of the following musical styles in lessons. If a student is studying double bass, I cover solo, orchestral, and jazz styles. If student is studying electric bass, I cover jazz and rock styles.

Solo
For most double bass students, solo playing is the primary focus during lessons because I find that solo playing helps to develop playing the most. Not only does it provide a good platform from which we can learn technique, but it is also enjoyable because we are playing fun melodies at the same time! I find that playing melodies, as opposed to accompaniments, is immediately more engaging for the student.

Orchestral
Because much of our time as bassist's will be spent in orchestra, it is important for us to develop solid orchestral technique. I find that for bass the difference between solo and orchestral playing is the most drastic of any instrument. While playing solo, we are playing melodies, but in orchestra, we are almost always playing accompaniments. Each role requires a very different approach.

Jazz
Jazz can be played on both the double and electric bass. Jazz requires a slightly different approach to the instrument that must be learned. Also, because jazz focuses very heavily on improvisation, there must be time spent learning music theory.

Rock
Finally, electric bass is one of the core instruments in a rock group. Electric bassist's will most likely find themselves playing in a rock group at some point in their career and therefore must know how to do so effectively.

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