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Resources For Students
Bass Lessons in Providence, RI - 0 spaces available
I instruct intermediate and advanced students, and occasionally beginners who exhibit particular drive, discipline and promise. I have developed a curriculum of progressive diatonic theory training, balanced with technique, taught parallel to an individualized selection of bass lines, improvisational motifs, jazz standards, style and time signature study, ear training, and virtuosic performance bass compositions. The constant goal in my instruction is to develop the student into a complete bass player and musician. The student's grasp of Theory, Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Technique and Stylistic Sensibility/Conventions are constantly assessed, and the curriculum adjusted to maintain a consistent balance in the development in all these areas, such that the material is presented in a cumulative manner. This presents a formidable and consistent challenge to a student, requiring the development of sincere discipline. At the same time, for a student who is constantly presented with the opportunity to achieve greatness, a door to rapid musical growth and maturity is opened. About two thirds of my students go on to study or major in Music at college, and most go on to teach music themselves. My greatest wish for my students is for them to realize their own potential for greatness. The greatest joy I experience as an educator is to see a student realize this potential, and then go on to peruse that greatness, from a solid foundation, and with tools in hand, as one of life's most sincere ambitions. |
| Techniques and Concepts Covered: | |||
| To the left, you will find examples of some of the techniques and concepts that I cover. Sometimes students will take lessons with a specific goal in mind. Some people want to be play fast, some want to learn slapping, tapping, or harmonics. Some people have favorite bass lines or bass players the would like to emulate. I try to help each student become a complete and balanced player. Each bass line covered is always presented as means to a greater understanding. Being able to play your favorite bass line is one thing, being able to internalize the concepts and write your own is a whole other world. | |||
| Frequently, in the course of a lesson, I write a bass line or example for a student on the spot. The idea is to combine the topic, tempo, meter, and feel of the current subject matter into an assignment that both encapsulates the idea being discussed, and offers the student a challenge for the week(s) to come. Below are ideas that I have developed and recorded during lessons with my students. My intention is to eventually make not just the MP3s available, but also descriptions of each concept that the example is intended to teach, so they can be shared with the greater community. Also listed below are some common hand-outs I use with all my students. |
