Bass Lessons in Clarksville, MD

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Synthesizer Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginning piano students, I use a combination of books from Alfred's, Faber, John Thompson's. At the same time, I emphasize proper finger technique, shape, and position. For more advanced piano students I prefer exercises from Hanon, Czerny, and Bartk. For beginning guitar students, I prefer Mel Bay books. However, for guitar students I also use a much more individual and custom approach for learning how to get a good sound out of the guitar through proper hand position, finger placement and pressure, and string picking. Read More

Instruments: Trumpet Bass Guitar Double Bass

My teaching balances improvisation-guided exploration with firm technical training. It is important for students to be excited about discovering new things as well as being encouraged by achieving clearly-defined realistic goals, which we discuss at every lesson. In addition to this balance, I encourage a lot of listening. Music is a 'heard art' and learning to listen attentively is key to musical growth. To this end, listening assignments (and likely additional suggestions!) are usually given in every lesson, determined by the student's interests, area of study, and current focus. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar Double Bass Tuba

I graduated from the Walt Whitman High School in South Huntington Long Island in 1966. Our "stage band" before they accepted the label "jazz band" had international recognition. Among other credits we performed one night on the Johnny Carson show in New York City. Later I attended NTSU now called U.N.T. in Denton Texas, as a student in the jazz department led by Leon Breeden. He is someone else who is important to look up on the internet. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Bass Guitar Ukulele Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For young beginners, I generally will start with a beginning method book (such as Hal Leonard's Essential Elements) but the book will depend on the instrument as well. For older students, I want to know what kind of music they enjoy playing or listen to, and guide them along to reach their goals--whether that be to play in a band, write and record an album, or just become a better player! Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Violin Cello Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Synthesizer Ukulele Mandolin Recorder Lute Double Bass Mallet Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

I started out at the age of nine playing the trumpet, and continued this for two years before switching to piano. Ultimately, I found my love in playing the guitar, and took lessons for two years. As time went on, I advanced as a guitarist and actually expanded into new musical instruments. I began playing in local rock and r&b bands at the age of 15. These were some of my most influential experiences, as they expanded my musical tastes into jazz fusion, swing, standards and Latin Jazz. After graduating high school, I attended community college and then went to New York to study jazz theory, where I played a few sets with Sweetback in 2000 that led up to being asked to play with the band. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar

Students are taught basic reading,fingering technique, and rote memorization, but are also encouraged to learn to play by ear. Nothing is more rewarding than seeing one of my students develop a passion for music! Therefore, it's important that each student progresses at his or her own pace. I encourage this by setting realistic goals for my students at each lesson. Acknowledging accomplishments helps fuel a students desire to progress, and makes students eager to learn more. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Trumpet Trombone Bass Guitar Euphonium Acoustic Guitar

I believe in being being honest and encouraging, allowing students the chance to struggle and fail in a safe environment, while stressing and correcting proper techniques. I encourage practicing a little almost every day of the week, and finding what fires you up about the instrument. I also make sure to take an interest in student's lives beyond music- people are busy, and I understand those pressures! Besides that, music can relate to many areas and disciplines in life, and one's own previous experiences offer many methods for greater understanding. Read More