Bass Lessons in Springtown, PA

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

I have a love for teaching students of all levels and ages. My specialty as a guitarist is in jazz, but I bring that love for improvised music to a number of other styles: blues, rock, funk, acoustic/fingerstyle, country, folk, ska, reggae, RB etc. I graduated from Duquesne University in 2013 with a degree in jazz performance. Pittsburgh is a great jazz town with a fantastic local scene, which was a very fun and nurturing environment for me as a student. Read More

Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar Double Bass

I believe that learning is both an internal and communal process. Every living being has the potential to learn to do amazing things or acquire incredible skills. However, to learn something means to make it apart of oneself. In the case of music, many a jazz musician spends years trying to memorize a plethora of songs. The irony is that without having someone to play with and truly experience the music making process, the musician will never internalize what he or she is learning. Read More

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

I knew that I wanted to be a teacher before I ever touched a guitar. Growing up in a family of school teachers allowed me to see the broad spectrum of the educaGonal process, from designing lesson plans to filing report cards, and I quickly realized that a teacher doesn’t stop working when the bell rings. Teaching history out of a textbook is one thing...teaching a student to hear the color of an altered dominant chord is a totally different beast. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar Double Bass Music

Especially for upright bass, technique and proper muscle use is of utmost importance. Ensuring a student will not injure themselves immediately or with continued practice would be covered first especially for beginners. After proper technique and comfort is established, we learn scales, sight reading, solo or duet pieces selected by ability, as well as any thing the student shows interest in learning. Also important to me is instrument maintenance! Cleaning your bass, bow hair, and properly humidifying the instrument. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Mandolin Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I have also done some recording at Sigma Sound in the 70's with a group that wrote its own material. I am currently playing Guitar and Mandolin in a Christian Rock band. My first love has always been teaching. I'm a people person and enjoy the one on one with a student and enjoy watching their progress and helping them grow into an accomplished musician. I have always put my students first and treated playing as a second preference. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Ukulele Mandolin Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

There is one golden rule for all learning: do it and you'll get better at it. So the bottom line is you will improve according to how much you practice, and I cannot practice for you! I can however, convince you to LOVE playing your instrument (as I love playing mine!) This is one facet of my broader goal to instill a passion for music in general. I teach so that my enthusiasm, bolstered by critical listening skills, becomes contagious. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

For beginners I like to use books and a few easy songs to get the student started. As skill level grows, I try to encourage students to form their own chord progressions as well as using songs that I choose or a song the students chooses that will encourage them to play and learn more songs on their own. I also encourage intermediate level students to explore their imaginations and create their own songs. Read More