Bass Lessons in Walnut Creek, CA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Drums Bass Guitar Conga Latin Percussion

Jake has been playing guitar and percussion for over 20 years. He teaches all levels of guitar and congas, as well as beginning piano, voice and drum set. He went to Berkeley High School where he played guitar in the BHS Jazz Ensemble. He then attended the New School in New York City, majoring in jazz guitar studies. He has studied jazz guitar with Steve Erquiaga, Dave Creamer and Jack Wilkins, and congas with Josh Jones, Sandy Perez and other Cuban percussionists. Read More

Instruments: Bass Guitar

I like to give my students small goals until I get to know them better. Early triumphs in learning a musical instrument tend to really help keep the attention of the new player. With beginning students, I like to teach in reference to the music the student wants to play. With Intermediate students, I like to have them explore new musical genres with similar concepts to what they are listening to or creating, in order to teach them to use the tools they already have more diversily. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Bass Guitar Synthesizer Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I am open to a wide variety of teaching methods! By not committing to one specific method, I allow myself to be flexible and respond to my student's needs. For example; if a student has limited eyesight, as a previous student of mine had, I will focus on teaching by-wrought rather than by using written notation. I take extreme care planning lesson plans for my students, and often find myself thinking what would best help my students in my off time. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Saxophone Clarinet Drums Bass Guitar Organ Synthesizer Ukulele Mandolin Music Keyboard Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I've been teaching music for a little over 5 years (2014). I have started many kids who don't know if they would rather learn guitar, drums, or piano. So I give them a tour of all three and show them the basics before they decide their favorite. I encourage consistent practice and practice methods that ensure that the students always feel a sense of improvement without frustration. Personally I've felt the sense of improvement after practicing but was still more agitated, but that was college, before I started teaching. Read More

Instruments: Piano Guitar Voice Bass Guitar Ukulele Music Electric Guitar Acoustic Guitar

I believe in encouragement, fun and positive focus on the students progress at whatever speed that they progress. This makes each student look forward to each lesson with eagerness and actually accelerates their progress. I never push a student and instead encourage and edify the student and try to use their own favorite pieces of music to keep them excited about their next lesson. Acknowledging small progress is the key and I never let a student leave without celebrating their accomplishments no matter how small! Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Double Bass

I have for the past twenty-two years been working as a Music Educator, Administrator, Jazz composer and performer. The last eleven of those years have been in the San Francisco Bay area at Oakland School for the Arts, teaching and leading large jazz ensembles, orchestra, small groups and music theory classes for grades 6-12. As Chairman of the Instrumental Music Department, I was responsible for teaching and developing music curricula, developing new programs, recruiting and auditioning new students, presenting and speaking with incoming parent groups, writing and developing the school A-G requirements, and meeting with community schools and faculty to create meaningful collaborations. Read More