Bass Instruction

I am now teaching privately at The Bass Emporium. Now that I have a webcam that works well, I am willing to take students for online instruction. Using iChat, it's possible to get information across pretty well. If you're interested, email me and we can set something up. The next best thing would be to buy all of my books!

When I started teaching in 1979, I had no clue, and at times even felt bad about charging my students (I'm over that now...). Eventually, I started to figure it out and began to see that teaching is an exercise in problem solving. I started writing my own lessons early on as I felt alot of the materials available didn't suit the way I wanted to teach. This helped me develop a vision of how the learning process unfolds, and how best to serve it.
When I began teaching at Berklee College of Music in 1984, I was suddenly inundated with a high volume of students of all levels. There were players that didn't belong at a music school in the first place, and ones that could play better than me! Confronted with such a wide range of proficiency, it was my challenge to find something of value for each student. It was especially tough dealing with my ego trip when a student could play exceptionally well. I had to learn to get over that and find a way to be of help, or recognize that I had nothing to offer this person. Teachers often invest too much of their self image in always being right, it really helps to accept that we don't always have the answers, no one person can really know it ALL. I had to learn how to say "I don't know" when I really didn't.

A big step for me was going back to school - it had been 11 years since I was a student, and it was a real eye opener. I was surprised to find that not only did I like school, but I was actually a good student. I received a Masters Degree in education from Cambridge College in 1991, the knowledge I gained there has been invaluable to me as a teacher, and a human being. My first book "Building Walking Bass Lines" was my Master's thesis, and I owe so much to my professor, Dr. Linda Ostrander for helping me learn the process of putting together a large project. I had always wanted to write a book, but early attempts stalled out after a few pages. Now, I've written 13 books, 3 DVDs, and hundreds of articles, with more on the way.

While I've come to realize that everyone is unique in their learning process, there are a few areas of music and bass playing that everyone can benefit from studying:

Proficiency levels may vary from one person to the next, but virtually everyone needs some work in these categories. So, if you'd like to study with me but can't because you live in Sri Lanka or Nigeria, closely examine these areas of study, search out learning materials, and get to work!

• Berklee College Of Music, Boston, MA, 1984-86: Private bass instruction, Ear training 1-4, Small group jazz workshops, Arranging, Sight reading and Bass Line Labs.
• Milton Academy, Milton, MA, 1988-95: Private bass instruction, substitute for jazz improvisation classes (spring 1988).
• Boston College, Newton, MA, 1988-95: Private bass instruction.
• University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 1996: Bass master class series.
• Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ, 1996-98: Jazz bass studio, small group jazz workshop.
• Private Instruction, 1980-current.
• Educational Director for School Of Bass, held in Scottsdale, AZ 2004 and 2006.

• Musician's Institute. Los Angeles, CA.
• Los Angeles Music Academy, Pasadena, CA.
• Carvin Retail Stores, Various locations in Southern California.
• Monster Music, Albuquerque, NM
• Vancouver Bass Conference, Vancouver, BC 2001 & 2003
• National Guitar Workshop, Bass Summit, Los Angeles, CA 2001-03

If you're interested in having me to your site for a clinic, send me an email and let's discuss the possibility.