Marina del Rey, CA Upright Bass Lessons

All styles - pop, rock, jazz, funk, classical, etc. Reading, writing and ear training.

College Performance Degree in Bass
Diploma from Grove School of Music in Bass
20 years professional experience of Bass Playing

I am a professional studio player with a Doctorate in Music, and have played on hundreds of blockbuster movies including the Oscars and Grammys. I work with many orchestras and can teach you how to get work as a bassist. Also can teach jazz...

I focus on musicality when I teach any instrument. With the bass, that stretches from playing with strong tone and staying in tune all the way to thumb position vibrato and advanced bowings. I'm a classical player but I include jazz, folk, and rock in my lessons.

My primary goal with all of my students is to help them make great music that is true to themselves. I also try to stick with a sound-before-symbol approach to learning music. What this means for my teaching is a focus on training both the ears and technique. I always prefer a more personalized approach to teaching, working with students to find repertoire that speaks to them and improves their musicality and technique.

I am looking forward to working with you on beginning your training on upright bass. With me, you will learn the basic elements of the upright bass such as string tuning, bow grip, left hand fingering and proper posture.

I teach basic contrabass/upright bass using the Essential Elements repertoire. Group lessons are available but I do not teach Suzuki.

Want to learn how to play the upright as well as the electric bass! I can gladly assist with both! I love each instrument equally and would be more than willing to teach you the ways around the upright bass.

Hey there – I am so glad that you want to study bass! Upright bass is the cornerstone of my passion for music -- it is such a beautiful instrument and I love to help people find their unique personality on the bass. A little bit about me: I am a graduate of the world-renowned jazz program at the Jacobs School of Music and have been teaching for 8 years. I am well-versed in tried-and-true methods of establishing healthy technique, good tone, good time, and musicality on the bass. I have experience with many styles and genres and have been fortunate to play with artists from over 20 countries. My work has been featured in NPR’s Jazz Critic’s Poll, Jazziz Magazine, and All About Jazz, and I was recently chosen to be a cultural ambassador for the U.S. State Department’s global music fellowship (OneBeat). In other words, we can work together on whatever music really lights you up, no matter the style! Whether you are just beginning or are already advanced, there's so much we can do ...

The Upright is a very demanding instrument and it is not for the light of heart. If you're a complete beginner or even a more advanced player the same concepts can be applied to help further yourself. I will teach you all you need to know to advance your technique as well as your musicality. From playing scales to using a bow, playing melodies and improvising. I can help you start to build walking lines. Most importantly we will spend time listening to the greats of the upright and trying to "feel" the way they do.