Destrehan, LA Bass Guitar Lessons

lassical piano department in the School of the Arts High School of San Francisco. There I went through rigorous classical training and learned vast amounts of repertoire. At the same time, I still studied and played jazz in the high school Big Band, Latin Jazz band and small jazz combo. It was during this time that I deeply focused on not only Jazz music and improvisation, but also Salsa, Latin Jazz, R&B, Funk, Pop. Basically all other forms and styles of music. I learned what it means to be in a band and how to make an ensemble sound good and to make an audience like and cheer for the music. I was lucky to have bands and musicians to play with all around San Francisco, including jazz festivals.

After graduating as the only student to study in the Piano department for 4 years in my graduating class, I was accepted with scholarship to Berklee College of Music in Boston. I started my first semester in 2009, and declared a Piano Performance and Jazz Composition Dual Major in 2010. At Berklee, I studied under amazing piano teachers to focus on my jazz playing and technique and repertoire. Some of the classes I took included music theory, ear training, composition and arranging, scoring and analysis, even guitar and bass labs. As well, I was the main piano player for the Berklee Salsa Ensemble for 3 straight years. I was also involved with bands and playing recitals, shows, clubs, outdoors and indoor venues throughout Boston and Massachusetts. I had the honor of being hired by Berklee to travel and play along with other selected students at the Carnaval de Barranquilla honoring Joe Arroyo. This was the most memorable musical experience for me yet, as I played along great musicians for hundreds of people in a theater, including Joe Arroyo sharing the stage with the band.

All of this experience and training is what I bring to my lessons and tutoring sessions. I teach my students how to prepare themselves for any kind of musical situation, from music theory and technique, to piano playing and repertoire, and understanding and playing all kinds of styles and genres of music. Most of all, I teach my students to be unique in their musical endeavors and to bring out their own voice through music. And the most important element of all, the happiness and joy it brings to the students and others.

*** Lesson Details ***
In my piano and music lessons, you will be learning music theory, proper piano technique, ear training, sight reading, and repertoire. It will be up to the student to determine what genre and style of music they want to learn and study. It can be anything from classical music, jazz, or even Funk and R&B music and more. My students will also develop an ear, meaning that instead of only focusing on written material and music in sheet music format, they will learn to hear intervals and chords, and also play or sing back melodies.

My teaching style is very easy to get along with. I don't pressure or push students by being too strict. When learning music, being hard and strict gets the student nowhere. I approach the student with listening and understanding. It's my job to see the students advantages and keep them strong, as well as working on bringing up weaknesses and what's needed to make the student excel in both playing technique, and all other musical aspects.

When it comes to proper piano technique, I always teach my students with "Hanon, the Virtuoso Pianist in sixty excercises", and "Scales, Chords & Arpeggios" by James Bastien. After 3-6 months as my student, you will progress in your technique skills, ear training, repertoire and memorization

*** Studio Equipment ***
Main keyboard: Nord Stage 2 88 keysRecording equipment: M-Audio ProFire 2626 interface (modified), Black Lion Audio Inst/Mic Preamp, Black Lion Audio Master clock, KRK Rokit 6's, Shure SM57/SM58, Sterling Audio ST57 FET Condenser microphone, MacBook Pro with Logic, Ableton Live, Reason, Digital PerformerBass: Fender '57 reissue P Bass, made in JapanGuitar: Fender Deluxe Players Stratocaster, made in MexicoAmps: Behringer PA/Keyboard amp, Fender DeVille 2X12 60W all tube Guitar amp

*** Travel Equipment ***
Sheet music material and copied pages from books. Student should be able to provide their own books.

*** Specialties ***
Classically trained in Piano. Most recent styles and genres include Jazz, Fusion, Blues, Rock, Funk, R&B/Soul, Latin, Latin-Jazz, Salsa, Afro-Cuban

*** Studio Equipment ***
bass and guitar amp, music stand, sheet music books/magazines, home recording system w/ seating for parents

*** Travel Equipment ***
I can provide a guitar amp..I expect the student to have a guitar

*** Specialties ***
Sight Reading, All Modern techniques Pertaining To Guitar and Bass... Specialize in the Rock/Funk Genre

experienced players. Ben also offers Lap Steel, Pedal Steel, and Banjo lessons for beginners.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Breedlove AC25/SR Plus Acoustic Guitar
Gibson Les Paul
Fender Telecaster
Goldtone Dojo (Banjo/Dobro)
Emmons Pedal Steel
Gretsch Lap Steel
VOX AC-30 amp
Fender Bassman amp
Fender GDEC amp

ents in finding opportunities to perform in solo performances and with other groups. I also pride myself in creating an environment where the students are comfortable asking questions to help improve their playing.

Contact me for lessons today to enhance your playing.

*** Lesson Details ***
All my lessons are very personalized based on the student's interests, strengths, and weakness. For all my students, I try to find music for them to play that they are interested in learning while still covering the everything they need to get a solid foundation on their instrument. For my brass players, I place a huge emphasis on tone quality and production.

*** Studio Equipment ***
Eclipse and King trumpets
Benge trombone
Music Man, Fender, and Delta basses
GK, Ampeg, and SWR bass amps
Full recording capabilities!

*** Travel Equipment ***
Eclipse trumpet
Benge trombone
Music Man bass
Takamine acoustic guitar

*** Specialties ***
Brass (trumpet, trombone, French horn, euphonium/baritone, tuba), electric bass

to help them fulfill their musical goals.

guitar and have performed with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra as well as done concerts in the USA, Italy, and the UK.
I have experience playing in many different bands in many styles including: Rock, Reggae, African, Blues, and Jazz groups.

SUZUKI METHOD: I am trained and certified in the Suzuki Guitar Method and spent 3 years teaching Suzuki in studio with children as young as 5. This involves a significant parent-teacher-student commitment and regularly yields impressive results.

ON TALENT: I agree with Shin-ichi Suzuki that talent is irrelevant and a myth. I believe that the potential of all my students are the same but they come to me with various starting skills levels and all learn at a very different pace. I believe that the myth of “talent” really just means that the individual has had a long exposure to music. This is why I emphasize critical listening in my lessons. If you have a large knowledge of music and sounds in your head it makes it easier to make connections and better assess your ideas.