Allendale, NJ Upright Bass Lessons

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

My name is Geoff and I play Double Bass).(also called.Upright Bass).I played in a Full Time Symphony Orchestra for 20yrs.I teach Solo work,NYSSMA pieces(expert),ALL Symphony Repertoire,Your School Music,Technical Studies,Scales and Sight Reading.I' m patient with students and changing lesson times if need be.Students do great at NYSSMA,All County and Long Island Strings,and all School Ensembles.Let's Go!

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.

My classes are very flexible when it comes to what the student wants. I can go from just teaching very basic bass playing to advanced harmonic concepts and jazz improvisation. On the first class, I give the student the choice of controlling our lessons materials about what they want to learn. Or the student can choose to let me control our classes, in which I will bring my own materials and ideas in which we should work and will go through the whole academic process of learning music.

I will work on technique,improvisation in jazz and other styles,classical repertoire, playing different grooves, bow technique, constructing bass lines, and overall bass playing (accompanying)

Being an active and experienced musician gives me the necessary knowledge to know what is needed on order to become a better musician. Also having over 20 years of teaching experience allows me to tailor my knowledge to the need of every particular student. I really enjoy to transfer my knowledge and solve the unique musical problem that every student encounter during their musical path.

I have seven years' professional experience teaching privately, and I specialize in Classical, Jazz, and Popular styles. I use a patient approach to accommodate each student's unique learning styles, challenges, and interests. While each student will have a personalized experience, all the necessary fundamentals will be covered, including technique, note reading, music theory, and ear training. Send me a message letting me know what your goals are. I can't wait to make music with you!

My goal as a teacher is to give you the facility to express yourself through music. The key parts to developing this facility are:

1. theory -- if you know your theory, you know the best way to express your idea without having to think about it
2. technique -- the last thing you want is for your technique to hinder your ability to express your idea. Having good technique lets your ideas flow naturally

When you take lessons with me, you get out of it what you put in. Your job as student is to be honest with what you expect to achieve and my job as teacher is to give you the tools to achieve it

I teach Classical Double Bass from beginner to intermediate level. I can teach the student from the most fundamental skills to hard solo pieces depends on the level of student. I also feel the music history and theory is also important therefor some elements will include in the lesson.

I am graduating from Manhattan School of Music this year with Double Bass performance degree. I have played with NYYS, and performed in Carnegie Hall for 4 consecutive years. Recently served as guest principle for New York Symphonic Arts Ensemble, and International Chamber Orchestra of America.