Piano with Brian W.

Brian has strong and diverse musical experiences to share as a teacher of piano beginning to intermediate), bass (all levels) and guitar (beginning to intermediate). He has also worked successfully as musical director, studio/touring musician, arranger and piano technician. Originally from the Washington, D.C. area, Brian is now based out of North Olmsted, OH. As a teacher, Brian has taught privately for over ten years. Many of his students have gone on to forge their own successful, musically inspired careers. His local arts and charitable affiliations in Northeast Ohio are extensive. In September, 2008 he affiliated his bass instruction studios with Royalton Music Center (North Royalton, OH) and Studio 42 (Brunswick, OH). Through his work with the "Moss Stanley Trio" as "Cats On Holiday" Brian has provided extensive, "approachable" musical performance workshops for the Cleveland Metroparks and dozens of schools and libraries throughout NE Ohio. Not given to musical prejudgment, he instills confidence in his students as they prepare to take the stage, whether it is Severance Hall or the American Legion Hall. As a recording artist, touring musician and perfomer, Brian has backed such legendary and diverse entertainers as American jazz greats Lionel Hampton and Doc Severson ("The Tonight Show"), children's programming pioneer Sheri Lewis (& Lamb Chop), Actor McLean Stevenson (M*A*S*H). He has performed extensively in Asia and the Caribbean. His studio bass, vocals and narrative can be heard on numerous CDs, most recently for Cleveland's own Cats On Holiday ("Workin' Man", COHTONE Records, 2007). Brian works in a scalable performance format with the Nitebridge Entertainment Group and is a first call bassist for regional performance and session work. Brian's training began at age 3 with 18* woofer speaker and Ella Fitzgerald record. At age 9, he began his formal training on string bass in a progressive public school program in Prince William County, VA. He was fortunate to have excellent, dedicated teachers who brought out the best, including two years of private piano instruction. He taught himself bass guitar and at age 15 was selected to perform for the President as part of the American Bicentennial. With guidance from band director Roger Meyer, he co-arranged his first work for jazz orchestra at 17 and was tapped to perform for two seasons as a bassist/vocalist for Kings Dominion (a Paramount corporation) theme park. He also interned as a production assistant and stagehand for the summer concert series. He continued his study of bass at ACU in Abilene, TX. Brian commuted to Denton, TX periodically for private instruction on upright bass with Master Teacher Dave Stone (Frank Sinatra, Barbara Streisand). Brian was a member of the San Angelo (TX) Symphony and the Abilene Philharmonic. He is dedicated to a lifelong study of music theory, arranging and instrumental performance. In teaching situations, Brian is noted for his patience, resourcefulness, thoroughness and his innate sense of approach to convey ideas. In the studio, he is appreciated for his relaxed and professional demeanor. His ability to balance creatively rhythmic lines with his one take, on the mark sight reading keeps him in demand. *** Lesson Details *** Brian enjoys teaching students who want to learn and want to improve. My credibility of experience ("street cred"), laid back but thorough style combined with the knowledge of what methods work. I am patient but highly goal oriented to what motivates the student learn. I like to try new things, challenge old concepts and continually improve. I expect the best from my students by helping them see the best in themselves. They don't disappoint. *** Studio Equipment *** Piano, Guitar (electric and acoustic), Upright Bass, Electric Bass *** Specialties *** I am classically trained but also adept in improvisation. I play and teach all styles of American and Western European music, including but not limited to rock (classic, alt, metal), r&b/soul/funk, latin and Afro Cuban, popular/show, and contemporary Christian.