Bass Lessons in Norwood, PA

Instruments: Piano Guitar Drums Bass Guitar Mallet Percussion Orchestral Percussion Conga Latin Percussion

For beginning students, I normally start with Alfred's Drum Method. This book works on the fundamentals of reading snare drum music and basic technique. Once the students grasps the basics on reading and playing with a metronome then we tend to move to Tommy Igoe's Groove Essentials (while still working on the Alfred's Method). After the student has began to play with the audio tracks and have succesfully gone through a few lessons from Groove Essentials then we begin to work on some solo repertoire and personal favorites as well. Read More

Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar Double Bass

I believe in tailoring music lessons to the individual students needs. This usually involves speaking with the student in the first lesson/lessons to find out what specifically they want to learn or improve. Once I've figured this out, I begin to find repertoire or create exercises that challenge this student in the respective area of focus. With younger students, I prefer to make an executive decision to begin with method books and then ease into more relevant material when the student is comfortable with their instrument. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Voice Bass Guitar

At the start of the first lesson, I give each new student a questionniare to fill out that tells me their musical background, influences, goals for the instrument and what music they are interested in learning. If the new student is a younger child, I begin them with Hal Leonard's Guitar Method Book One. Once they have grasped the simple chords and melodies of the book, I begin to introduce simple songs that they are interested in learning. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar

It's also important, with all students, to make sure we can work in some music that they want to learn, whether it be Beatles, Metallica, Led Zeppelin, Hendrix, Chili Peppers, Charlie Parker, etc. I think that's the best way to motivate a student, give them something they REALLY want to get under their fingers. I want to add that one of my strongest assets as a teacher is my very comprehensive knowledge of jazz language/theory and the role of the guitar player in jazz music. Read More

Instruments: Piano Bass Guitar Keyboard

I believe in developing five core areas in musicianship: Theory/Understanding, Technique, Creativity, Reading, and Versatility. Initial lessons will identify the students strong points and weak points, and a personal strategy will be employed to help strengthen and balance the student overall. Many beginning classical musicians are able to read fairly well but have little to no comprehension of how and why the music works; while many contemporary musicians may have "chops" but lack in their ability to read and/or have proper technique. Read More

Instruments: Guitar Bass Guitar Banjo Ukulele Mandolin Music Acoustic Guitar

I tend to start beginners off with a typical book, usually by Mel Bay or Hal Leonard. I find these books to provide a good basis for music reading and building the required skill set to master their instrument. In addition to those materials, I find music through various on-line sites and from my inventory that students are interested in playing and compliments their abilities. For my adult students, I curtail the lessons to focus on the songs they want to play and understand their goals for playing at this stage in their life. Read More