Guitar Lessons in Garland, TX

Instruments: Bass Guitar Double Bass

When did you decide to become a professional musician? Was it a gradual decision or was there a defining moment for you?
When I received the Friends of Jazz scholarship. The Grease gig also helped as well, during these times I knew it was possible to make living off of being a professional musician. It is not an easy road, but I love music so much I am willing to undergo hardships to make my dream a living.

Does music run in your family? Tell us a little about your musical family members.
It does not, I am the first musician of my family.

If you play more than one instrument, how did you decide to start playing the second? (Or 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc)!
I play a little bit of piano but not enough to be able to teach or play in a public space. If you go to a university for school, and piano is not your main instrument, you are required to pick up and play piano. I love the sound of piano, I love the classical pieces and jazz piano. If I was not playing the bass, I would be a pianist.

What does a normal practice session look like for you?
I write out what I must work on for the day, I allow for a certain amount of time dedicated to each technique/scale/tune/rhythm, I want to work on. I make sure to work on everything I have written down, and make sure not to be distracted during my practice time.

If you have a Music Degree, what is it in (Performance, Education, Musicology, Theory, Composition, etc) and why did you choose that degree?
I chose to be a music performance major, because it is my belief that we only have one life to live. I don't want to dedicate my life to anything else but music. I want to play and practice music until I am physically incapable of playing music. I love it so much, and choosing these major allows me to pursue this dream of mine. Although I don't have this degree yet, I will do everything I can in my power to ensure I receive this degree and continue this lifelong journey of being a fantastic musician.

Have any of your students won awards or been selected for special honors? How have they succeeded?
I cannot answer this question since I have not taught any students yet.

What do you think is the hardest thing to master on your instrument?
For upright bass it is mastering your intonation. Making sure every single note you play is in tune, neither too sharp of too flat. For electric bass, it is the complete mastery of the fretboard. Being able to play comfortably, horizontally and vertically.

Do you use specific teaching methods or books? (Ex: Alfred, Bastion, Suzuki, Hal Leonard) Why did you choose them if you did?
I use a variety of books to make sure my students are able to improve quickly. I use "The Real Book" in bass clef, and this book contains all of the jazz standards all musicians call on gigs or performance. This is the standard for all jazz musicians to practice by, and my first teacher taught me using this book. I have been taught using this book and I am able to play all sorts of jazz songs and different styles of music because of this book. I also teach using the Berklee bass books, one that focuses on constructing jazz basslines, sight-reading bass lines, and of course a chord studies/scales book that teaches a student the entire fretboard. I also use a syncopated rhythms book, it contains simple more complex syncopated rhythms. This book really challenges the musician to know how to read complicated rhythms. Another book I use is a latin bass book. It's really difficult, since a lot of bass players are used to playing less syncopated bass lines. this book is really more for the advanced player. I chose this books because they have addressed my weakness in my playing, and reinforced my strengths as a musician.

What is your favorite style/genre of music to play and why?
Jazz. There is so many ways to interpret a jazz standard, and there is an inherit beauty when you play a jazz with your close peers. You get to hear them express themselves. You can also express yourself however you like. The possibilities and styles are endless with jazz, there is so many things to be said and heard playing jazz.

What is your dream piece to perform and why?
My dream piece to perform would be John Coltrane's "A Love Supreme". This is my favorite record of all time. I listen to it everyday, as a morning ritual and as a form of mediation. There is spiritual power within this record. It was recorded as a 4 part suite, and has peaks and valleys musically, times of intense music and slower passages. I get a sense of completion every time I finish listening to a full play though of this record. I shed a few tears at the end of the piece. It is a spiritual piece, and I believe everybody should listen to this record. It might me the most spiritually powerful record I have ever listened to. And I would love to play this beautiful music for everyone to hear.

If you weren't a musician what do you think you'd be doing instead?
I did martial arts as a kid and in high school, so I would probably want to train and teach multiple disciplines of martial arts. I would most likely end up as a Brazilian Jiujitsu instructor.

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