Introduction: Like many other music teachers, I am mult-instrumental (bass, guitar, accordion, piano, mandolin) but I *only* give lessons on bass because this is my expertise and passion.
I teach fretted/fretless electric basses, and upright bass. Classical, jazz, bluegrass, rock, funk styles, music theory, and conducting. Also can give master classes and clinics, and can conduct an orchestra. I also do a fair amount of freelance gig work.
You can do a lot on bass without learning to read music. I believe the key to success on any instrument is three pronged parallel attack:
1) Accumulate knowledge of the note names on your instrument.
2) You must be willing do some ear training so as to understand the sound of scales, chords and arpeggios, and ultimately match pitch with your voice. In addition to reproducing pitch, you must be willing to be moved by rhythm and think like a drummer. These are the core "substances" of music.
3) Armed with the sound of music, you relate these sound patterns to the corresponding finger patterns on your bass, thus building a vocabulary of finger patterns.
Lastly, I don't carry arrogance about myself as a musician; I make mistakes; I don't know everything; but together, you and I are on a joyful journey of discovery with the bass.
I love seeing "light bulbs" go on for my students. Rather than repeating the same thing over again with you, I won't sleep until I find ways to make frequent break throughs with my students.
