Quick Tips: all PDF files are between 1-6 MB's in size

German Bow Basics (3 points of contact, pencil demonstration)
How tall should my bass be when I am standing and playing?
Can and Bass Demonstration
How do I rosin my bow?
Do I have a D neck? Eb?
Tension Tamers
How do I begin to learn jazz as primarily a classical player?
How do I begin to learn classical as primarily a jazz player?
View excerpts from my German Bass Bow Presentation from the Spring of 2006 at the Connecticut Convention in Hartford, CT.
An informative approach to bass playing- some things here I think are great, others should be taken with a grain of salt. Worth a look either way!

My Double Bass Teaching Philosophy

My Philosophy of Double Bass Education has been developed through my playing experiences in professional, amateur, and school ensembles over the past 15 years throughout North America, as well as through my private studios that I have had in the Midwest, Northeast and now the Pacific Northwest.

In my studio, I set my students up for a fun, and positive experience by encouraging independent expression with the physical tools I present them. I believe the students comfort level is extremely important to the process. This is especially true with younger players, as I find their physical strength might not fully be developed yet when they begin to learn to play.

I believe that it is not how much you practice, but how effectively you do it. Pacing is an important part of consistent practice, and I believe it is the teacher’s job to teach the student how to practice. Playing should never be used as a punishment. If set up correctly, playing can be a natural reward for a student.

Methodology

I believe scales are crucial to early development on the bass. Scales taught in a fun, unique way will enhance the playing experience. Playing with proper posture is also crucial to the development process. In my experience, almost all of the young players that I have seen that quit, have done so due to pain or suffer because of improper posture, or set up. I urge all students to experience both standing and sitting while playing from an early age. Although in the long run I promote standing and playing, I think the sitting experience can be helpful at different stages of the child's development.

I urge all students to record themselves playing, both with video and audio, and to play for family and friends as often as possible. I use a lot of orchestral excerpts in my teaching as sight-reading tools as well as to polish for auditions. For beginning jazz players, I think it is important for the student to learn the melodies before beginning to shape their bass lines. This will help the student understand the direction of the phrases, and have a better understanding of where their musical line will fit in to the harmonic structure.

For more information, please e-mail me or check back to this site frequently, as my method continues to evolve through experimentation and development with new students!