By only working with quality, professional music teachers, we can guarantee the highest standard of music education.
About Adrian P.
I am a professional musician, educationalist and academic with over 30 years’ experience of performing and teaching. My main instrument is electric and double bass, but I also play guitar, Latin American percussion and piano. I enjoy performing and teaching all types of music but have a particular focus on jazz, Cuban and related styles like salsa.
I have performed music in many professional contexts: recording sessions, clubs, arts centres, cruise work, theatre productions, schools and universities. My teaching experience is also varied: adult education courses, schools, colleges, universities, private lessons and graded exams with people of all ages and abilities, and from different backgrounds.
I enjoy helping people who have genuine enthusiasm for learning the bass (as I do) and who want to improve as a musician. I think the best way to achieve this is to work with a teacher who has a wealth of professional experience and one who knows how to communicate these musical experiences in a structured and practical way. I aim to do this through a well-structured teaching programme with examples drawn from real-world recorded performances.
In lessons, an emphasis is placed on playing technique, dexterity, reading, stylistic knowledge, theory, playing creatively, and developing a good sense of rhythm, timing and groove. I believe these are the fundamentals of good bass musicianship. To develop these skills, musical examples are drawn from a wide range of styles, from jazz to popular and classical music. Topics include:
Components of the bass guitar
Tuning
Posture and playing positions
Playing technique
Dexterity
How and what to practice
Notes on the fingerboard
Reading
Intervals
Scales
Diatonic chords and chord functions
Styles (rock, jazz, funk, soul, latin, reggae)
Slap
Fretless
Double stops
Chords
Bass line composition
Improvisation
Bach cello suites
As well as having a structured set of teaching materials to draw on, I am also happy to adapt to the needs of individual learners.