Frequently Asked Questions

We offer both bass guitar and upright bass lessons. Andre specializes in bass guitar across styles like rock, jazz, funk, blues, and pop. Oswald focuses on upright bass with a background in classical and orchestral music, though he also works in jazz. Lessons are built around your child's interests regardless of which instrument they choose.

Bass guitar is the electric instrument you see in most rock, pop, and funk bands. Upright bass (also called double bass or standup bass) is the large acoustic instrument used in orchestras, jazz ensembles, and some folk and bluegrass groups. Both develop rhythm and ear training, but the technique and repertoire differ. Your child's teacher can help them figure out which is the right fit.

For bass guitar, we generally recommend starting around age 8 since the instruments are larger, though younger students can sometimes begin earlier depending on their size and hand span. For upright bass, age and physical size matter more since it's a much larger instrument. Your teacher can help assess readiness during a trial lesson.

Having an instrument at home is important for practicing between lessons. If you're not sure what to get, your teacher can help you figure out the right instrument and setup during your trial lesson.

Lessons take place live over Zoom with a professional instructor. For bass guitar, teachers can plug directly into the computer for clear audio. For upright bass, camera positioning helps the teacher see bowing technique and hand placement. Both use screen sharing to annotate music and exercises in real time.

Yes. Bass guitar students typically learn both standard notation and tablature. Upright bass students focus on standard notation and may work with orchestral scores depending on their goals.

Both of our bass teachers have extensive experience working with beginners and will start with the basics at your child's pace.

Yes. We accept several ESA and charter school funds that can cover the cost of bass lessons. Visit our ESA funds page or charter funds page for details.