BASS COURSE SUMMARY (Levels I-IV)

Learning to play the bass is fantastic fun, but can also seem a daunting task. We have over twenty years of experience teaching contemporary music in a structured but informal environment and, before you know it, you’ll be jamming with fellow classmates and playing with a band!

The classes only take a couple of hours per week, and you have to put in some of your own practice, but as the courses are structured and organized you’ll be amazed at the progress you can make!

Each level contains a perfect balance between technique, theory and the building of practical skills, all delivered in a supportive and encouraging environment. Simply put, this is the most enjoyable way to learn to play and meet like-minded people and, who knows, they may end up in your band!

GENERAL COURSE DETAILS

BASS COURSE OUTLINES:

BASS I

If you have just bought a bass and are wondering what to do next, this is the course for you. You will build up all of the basic techniques that are required to play this most fundamental instrument, such as picking and fretting, whilst also acquiring an introductory knowledge of the fretboard and an understanding of timekeeping.

The course covers the essential building blocks of technique, fretboard skills and repertoire, but all in a fun and accessible manner. Lots of interaction within the class and playing music together will soon build your confidence!

Finally, in week ten of the course we provide a student band so that everyone can get their first taste of playing with a drummer and guitarist, all within an encouraging and supportive environment!

LEVEL I COURSE OUTLINE

• Fundamental left and right hand techniques
• Introduction to fretboard knowledge in the open position
• Building the basis of harmony & theory, such as simple Scales and Triads
• Introduction to rhythm skills and timekeeping
• Creating bass lines (using techniques and theory learnt so far) and LPW

BASS II

This course is for the bassist who has a grasp of the fundamental skills and has a basic left and right hand ability. You can perhaps play some classic riffs and lines but now want to develop further. The course is designed to help you start organising the fretboard as well as developing your stamina and level of performance.

The topics on the course can again be broadly defined as technique, harmony & theory, fretboard skills and repertoire. However, as with all levels all material is supported and illustrated by real musical examples meaning that learning is always fun and never dull!

Again, one unit of the course is an LPW (Live Performance Workshop), where we provide a student backing band and you get the opportunity to apply some of the material studied!

LEVEL II COURSE OUTLINE

• Developing techniques, including the hammer-on/pull-off
• Fretboard skills, including note recognition and location, and pentatonic scales
• Harmony and Theory, including pentatonics and common chord progressions
• Developing rhythm skills and timekeeping, including subdivisions
• Introduction to reading TAB and Rhythms
• Creating bass lines (using techniques and theory learnt so far) and LPW

BASS III

This course is for the player who has a basic understanding of the fretboard. They will probably be able to play some scales (major and minor, as well as pentatonic) and will be able to perform a few tunes reasonably.

It is designed not only to continue building solid technical skills, but also to develop your crucial understanding of music theory.

The course further explores technique, fretboard knowledge and theory, whilst all the time referring to musical examples. We also introduce two units that are ‘style specific’, giving you the chance to start investigating a musical genre in greater depth. In level three the styles are ‘Blues’ and ‘Rock’.

Finally, as in the other levels, one unit is an LPW where you join the Institute ‘House Band’ and perform in a real band environment.

LEVEL III COURSE OUTLINE

• Techniques, developing stamina, accuracy and introducing Slap
• Fretboard skills, including the blues scale and four note chords
• Harmony & theory, intervals and an introduction to Aural skills
• Developing rhythmic awareness and timekeeping
• Stylistic Studies of Blues and Rock
• Creating bass lines (using techniques and theory learnt so far) and LPW

BASS IV

This course is for the bassist who has mastered fundamental techniques, can play scales with reasonable fluidity and understands theory to an intermediate level. It is designed to continue to build technical skills, extend your music theory and continue to build control and stamina.

Where genres meet and merge is always where the most interesting developments in music occur so two of the units are ‘style specific’. This offers you the chance to experience different genres, which at level four are the technically demanding ‘Soul/R & B’ and ‘Funk’.

Finally, the LPW unit gives you an opportunity to play with an Institute ‘House Band’, gain live experience and apply what you have learnt.

 LEVEL IV COURSE OUTLINE

• Discussion of more advanced techniques, such as harmonics and tapping.
• Fretboard skills, including arpeggios
• Harmony and theory including the harmonised major scale, chord theory and key signatures
• Stylistic studies of Soul/R & B and Funk
• Introduction to Improvising
• Creating bass lines (using techniques and theory learnt so far) and LPW