Faculty Biography

"The hallmarks of a good bassist are good sound, good time, good ears, good bass lines, a good attitude, and the ability to play many styles. I've performed with the Navy Band, big bands, small jazz combos, vocalists, Broadway shows, and cabaret groups. Likewise, I want my students to be able to perform in many situations—which will help them in their careers.

"As chair, my main goal is to provide a curriculum to students that will enable them to perform in today's music arena. This means having faculty that not only can play, but also can teach these skills through the right courses.

"It is important to have a balance of traditional skills and repertoire, while staying abreast of new changes and developments. This balance can be found in the curriculum for the four-, five-, and six-string electric bass, the fretless bass, and acoustic bass. Students learn concepts in Latin, funk, Motown, and hip-hop, while maintaining a foundation from earlier styles of jazz, rock, and fusion.

"Teaching private lessons, I start by focusing on instrumental skills, like sound and hand and body position, in addition to scales and arpeggios. After that, I focus on repertoire that balances reading, improvisation, and ear training. In a classroom situation, I focus on the history of the bass in different styles, with a focus on the importance of playing in a rhythm section first and soloing second.

"Berklee offers bass students the opportunity to study with 30 bass faculty, a curriculum that includes both the acoustic and electric bass, and courses that embrace contemporary bass performance. Other benefits of studying at Berklee are the college's commitment to technology, the international and diverse makeup of the college, and the many performance opportunities for bassists."