Matt with upright bass, synthesizers and composition workstation in background
BACKGROUND
I’ve been teaching for over 13 years, and can teach bass (electric or upright), guitar (acoustic or electric), music production, and songwriting. I’m a music lifer. I’ve been playing bass for almost 25 years, and have been playing guitar for almost 27! Most of my training is as a bass player – in High School I studied classical and orchestral repertoire with Robert Anderson and James Clute of the Minnesota Orchestra (when he retired, Jim was the longest tenured member in the orchestra’s history), and through youth orchestra I got a chance to learn from local luminaries such as Peter Lloyd and Osmo Vanska. When I wasn’t putting on a tux to play in orchestras, I was playing jazz and experimental music, and playing in punk bands at local clubs such as the Triple Rock, 7th Street Entry, and the Quest.
After High School, I studied at Oberlin Conservatory, where I studied jazz, classical, and extended techniques with Peter Dominguez, and with the great Eddie Gomez when Peter was on sabbatical. My degree is in Contemporary Bass Performance. While I was at Oberlin, I started teaching bass to college students, as well as to kids in nearby Strongsville, OH.
I’ve been performing in professional ensembles since I was 14, in the Minneapolis, Oberlin, Chicago, and Los Angeles Areas. I have shared bills with Angel Olsen, Thee Oh Sees, Marissa Nadler, Questlove, Slick Rick, Born Ruffians, Perfume Genius, and others. I’ve also been writing, producing, and performing my own music for most of my life, so I’m proficient in Logic, as well as synthesizer and drum programming, as well as working with picture (films with my scores have screened at festivals and in theaters internationally).
Matt buying an orange gumball
TEACHING PHILOSOPHY
I’ve been teaching for 15 years, and have taught at places like Oberlin College, School of Rock (Elmhurst, IL), and the West Coast Academy of Music (Granada Hills, CA). I’ve taught hundreds of students from ages six to 65, and no two have been alike. Everyone learns differently and everyone connects with music on a different level, so I try to meet students where they’re at and help them connect with music in a way that makes sense for them. I emphasize solid musical fundamentals (playing in tune, playing in time, knowing how to navigate your instrument, and playing physically safely) so that once a student has the basics down, they can connect with the music they love on a deeper level.
I don’t work out of a method book. I borrow from a few, but my teachers never had me go through one either; they picked and chose what methods worked for them in connecting with me. So I try to pay that approach forward. Instead of a method book, I like to use songs the student likes as a way to teach musical lessons. Every song has something to teach us either about music, or about how to get around your instrument.
Whether you want to pursue music as a hobby or a career, I’d love to help you unlock your musical voice! Contact me below for info about scheduling, rates, etc.