Adrian Poole

5 Years Teaching on Lessonface
Bass Guitar
Lesson Fees
$35.00 / 30 Minutes
Promotions Available
Free trial lesson for new students

About

I am a professional musician, educationalist and academic living in England. I have 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 have performed music in many professional contexts: recording sessions, clubs, arts centers, cruise work, theater 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.

My qualifications include a PhD in Cuban music, an MA in Ethnomusicology and a teaching diploma.

Teaching Style

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 technique
  • Notes of the fingerboard
  • How and what to practice
  • Intervals
  • Reading
  • Scales
  • Diatonic chords
  • Dexterity exercises
  • Bassline composition
  • Styles: blues, rock, reggae, soul, jazz, funk, Cuban, jazz-funk, Latin-jazz etc.
  • Slap
  • Double stops
  • Chords
  • Harmonics
  • 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.

Curriculum

I mainly use my own teaching materials but the following books are a very useful supplement.

Pedro De Alcantara (2013). Indirect Procedures: A Musician’s Guide to the Alexander Technique. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Rich Appleman (1998). Reading Contemporary Electric Bass: Performance Studies in Funk, Rock, Disco, Jazz, and Other Music Styles. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard.

Ray Brown (1999). Ray Brown’s Bass Method. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard.

Ron Carter (1979). Ron Carter Bass Lines: Exactly as Recorded. Vol 6, ‘All Bird’, transcribed by Thomas Hilliker and John Goldsby. New Albany: Jamey Aebersold.

Ron Carter (198). Ron Carter Bass Lines: Exactly as Recorded. Vol 15, ‘Payin’ Dues’, transcribed by Sonny Stephens. New Albany: Jamey Aebersold.

Todd Coolman (1990). The Bottom Line: The Ultimate Bass Line Book. New Albany: Jamey Aebersold Jazz.

Carlos Del Puerto and Silvio Vergara (1994). The True Cuban Bass. Petaluma: Sher.

Arn Evans (1981). The Bass Line Book: A Workbook. Lebanon, IN: Studio P/R.

Steve Gilmore (1984). Steve Gilmore Bass Lines: Exactly as Recorded. Vol 25, ’17 All-Time Standards’, transcribed by Fred Boaden. New Albany: Jamey Aebersold.

Judith Kleinman and Peter Buckoke (2013). The Alexander Technique for Musicians. London: Bloomsbury.

Gerald Klickstein (2009). The Musician's Way: A Guide to Practice, Performance, and Wellness. Oxford University Press. www.musiciansway.com.

Mark Levine (1995). The Jazz Theory Book. Petaluma: Sher.

Rebecca Mauleón (1993). Salsa Guidebook for Piano & Ensemble. Petaluma: Sher.

Tony Oppenheim (1981). Slap It! Funk Studies for the Electric Bass. Pennsylvania: Theodore.

Robert Rawlins (1995). A Simple and Direct Guide to Jazz Improvisation. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard.

Robert Rawlins and Nor Bahha (2005). Jazzology: The Encyclopaedia of Jazz Theory for All Musicians. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard.

Rufus Reid (1983). The Evolving Bassist. New Jersey: Myriad.

Chuck Sher and Marc Johnson (2000). Concepts for Bass Soloing. Petaluma: Sher.

Steinel, M. (1995). Building a Jazz Vocabulary. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard.

Mike Steinel (1995). Building a Jazz Vocabulary. Milwaukee: Hal Leonard.

Eric Taylor (1989). The AB Guide to Music Theory, Part I. London: Associated Board.

Credentials & Affiliations

PhD in music at the Open University, Milton Keynes (2013), ‘Groove in Cuban Dance Music: An Analysis of Son and Salsa’.

MA Ethnomusicology at City University, London (2002), North Indian classical and popular music, Cuban dance-popular music, Javanese Gamelan, City Orchestra.

BSc (Hons), 1st Class, Computing with Human Factors at London Metropolitan University (1994), Programming (Unix, C, C++, Visual Basic, Miranda), Systems Analysis and Design, Software Engineering, Human-computer Interaction, Computer Graphics and Applied Cognitive Psychology.

Jazz and popular music at Goldsmiths University, London (1989 - 1993), Courses in bass, pitch and general musicianship and jazz workshop.

Grade 7 bass guitar (1997), London College of Music.

Grade 8 double bass (2004), Associated Board of the Royal Schools of Music.

Qualified Teacher Status (2000), Secondary School Teaching Diploma.