Jess Block

My name is Jess Block. I'm from Long Island, New York. I started playing the bass at age 10. My primary teachers in grade school were Emil Botti, Eugene Levinson, Joel Braun and Ron Castillo. I earned a degree from Juilliard Pre-College in 2009. I attended Manhattan School of Music for my Bachelors where I studied with Tim Cobb. I went to San Francisco Conservatory of Music for my Masters and studied with Scott Pingel. I participated in several summer music festivals such as the Pacific Region International Summer Music Association, the Benefic Chamber Music Camp, the Pierre Monteux Summer Music Festival, the National Guitar Workshop and the New York State Summer School for the Arts. I am currently based in the New York City area where I am a freelance musician, private teacher and instrument technician. Some of the groups I have played with include the Monterey Symphony, the Center Symphony, the Regina Opera, the Doansburg Chamber Ensemble, the Long Island Festival Orchestra and the Video Game Orchestra. I perform primarily now as a classical bassist. However I also play jazz and bass guitar. I have played multiple gigs in the SF Bay area and in the NYC area with my jazz trio and various rock groups. I also regularly play off-broadway musicals on both the stand up and electric bass. 

The majority of lessons are 1-on-1. The student is exposed to critical thinking, problem solving and self awareness. It is important for them to know not only when it is correct, but also when it is incorrect. The student can then be confident in replicating what they did to make it correct. The student does not need to pursue a career in music in order to benefit from this way of thinking. The lessons learned through music can be applied to other aspects of life as well. A proper music education is fundamental for personal growth.

Students progress at their own pace. As teachers we can help improve that pace by showing them what they need to execute through practice. Having a structured practice is imperative to the students development. One example is to practice 15-20 minute intervals, with a 5 minute break in between. The 5 minute breaks will allow the student to absorb more information over a 1 hour period, compared to the student who plays non stop for 1 hour. Through proper structured practice we can improve the rate of progress exponentially. 

Students will learn through visible aids, demonstrations as well as hands on experience and will be encouraged to ask questions. I teach my students to value tradition but to also be innovative, take risks and take advantage of the various technologies that are available to us today. Above all music should be fun and entertaining. My students learn a diverse knowledge of music. We work on not only the standard repertoire but also contemporary, movie and video game music.