It means getting right down to the business of what it takes to be a good bassist — and a good musician. We offer very focused programs that have one primary goal: to prepare the student to play and function successfully in the wide variety of "real world" situations they will encounter as working professional musicians. This means having a practical, efficient curricula that relates all the areas of study directly to developing the skills and abilities needed to play, perform, and record. Our class sizes are small enough for us to get to know each individual student and their playing. This all happens in a positive, supportive atmosphere that helps us to maximize the educational experience. Unlike many schools, we don't hire ex-students with a couple of gigs under their belts to take on the important job of teaching. The entire bass faculty are accomplished, successful pros, as well as gifted teachers. This brings a wealth of experience, insight, and understanding into the classroom. The result is a hands-on learning environment unique to LA Music Academy. Bottom line is, we know what it takes to develop as a player capable of succeeding in today's market — and we're all about preparing you to take that next step.

Compared with when I started 35 years ago, there's an amazing amount of information out there about playing the electric bass. There are instructional books galore and magazines devoted exclusively to bass playing. The internet is an amazing resource for anything bass-related: demonstrations, tab, lessons, chat rooms — you name it. These are exciting developments that are helping to expand the possibilities on the instrument. With all this going on, though, I think it's easy for young players to get the idea that exposure to these things will automaticallly lead to becoming a really good musician and bassist. There's this unspoken misconception that, somehow, if you simply just know the right licks, scales, techniques, and tricks, you will be able to use them in a musical, meaningful way. That owning the right bass, or getting the latest pick-ups will give you a unique tone. At the end of the day, the experience of growing and developing as a bassist/musician occurs at the point where it all comes together: playing with other musicians. It's an absolutely irreplaceable ingredient to becoming a good player. Nobody can think their way into having a good groove, a strong, full tone, or communicating and responding in the moment. It's not possible to buy an original, identifiable tone. This results from having a concept — in the mind and heart and soul — about how it should sound. What it should feel like. Understanding that it's not just what you play, but also how you play that profoundly affects the outcome of the musical experience, which in turn affects whether or not people want to play with you, call you for gigs...you get the picture. At LA Music Academy, we're committed over the course of one year to bringing each student to their fullest potential as bass players. Even more importantly, as musicians, which translates to success. After all, it's not the 'Los Angeles Bass Academy'.

Absolutely! Studying in L.A. puts you in the center of the worldwide hub for commercial music. The number and variety of opportunities available here are greater than just about anywhere else. There's TV and film recording, and, of course, all types of albums done here. This is where major auditions are held, and the place where touring bands are assembled and rehearsed. L.A. has an active club scene where it's possible to go out any night of the week and be inspired hearing world-class musicians of all types performing in an intimate setting. Being in this environment puts the student in close proximity to the people who have first-hand experience in all these different arenas. The instructors at LA Music Academy bring to the classroom a real understanding of what it takes to succeed — gained through years of experience in the L.A. scene. This offers a truly unique opportunity to learn from the people who are out there doing it.