Jazz Bass for the Non-Bassist: Upright & Electric (Beginner Level)

Bass: Jazz Bass for the
Non-Bassist: Upright & Electric

(Beginner Level)

ONLINE
June 7–August 1, 2021

Learn the building blocks of improvising on the double bass or bass guitar in a jazz style. Develop walking bass lines and improvised solos from chord charts and discover methods for instructing young bassists in a jazz ensemble setting.

How The Course Works:

The course is done completely on your own time, there are no scheduled meetings. There are six units, about one per week during the summer term, and about one every two weeks during the fall and spring. You watch my videos and read the content, then make videos of yourself demonstrating the skills. I watch your videos and give you feedback, which you then apply to your next assignments. 

If you don't have much experience playing bass (or string instruments in general), you may want to start with "Intro to Upright and Electric Bass." If you are unsure, please send me a short video of yourself playing something and I can advise. dbistrow@vandercook.edu

This Course Will Include:

•  Playing accompanimental bass lines in swing, straight-eighth notes and ballad styles

•  Fingerboard/fretboard layout and fingerings

•  Basic harmonic structures of relevant chord/scale relationships

•  Navigating common jazz chord progressions

•  Concepts in improvisation

•  Learning six standard jazz tunes

•  Concepts in jazz education

Students can choose either upright or electric bass to take this course. No previous jazz or improvisation experience necessary.

Instructor: Doug Bistrow

Doug Bistrow received his degree from the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, where he majored in string bass performance and jazz & contemporary media. Giving over 150 concerts per year, he has performed with Itzhak Perlman,the Silk Road Ensemble, Edgar Meyer, Howard Levy, The Metropolitan Jazz Octet, Time For Three, Johnny Osborne, Ky-Mani Marley, Corey Chisel, Keith & Tex, and many others. Bistrow is a member of the Chicago Philharmonic, the Metropolis Symphony, and the Rockford Symphony Orchestra. He is on the faculty at Vandercook College of Music and the Merit School of Music, where he teaches double bass, jazz studies, music history and music theory. He also owns and operates Audio Bistro Recording Studio in Chicago's Logan Square.