BASS LESSONS
Congratulations on choosing the double bass! I have been helping students learn to play and love the bass for over 30 years. Whatever style of music you wish to pursue, whether you are a beginner or an advanced player, correct technique is the key maximizing the enjoyment you get from your musical experience. My students range in age from 3 to 87. Some are complete beginners when they have their first lesson, but many are returning to the instrument after a long sabbatical, or coming from another instrument such as electric bass. In addition to weekly private lessons, Bass Church students have the opportunity to participate in regular group classes and perform in 3-4 recitals per year. Nobody is too young, old, or small to learn to play the bass!
Anna Doak
Anna has been a Suzuki Bass Teacher since 2010 and is thrilled to be the newest Bass Teacher Trainer for the Suzuki Association of the Americas. Prior to her Suzuki training Anna taught at Western Washington University in Bellingham Washington. After starting a family she decided to focus on working closer to home and has built a thriving community of all-ages students at her teaching studio in North Seattle. Anna is currently a member of the Northwest Sinfonietta, serves as principal bassist and teaching artist with the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra and is on faculty at the Japan Seattle Suzuki Institute. She has performed with the Seattle Symphony, the National Academy Orchestra of Canada, the Northwest Chamber Orchestra, and on numerous recording projects. In addition to her classical studies she has a BA in Jazz Performance from Cornish College of the Arts. She is a founding member of the chamber ensemble Different Drummer and was awarded an artist support grant by the Jack Straw Foundation in 2015, and again in 2020.
In her spare time Anna enjoys gardening, reading, doing Tai Chi and hiking with her dog Mishchief.
Jack Coleman
Jack Coleman is a registered Suzuki double bass teacher with a passion for music and education. Having started his musical journey on the violin at the age of 9 and later transitioning to the double bass at 12, Jack's early interest in orchestral instruments laid the foundation for his career. A standout accomplishment in Jack's musical journey was his membership in the 2002 Oregon All-State Orchestra, a testament to his commitment to his craft. Currently, Jack is an active member of both the Thalia Symphony and the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, contributing his skills and artistry to the music scene. Jack finds joy in sharing his expertise with beginners of all ages. His patient and nurturing teaching approach reflects his belief that anyone can embark on a musical journey and discover the wonders of playing an instrument.
Outside the realm of music, Jack immerses himself in the pages of sci-fi/fantasy novels, exploring imaginative worlds beyond the strings of his double bass. He also embraces the thrill of the open road on his motorcycle and indulges in the companionship of his feline friends, always ready to shower them with affection.
JOHN CONVERTINO
John is a highly accomplished musician and contrabassist with a rich history of performance and education. He has been a solo bassist with the Lyons Chamber Players since 2006. He has also served as section bassist with the Tri Cities Opera, the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, and the Norwalk Symphony Orchestra. With a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Music from the State University of New York at Purchase and further studies at The Juilliard School, John possess a strong educational foundation in music. Additionally, he has showcased his musical talents with Networks Presentations, where he played bass for "Fiddler on the Roof" and "Book of Mormon" during national tours. In John's tenure with Big League Productions from 2012 to 2021, he played electric bass and upright bass for productions including "The Grinch" and "A Chorus Line," touring both nationally and internationally.
Having recently moved to Seattle from New York City, John currently plays with the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra and is principal bass of the Thalia Symphony. John became a Suzuki registered bass teacher in 2024.
Andrew grandahl
Andrew studied double bass at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY, and at The Glenn Gould School of The Royal Conservatory in Toronto. He began playing bass using the Suzuki method at the age of 10 when he joined his elementary school orchestra in Simsbury, CT, and participated in The Hartt School’s Community Suzuki Program until graduating high school. Andrew’s teachers include Domenick Fiore, Robert Black, Dezron Douglas, James VanDemark, and Jeffrey Beecher. He became a Suzuki registered teacher in 2023, studying with Anna Doak at the Japan-Seattle Suzuki Institute.
Andrew plays in the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra bass section and is a member of the SCO board. He also enjoys playing bass guitar, and loves exploring a wide array of genres as a bassist, including rock, jazz, funk, pop, bluegrass, and more. In his free time, he enjoys cooking, practicing yoga, meditating, reading, studying anthropology, paddleboarding, hiking, and enjoying the Pacific Northwest or traveling abroad with his partner Hannah and their dog, Cleo.
WHAT IS SUZUKI BASS?
Dr. Suzuki, a violinist and teacher in Japan, marveled that all children learn to speak their native language (a complex and sophisticated skill even for adults) and he began to apply the basic principles of language acquisition to the learning of music, calling it the mother-tongue approach. He felt that the concept of inborn talent was artificial and limiting. He believed that given the right set of circumstances, anyone could learn to play music and learn to play well. Double bass is one of the newest members of the Suzuki family, and I am happy to bring the double bass to the Seattle Suzuki community! Though the double bass is the largest instrument in the string family there are fractional size instruments available that allow children as young as 3 years old to start learning the bass. Visit our rentals page to view a sizing chart.
Enjoy this slide show of the Japan Seattle Suzuki Institute 2023 Bass Program. Join the fun in summer 2024, Aug 5-9, for the student bass program and Unit 2 Teacher Training.
Each day of practice brings you to closer to the enlightenment of having music as a lifelong artistic pursuit!
Call or email for lesson schedule details and rates.
Need a bass to get started with? Check out our rentals page.
Looking for a group to play with? Check out our list of local Community Orchestra’s and programs. Orchestra List
Check our calendar for upcoming master classes, concerts and other bass activities.
