BASS LESSONs
Congratulations on choosing the double bass! We 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. Our students range in age from 3 to 90. 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.
HEather chriscaden
Heather Chriscaden grew up in the Pacific Northwest, where her early influences included lessons with jazz greats Ray Brown and John Clayton. She received a BM in Double Bass Performance from WSU and was the first recipient of the University of Oregon’s Master of Music in Jazz Studies. She has performed various styles of music all over the world: jazz ensembles from Seattle to New York and Colombia to Japan; orchestra and chamber groups across the country; and klezmer performances from Krakow, Poland to Leonard Nimoy’s synagogue series in California.
As an educator, Heather has taught private lessons for ages 3-70 and was a tenured instructor of music theory and ear training at Edmonds Community College. She has been on the faculty of music camps around the country and was an assistant director for both the Frank DeMiero Jazz Camp in WA and the Stokes Forest Music Camp in NJ. She also taught low strings for the New York Pops Musical Mentors and was a rhythm section coach for the Grammy in the Schools Program.
Heather is thrilled to be reunited with the mountains, trees, people, and music of the PNW. Her newest passion is adding Suzuki double bass to her teaching repertoire.
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.
BRandon Gaoiran
Originally from the San Francisco Bay Area, Brandon Gaoiran is a Seattle-based double bassist and graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music, where he earned his Bachelor of Music in Double Bass Performance, studying with Peter Dominguez and Thomas Sperl. He has also been mentored by legends Jamey Haddad, Billy Hart, and Stevie Wonder. Brandon performs with the Thalia Symphony Orchestra and the Seattle Collaborative Orchestra, and has appeared with the Everett Philharmonic Orchestra and the Pacific Northwest Opera.
He also has a prolific background in other styles of music, including Afro-Cuban, tango, salsa, and funk, and has led ensembles throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and abroad. An active freelancer, Brandon has toured and lived in China, where he led his own jazz ensemble in Beijing. He served as Double Bass Instructor and Jazz Ensemble Coach at the International School of Beijing. Brandon has started his training to become a Suzuki bass educator. He enjoys cooking, exploring new cuisines, and traveling.
WHAT IS SUZUKI BASS?
Dr. Suzuki, a violinist and teacher in Japan, marveled at how all children learn to speak their native language—a complex and sophisticated skill even for adults. He began applying the basic principles of language acquisition to music education, calling it the “mother-tongue approach.” He believed that the concept of inborn talent was artificial and limiting, and that with the right environment and encouragement, any child could learn to play music—and play it well.
The double bass is one of the newest members of the Suzuki family, and I am excited to bring it to the Seattle Suzuki community. Although the double bass is the largest instrument in the string family, fractional sizes are available, making it possible for children as young as three years old to begin learning and enjoying the instrument.
Visit our rentals page to view a sizing chart.
Ella is three years old. We spent her first month of lessons “building” her bass—getting acquainted with the different parts of the instrument and learning how to stand on her foot chart and take a bow. The day she brought her bass home, she was so excited that she asked if she could join the Berlin Philharmonic in their virtual concert hall!
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Enjoy this slide show of the Japan Seattle Suzuki Institute 2024 Bass Program. Join the fun next August!
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.
