|
AT A GLANCE
~ Andy Wasserman is currently teaching only beginner level electric bass guitar.
~ He teaches all the current styles: Pop, Rock, Funk, Hip-Hop, Dance, Latin and Jazz.
~ Many of his piano and drum students enjoy taking up the electric bass as a second instrument.
BACKGROUND INFO
Andy began playing the acoustic bass in college, and studied the specialized technique taught at the Prague Conservatory in Czechoslovakia with bass legend Miroslav Vitous (bassist for the Jazz Fusion super-group "Weather Report") at the New England Conservatory of Music, Boston in the early 1980s.
Andy found that the acoustic upright bass was too stressful on his fingers in terms of going back and forth from bass to piano - the piano being his main instrument. He eventually decided to abandon the acoustic bass so that it would not interfere with his piano technique, but always missed playing the bass. When he resumed his work on the bass he switched to the electric and found it was much easier on his hands. Now the electric bass is an important part of his music creation.
Andy owns four beautiful electric bass guitars:
Carvin custom built AC-40 Fretless
Birdsong Guitars custom designed and hand built Corto Bass
Spector Euro LX 5 - five string
Fender Prophecy II
|
Andy's electric bass collection
He uses these with his students and plays them on his recordings and in performance. Here are some of his anecdotes about these beautiful instruments.
click photos for close-up view
Luthier: Carvin Guitars
Model: AC-40F, California 2003
Details: Custom build, 4-string, semi-hollow, all walnut, neck-through,
Pick ups/Strings: Piezo active electronics, LaBella Deep Talkin' Black tapewound strings
"This was the bass that I had custom made to sound as close as possible to an upright bass. It is semi-hollow and has a neck-through solid walnut neck. It was designed specifically to use LaBella Deep Talkin' Black tapewound strings that give an incredible resonance similar to an acoustic bass. The body is also walnut. This bass looks as beautiful as it sounds. You'll notice the fret lines...those are not frets, just markers making it easier for me to play fretless."
Luthier: Birdsong Guitars
Model: Custom build Corto Bass 31" short scale - 24 frets, "Hummingbird Bass" serial number 007, Wimberly Texas 2005
Details: 4-string, flamed maple pickguard, cherry solid body, hipshot extender, semi-precious inlaid stones of the chakras on maple neck, woodburned hummingbird and John Coltrane quote, turqoise inlay on ebony wood knobs, semi-precious stones
Pick ups/Strings: Dimarzio bridge pickup
"This BIRDSONG CORTOBASS was one of those experiences in life that is hard to put into words. I had dreams about this bass, and Scott and Jamie of Birdsong Guitars let me share my vision with them from October 2004 through April 2005 while this bass was being born. The hummingbird motif was a dedication to my Mom, who passed away in 1999. Her spirit is connected to the hummingbirds. So she is with me especially when I play this bass.
The Birdsong Guitar makers are incredible people to work with - very spiriitually in tune and super soulful. Their website is worth checking out, especially if you are like me and wanted to experience a professional short-scale bass. Birdsong Guitars has the story of the Andy Wasserman "HummingBass" up on their website at this link. You can see pictures of it being built. This is one of most versatile bass guitars I've ever played. Thank you Scott and Jamie!!! The trip to Wimberly to pick up this instrument was a cosmic moment in vertical time that I will never forget."
Luthier: Spector Bass Guitars
Model: Euro LX 5, made in Checkoslovakia 2005
Details: 5-string (low E and high C), solid maple, neck-through
Pick ups/Strings: EMG Active, DR lo riders nickel strings
"This bass fulfilled my interest in learning to play a 5 string. I took a lesson with Brady Muckelroy in Texas because I was so impressed with his solo bass tapping technique. He influenced me to tune this 5 string bass with a low E instead of a low B, and tune the highest string to a C. I use DR Electric Bass Lo-Riders Nickel plated Lite strings to get the sound I want. This neck through bass has a lot of power and tone due to Spector's electronics."
|
Luthier: Fender (Japan)
Model: Prophecy II, 1994 Heartfield design 34" scale, 22 frets
Details: Solid ash body, 4-string
Pick ups/Strings: Custom upgrade with Bartolini advanced multi-band active EQ, passive able, D'Addario nickel roundwounds
"This is a classic Fender that was made in Japan in the mid-1990s. Mine has had some custom work done with pickup upgrades. It is the most flexible of all my basses; it can sound like anything and any style. It also has a passive switch, so I'm not out of luck in case the battery fails."
For general information about Andy's music instruction, including curriculum, policy, testimonials and links to his educational and professional resume, CLICK HERE.
 ANDY WASSERMAN'S PRIVATE MUSIC LESSONS MISSION STATEMENT
As a full time professional musician and educator with over 30 years of teaching experience, Andy approaches every student as an individual regardless of their level. He does not have a preconceived rigid program or use a "cookie-cutter" plan that plugs a person into his methodology. Instead, he sees each student - young or old - in relation to their potential, addressing the student's own interests and goals and adapting to their strengths and unique talents.
Wasserman's mission is to nurture, motivate and inspire the innate talent within each student. This is achieved by creating a unique program of study that leads to the fulfillment of their complete musical potential. He truly enjoys teaching, and maintains a fresh and vibrant atmosphere during the lessons by meeting the challenge to find what is most productive for each student. This educational philosophy allows room for experimentation in terms of course of study, books, and curriculum content. The goal is to allow the student to tap into the positive emotions and mindset that fuel the fire of passion for learning through the joy of music making.
Unlike many other professional musicians who teach, he not only enjoys working with the advanced student, but is humbled and honored to be working with children with no previous experience. This is evident in the comfortable learning atmosphere he creates that fosters the development of a love and appreciation for all that music has to offer.
The study of a musical instrument accelerates the growth of intelligence and establishes a keen sense of personal discipline while nuturing the valuable virtue of patience. By focusing the mind and calming the nerves, music making is one of the healthiest outlets for self-expression, balance, creativity and joy.
|
|
|
|
|
