Bass Guitar School
Why the ACM bass guitar school? The bass is the single most important instrument, combining the elements of a band by bringing together rhythm, melody, harmony and dynamics. It is, therefore, vital to have a broad musical understanding of all the elements involved. On our full time and part time ACM bass courses we believe in helping our students to become well-rounded musicians who also happen to play a ‘mean’ bass... > more
Bass Guitar School - Introduction
The sky is the limit when studying bass on our bass courses, but we try at all times through our Diploma, Higher Diploma and Degree bass guitar courses to give realistic advice about making a career out of playing the bass guitar. Every bass teacher at ACM, Guildford is a working musician, but all our bass guitar tutors have also received excellent music education in the past. They would like to pass on their experiences from the ‘real world of bass’, through our bass courses, to our students. Styles come and go, the old becomes the new, and the new becomes the old. There is no innovation without the sense of history of our instrument. It doesn’t matter if you are into Punk, Latin or Black Metal, nor if you want to become a member of a successful MTV band, bass artist, hired gun for West End musicals, tribute bands, function bands or a music teacher. We strongly believe that our bass guitar courses have the correct educational study path, the best performance advice and the most experienced network of bassists available here at ACM.
Moreover, it is vital to experience a healthy amount of competition. Sitting in your bedroom playing along to instructional videos might be fun but it will not improve your skills quickly nor will it get you a gig. ACM is a great ‘market place’ for musicians to forge personal and professional friendships for years to come.
Remember the words of legendary trumpeter Louis Armstrong: ‘There is only good and bad music.’ Come to ACM with an open mind and not as a music critic. Musical growth often happens out of your comfort zone and needs serious commitment to the study of music, and our beloved bass guitar. We are looking forward to meeting and working with you all.
Stefan Redtenbacher - Bass Guitar School Manager
Bass Guitar School - Xtra
ACM runs a number of extra curricular events and activities for students on full time bass guitar courses, vocal courses, guitar courses, drum courses, music production courses and music business courses. If you would like more information on these activities or to find out about our bass courses please get in touch.
Bass Guitar School - Facilities
MUSICMAN TEACHING STUDIO
The Bass Guitar Teaching Studio is sponsored by Musicman and displays a selection of Musicman basses. There is a range of bass guitar amplifiers, including Ashdown, SWR, Trace Elliot, Laney, Fender and a Marshall bass stack for use on our bass guitar courses.
Bass Guitar School - Xtra...
These may include:
• Rock Bass Lab – Students on our bass course will get the chance to play contemporary and classic rock tunes and experiment with bass guitar effects.
• Professional Workshop – This is a band workshop. Students will experience ‘real life’ band situations. This includes reading charts, learning tunes by ear, rearranging, working with a MD, etc.
• Reading Lab – This lab provides you with great opportunity to develop and improve your sight-reading skills. There are two levels to this lab – one for the degree students and one for Higher Diploma students on our bass guitar course.
• Repertoire Lab – This lab will help students to build up their repertoire and learn the ‘must know’ tunes for any working bassist.
• Live Performance Workshops – a further opportunity to develop band skill techniques in a live performance environment.
• Perform with Confidence (for Diploma students) – a workshop concentrating on confidence building and anxiety management in performance.
• Rock Bass Lab – Students on our bass course will get the chance to play contemporary and classic rock tunes and experiment with bass guitar effects.
• Professional Workshop – This is a band workshop. Students will experience ‘real life’ band situations. This includes reading charts, learning tunes by ear, rearranging, working with a MD, etc.
• Reading Lab – This lab provides you with great opportunity to develop and improve your sight-reading skills. There are two levels to this lab – one for the degree students and one for Higher Diploma students on our bass guitar course.
• Repertoire Lab – This lab will help students to build up their repertoire and learn the ‘must know’ tunes for any working bassist.
• Live Performance Workshops – a further opportunity to develop band skill techniques in a live performance environment.
• Perform with Confidence (for Diploma students) – a workshop concentrating on confidence building and anxiety management in performance.
