On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday..."Don't let one genre define u". Just like in investments, diversity is key to success. Look at Kip Winger, Flea, Andre 3000, every comedian that has played a terrifying villian on SVU. The more u diversify ur range, the more you bring to the table creatively (I think I've written that in these talks a thousand times). It is why the Italian chef spends a year in Singapore, and visa versa..to bring n

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss the saying, "there are no tired tunes, just tired players...". We have all played in some situation where a large number of the same tunes are played every gig...cover bands, wedding bands, tribute bands, etc. Unfortunately, things can get stale very quickly. We all have our "kryptonite" tunes....Freebird. Mustang Sally, Celebration, Brown Eyed Girl, Sweet Caroline...the list goes on. T

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss the concept of bassline construction. I will begin with a parallel story. I was talking with a friend of mine, a 5☆ NYC chef. He had just fed me one of my top 5 lifetime meals...so delicious and creative. I was complimenting him and he said the following, "I take the time to see what's available and use the fundamentals of culinary science and my creativity to build a dish that has compon

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss the concept of "Art is Art".  We get into an objective vs. subjective argument here. Art is the product of a person or group of person's creativity and vision. Whether u like it or not, does not change that fact. Now, of course, if it is hateful, misogynistic, or vulgar (especially in then presence of children) it is a different issue..but that is outside the realm of this discussion. The

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we conclude our 2 part discussion of "Listening and Reacting". We will cover the same areas from last week with ways to use what u "hear".  First, urself. The key here is to use what u "are" at any given moment as impetus for creativity.  Happy? Tired? Angry? Hungry? All of these things affect ur playing to some extent. Learn to use them POSITIVELY (even the "negative"ones). Make them part of ur "so

On this "first week of Spring and I'm STILL freezing my ass off"  installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we have Part 1 of a 2 part series..."Listening and Reacting". Today, listening. Now I'm not talking about learning a tune or following a drummer or other band mate. While these are VERY IMPORTANT skills, I'm talking way deeper. Let's begin with listening to urself. What?!?! wtf? I always listen to myself..I'm the one playing! Well, maybe mayb

On this "holy crap, another Friday the 13th" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss "fear and confidence". I'm not just talking stage fright here, although that can be a big issue. I'm talking more fundamental fear. Fear of trying something new, fear of going beyond ur comfort zone. Fear of failure. I see it all the time in lessons. Students will play something for me then all of a sudden, go from confident and powerful to quiet, meek

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss the concept of how the woodshed can be like "money in the bank". I get really discouraged when I introduce a concept to a student..maybe a "stretch" activity...and I get the "I'll never use this..." Really? How do u know? I have spoken many times about the shed consisting of fundamentals and challenges. Some of those challenges should, IMO, include the "u never know" variety.  U have no i

On this "abridged because im sick" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss "labels".  Labels can be helpful. They define things to better help us make choices. However, IMO, lables in art can be problematic. They can be limiting. They can so give an air of superiority or inferiority.  Basically, we are all artists in the community. Anything past that is immaterial unless they are needed for a playing situation or other collaborative en

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss a topic that has come up quite a bit recently....choosing a teacher. Now, we all learn differently and want different things out of our art. Private instruction is one of many avenues open to us. Choose the avenue that works for you. I am a proponent of private instruction. I have had it since the beginning and, for the most part, have benefitted. I actually took a lesson last month!  If

On this "Friday the 13th" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss probably my least favorite topic (no, not gear, lol). The modes (ugh). Now, I have nothing against these scales per se, it is the mystique surrounding them. Over the years, I have had discussions with students and players that feel learning the modes is a "milestone". Uh..no. If u learn the modes, u will not be inducted into a secret society. No hooded figures will lead

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we discuss the following quote, “we do not rise to the level of our expectations, we fall to the level of our training”. This is credited to Greek poet Archilochus, but I heard it from a fitness professional. It sounds kind of defeatist, but really it is the opposite. The key is to understand that the goal is to narrow the gap between the two. How do we do that? PLANNING! REALISTIC GOALS! WORK! PATI

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, I'm going to discuss a quote from a fitness professional that applies to the woodshed..."...little things allow for the big things.." Meaning, in order to be able to address any skills u are working on, u need to address all the parts that make up that skill first and then bring them together. I learned this early on when I studied slap with @tonyoppenheim. He broke everything down to all its parts

On this slightly abridged #NAMM2026 installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we talk "community". Yeah, not gear...not celebrities..not ensorsements...not the Cali weather...COMMUNITY! We, as artists, need to support each other..PERIOD. Unless there is $$$ or a playing situation involved, there is no competition.  We are all valid...we are all creatives in the community. All tastes, styles, all ages, all levels. U dig? It shouldn't matter how much

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we talk " Open Jams". Sometimes call "Jam Sessions" or "Open Mic Nights", these can be fun, rewarding, terrifying, humiliating and/or discouraging experiences. Navigating them is a skill. Now, IMO..especially for beginners, private jams can be before fruitful, at least to start. Find one more players of about ur level and play together. Make it as friendly and low pressure as possible. Play tunes, j

On this "Happy New Year" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we talk "goals". This is something we should ALL think about in all aspects of our lives, and not just this time of year. Of course, I talking about shed goals here. Ok, but why? Well, goals give you a direction, a way to pinpoint areas of work and a way to measure progress. I can't tell you how many times I hear from students that they are in a rut and play the same 5 things. Well,

On this "ya better watch out, ya better not cry" installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we cover the ubiquitous "Made Easy" concept. We see it in countless commercials and infomercials...fitness, learning a language, making money, getting a degree..everywhere. Let's be honest, we all know if it sounds simple and easy, it ain't. ANYTHING worthwhile takes time, effort, sweat, patience and WORK! Shortcuts may seem useful, but my experience shows th

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, I am going to cover one of the first topics (if not THE first) ever in this series. Based on discussions this week, I fell it needs to be revisited. Today, "It ain't all about the bass" (sorry Ms. Trainor). It's about the music. We, as artists, have to understand that most listeners listen to the music "as a whole ". Not a sum of individual parts (at least not consciously). Virtuoso bassist, conduct

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we round out the last set of discussions on what to practice by talking about "how" to practice. This issue seems to permeate through every level, style and background of player I have met and/or taught. The key here is honesty, consistency and planning. The more you focus on these three areas IMO, the more succesful you will be. In order to achieve real progress, you have to be able to monitor your

On this installment of @yamahamusicusa #silentbass and @laklandbasses Friday, we conclude our talk on fundamentals with a discussion on "Challenges ". What is a challenge? It's a skill or skills that go "farther" than fundamentals.They may require more in depth work, more individual creativity...more time and effort to understand.  Challenges are where, IMO, we truly see improvement. These skills are "next level". Examples are sightreading, bassline construction, walking line