Teachers?

[xkungpowx]

I'm new to the upright world and I am on a quest to find a teacher that specializes in rockabilly in the Philadelphia area. Up to this point I've only found classical and jazz players.... who obviously could teach me A LOT, but I'm more interested in being a stylitically good player than an overall knowledge player.

For now I've ordered a few books/dvds to get started (as well as a ton of great threads/youtube videos/etc), but I'd really like to work with a teacher. Any suggestions on places to look?

If not, I'd also like any recommendations on good resources on rockabilly bass.

[T-Bird]

Hi.

I could say that I'm self taught, but that would indicate that I can play .

That's not by choice though, I'd be willing to take lessons to undo the many most probably incorrect techniques that I've figured out by myself.

So my advice as a someone who has virtually no chance of finding a teacher of any kind, to take at least the basic lessons from someone who is willing to teach.

Personally I'd concentrate on the jazz players rather than on the more classically oriented, since jazz can be pretty close to blues and rock. To me anyway .

Regards
Sam

[untitledtopher]

I'm in the same area as you, and unfortunately have no leads on rockabilly teachers around here. Your best bet would be to hook up with a jazz teacher, if only for a few lessons, to get some technique down for the basics of upright, which will help you no matter what genre you are playing. There are some decent youtube videos and whatnot to get you started with the slapping, I play with a couple rockabilly groups in the area, and although I went to college for bass, on the rockabilly side I am entirely self taught. Either way, I would say that it would never be anything but beneficial to take at least a few lessons with a teacher of any genre just to get you going on the instrument, and from there transcribe lines off old records and try to get the sound and vibe the players you dig had/have. Listen, and practice, the best advice I've got.

[xkungpowx]

Thanks for the advice guys...

I've been gleaning everything I can from the internet thus far... and there is A LOT. I also have a few instructional dvds on the way in the mail that were suggested through a few forums.

I have a few leads for instructors, but nothing set yet. If I can't find someone genre-specific, I'll definitely take a few lessons from a jazz player just to get me going.