The Quantum Bass Center's education offerings currently consist of:

GROUP CLASSES in double bass technique, Saturdays 

JAZZ CLASS (Tuesdays 7-8pm) - taught by David Craig - resumes Oct. 2!  See below

PRIVATE LESSONS with one of our faculty, scheduled with the teacher, or referrals to other excellent teachers we know.

WORKSHOPS and MASTER CLASSES with major bassists and teachers, open to the public. (None imminent)

RECITALS by our students and faculty, with visiting artists

DEMO/RECRUITMENT concert/presentations.  Encourage beginners and amaze the rest.  Dates open for appearances!  

COACHING and sectionals for schools and community orchestras


Group technique classes - Fall 2012 semester  

  • 14-week course takes place Saturdays, with no classes Thanksgiving weekend, All-State Audition weekend, and Sept. 22 (Austin BassFest)
  • Tuition is $395 for the semester - due September 8th.  Special rates for string teachers wishing to audit.
  • Not sure if group classes in technique are right for you?  Unused portion of the tuition is refundable after the first two classes, if the student decides not to continue.
  • Refer-a-friend rebate - $45 for each friend (unlimited number!) who  enrolls for the entire course.
  • No-cost evaluation of your bass and bow by the staff luthiers - $35 store credit toward bass adjustments if needed, or accessories
  • We are currently offering three levels: 
  • Beginners (and those in early stages of learning the bass) 10-11am with Renaud Boucher-Browning
  • Intermediate/Advanced, 11:30-12:30 with Paul Cannon
  • Advanced Intensive (by audition) 1-2:30pm with Paul Cannon
  • Our instructors are fine bassists with a love for teaching and who are highly trained in the most up-to-date double bass pedagogy.
  • To enroll: just call or email in advance of the first class.  Classes start at the hours scheduled - please arrive in time to be unpacked and tuned before the class start time.  Just found us?  Contact us about auditing the class or the possibility of joining mid-semester.


Small group jazz classes, Tuesdays 7-8pm with David Craig

  • Ongoing class with enrollment by the month
  • Work on creating bass lines, new tunes and jazz vocabulary
  • Group size is 2 to 4.  
  • A working knowledge of upright bass technique is needed - the Saturday beginners class is a good way to get started!
  • Tuition $100 a month, payable at the first class of each month.  Months with five Tuesdays will have no class on the fifth Tuesday
  • Next series begins October 2 with a minimum enrollment of 2.  To enroll, just call or email us!


Private lessons 

can be scheduled directly with the teacher with whom you are interested in studying.  We also refer students to other excellent teachers we know.  There are no commissions or fees to any party, and referrals are entirely based on matching students with the most highly qualified private teachers for the benefit of the progress of the student.  

 



Paul Cannon is the Director of Education at Quantum Bass Center.  He received his Bachelor of Music in double bass from Rice University in 2010, and subsequently the diplomas in performance and pedagogy from L'Institut International Rabbath, Paris, France.  He is currently enrolled in the Master of Music program at Rice.  Paul is a five-time participant in the esteemed double bass training program at the Academie du Domaine Forget, Quebec, Canada, and was recently runner-up for the double bass position of Orchestre Contemporain, Paris.  He will be touring this fall with Ensemble Moderne of Germany, and has continuing performances with Houston Grand Opera and Houston Symphony.  Paul's former students have achieved admission to such fine double bass programs as Ithaca College.  

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Renaud Boucher-Browning (1992- ) is pursuing a Bachelor of Music in Double Bass
Performance at Rice University, and formerly studied with Jack Koncel, principal bass of the Boise (Idaho) Philharmonic. In the past three summers (2010-12), Renaud participated in the month-long double bass session of the Domaine Forget Music Academy, and in 2009 was a member of the National Symphony's Summer Music Institute.  His recent teaching experience includes working with young bassists as private students and at festivals in his home town of Boise. Renaud's awards include first prize in the Orchestral Competition of the TCU International Bass Festival 2012, and finalist in the International Society of Bassists’ Age 15-18 Solo Competition, 2011. 

David Craig is one of Houston's foremost jazz bassists, and has performed with an array of the biggest names in jazz.  He is also a highly-respected teacher, recording artist, and composer.  We are thrilled to have him on staff as our jazz instructor and advisor of all things jazz!

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FAQ

Why group classes?  What will this do for me that I can't get in private lessons?

- It has long been demonstrated across numerous educational disciplines that students tend to learn faster and more easily, with a high level of enjoyment, in group environments.  The Suzuki method, for example, includes weekly group classes as part of each student's curriculum, as did the double bass studio of the late George Vance.  As there are fewer bass students in our local schools and private studios, the group classes here function as the 'missing link' for bassists, so they can receive the same concept curriculum available to Suzuki students.  Group classes are a great introduction to technique instruction for young bassists who have only been introduced to the bass in orchestra class.  Many new students feel more relaxed and at liberty to learn by observation in a small group as opposed to a private lesson.   We encourage all bassists to be in private lessons with excellent teachers, and we can provide referrals. 


What do I need to participate in the class?

- You will need your double bass and a bow (French or German).  If you need a bass, the bass center has basses for sale or rent by separate arrangement.  


It's hard for me to bring my own bass or bring home my school bass.  Can I just play on one of the basses I see in the shop?

- Most of the basses on display are consignments and the class teachers aren't sales staff, so they can not take responsibility for students playing on others' instruments.  Your instruction also relies on your teachers seeing your bass and how you interact with it.  Therefore, students are required to have their own instruments, but we will do anything we can to help.


Do I need to read music?  What method books are used?

- Each teacher develops lesson plans based on the individuals currently enrolled.  Most exercises played in class do not require reading music, and are equally relevant to any established method students may be learning with their private teachers.


Will a private teacher come to me, or can you refer me to a private teacher in my area?

- The best private teachers have full studios of students, and as such, do not have time to travel to students' homes.  In our city, many of the finest teachers are located near the center of town.  We refer students to the most qualified teachers we know, as students' success depends so greatly on the relationship with their teacher, and travelling and scheduling commitments are decisions we feel are best made once the student has actually found and met with the best teacher for him/her.  We have also frequently provided studio space to teachers we feel are outstanding but who don't have their own spaces.  We can assist you in networking with other students in your part of town, in the event you are able to find someone with whom you can carpool to lessons, or form a large enough group of students to attract a good teacher to your vicinity.  Let us know if we have your permission to pass your contact info to others in the same position.


I want to enroll, but can't get my bass in my car/don't have a car/live too far away.

-As above, please don't hesitate to dialogue with us about finding others near you and forming a carpool.  We are also located on public transit lines.  Though there may be a few cars that a bass truly can not fit into,  everyone on our staff is happy to help demonstrate the many creative ways to get a bass into just about any vehicle.  


Will I have to buy any of my accessories, sheet music or repairs from your shop?

-No.  Everyone is free to choose items or services from any place they wish.  We stock a lot of items to serve bassists' needs, with the intent of making more and better-quality bass gear accessible, but our students are under no obligation to choose ours.  It is extremely important to students' progress that basses be in good repair and perfect adjustment, and for this reason, our luthiers look over the basses and bows of all new students and will make recommendations if they find repairs or adjustments are needed.  To demonstrate that we are making unbiased recommendations and not trying to fabricate repair work, we offer all enrolled students a $35 store credit which they can use for bass adjustments or accessories.  This covers most common adjustments to basses such as re-cutting the bridge, lowering the nut, or tuning the tail wire.  We can provide a written estimate which you can take to any shop for a second opinion.  For those playing the class on their school basses, the store credit allows for some adjustment to the bass at nothing out of pocket to the student.