Matthew Weber 567 W 173rd St. , New York NY, 10032
Instruments:Electric Bass, Stand Up Bass
Styles:Classical, Jazz, Folk – Country – Bluegrass, Rock – Alternative, Blues
Levels:Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced
Experience:8 years
Rate:$65 / hr
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Personal Statement
In teaching music, I believe that it is extremely important to be able to teach the core materials while supporting the student’s creativity and individuality.
It is the teacher’s responsibility to make the lesson relevant to the student’s life, to be able to fully engage them in their musical studies.
I feel a great responsibility to teach the student to the best of my abilities. It is one thing to be able to play music, but a completely different skill to be able to clearly explain all of the details of how to do it.
A good teacher will analyze the techniques and exercises that have helped themselves to learn and pick the best ones to help their students learn.
I think that it is also extremely important for a teacher to understand that everyone learns differently. One way of learning something may work for one student but may not work for another. I believe in giving the student a number of different choices for solving a musical problem, whether it is understanding how to read music or figuring out complex bowing patterns.
My teaching strategy relates to the way I solve musical challenges for myself. I like to break down topics and techniques into small, easily digestible bits. This allows the student to focus rather than becoming overwhelmed by all there is to learn. After all the pieces of the puzzle have been learned the big picture is taken into account so that the piece is one coherent unit.
I also believe that an integral part of learning an instrument is to learn music theory and ear training. Because these two topics are the building blocks of music they will be incorporated into the instrumental lesson.
If you are interested in taking double bass lessons please contact me through the form to the left. Thanks, I look forward to hearing from you!
Education / Training
Passionate about music from a young age, Matthew Weber began his musical studies at the age of twelve playing Double bass, Electric bass, and Cello. He went on to major in classical Double bass, studying with Metropolitan Opera principal bassist, Timothy Cobb. Matthew holds a Master of Music degree from the Juilliard School and a Bachelor of Music degree from the Conservatory of Music at Purchase College. Other notable teachers include Joseph Russo, Kurt Muroki, and Linda McKnight.
Mr. Weber has performed under conductors such as James Levine, Alan Gilbert, John Adams, Xian Zhang, and the late James DePreist, among others. He also has had the honor to work and perform with artists and composers such as June Han, Kurt Muroki, Samuel Adler, Max Richter, Simone Fontanelli, and David Del Tredici.
Matthew has performed with the Richmond Symphony Orchestra, New York Gilbert and Sullivan Players, Orchestra New England, and toured China as Principal bassist of Manhattan Symphonie. Committed to new music, Matthew has performed with (the new music groups) Ensemble LPR (Le Poisson Rouge house orchestra), Axiom Ensemble, and The New Juilliard Ensemble, and has premiered numerous chamber and solo works for the double bass. He has also performed for three summers in the Gamper Festival of Contemporary Music. Matthew can be heard on the premiere recording of Lee Hoibys opera The Tempest with conductor Hugh Murphy and the Purchase Opera on Albany records. As a performer and composer of electro-acoustic music, Matthew has presented his music at the IRCAM ImproTech conference, and in concerts at the Juilliard School.
As a devoted teacher Matthew has taught through the Goldman Fellowship for Arts Enrichment, as well as the Music Advancement Program, a program for talented young musicians at the Juilliard School. He currently holds a double bass faculty position at the Turtle Bay Music School, located in Manhattan’s midtown east neighborhood. Mr. Weber has served as a performing associate, and teaching assistant to bassist Kurt Muroki at the Bowdoin International Music Festival; he has performed at the Lake George Music Festival as a festival artist for two summers. In addition to classical music Matthew has remained equally comfortable playing double bass and electric bass in (many) other genres.