Tommy W. offers Acoustic Guitar Lessons, Bass Guitar Lessons, Guitar Les...

EDUCATION

Date: August 15, 2010 – May 15, 2014
School: The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music
Degree: Jazz Bass Performance
Description: The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music is one of the many schools of The New School, which includes the Mannes School of Classical Music, and more famously, Parsons School of Design (the place Project Runway is shot). Our division had no more than 150 students and was very closely knit. Being in New York City, I was able to work with players who made their living playing Jazz in the 50s through the 70s, playing alongside John Coltrane, Miles Davis, and on Broadway for decades. Some faculty are on some of the most famous Jazz recordings ever produced, and I was able to privately study with most of them.

EXPERIENCE

Date: September 15, 2014 – June 15, 2020
Organization: Music and Arts
Title: Music Instructor
Description: Another national chain, I’ve been teaching at Music and Arts as a guitar and bass instructor. Here I’ve taught kids and adults alike while they began their foray into music. This experience is unique as well since I have the opportunity to talk about musical gear and equipment out on the floor and discuss the subtle differences between instruments and amps so the student can get the tools that are right for what they want to do with their music.

Date: September 15, 2014 – October 15, 2018
Organization: Bach 2 Rock
Title: Music Instructor
Description: Bach 2 Rock is a chain of music educators dedicated to teaching not only how to play music, but how to play music with others. Here I teach beginner and intermediate guitar and am the go-to bass instructor at the McLean, VA site. I’ve had students as young as 4 and as old as 70 at this location, and each one grew by leaps and bounds in their playing. Bach 2 Rock is unique in that it offers kids the opportunity to play in bands we put together. I’ve been a band instructor since I’ve started as well, coaching kids on how to properly play with one another and eventually leading them to our seasonal battle of the bands. Another key opportunity I am given here is the chance to record different bands when they are prepared to do so. This has given me a proficient knowledge of the recording process, something I’ll gladly share with my students.

Date: March 15, 2010
Organization: Let’s Play Music!
Title: Music Instructor
Description: Let’s Play Music! is the locally owned lesson shop I’ve been teaching at since I was in high school. In fact, I was taking lessons there until my Senior year, when my instructor (and friend and current boss) asked if I would like to start teaching some of his younger bass students. I would like to think he was impressed. Since then, two of my bass students have gone on to play in the Virginia All State Jazz band. I’ve added beginner and intermediate guitar lessons to my job as well since returning from New York in 2014.

Date: March 15, 2012 – July 15, 2014
Organization: Earache Records
Title: Social Media Expert
Description: While this might not seem to be pertinent to my musical ability, I think having experience in the record industry is invaluable to musicians who view their art as more than a hobby. Starting in England in 1983, Earache Records is one of the oldest Heavy Metal record labels still in existence. While working here, I was in charge of managing the label’s Pinterest and Spotify accounts to reach the maximum amount of people with new releases. Aside from the social media work, I was privy to meetings with bands and familiarized with contracts and licensing agreements that ended up garnering large profits for both parties involved. To sum up my experience, I am very familiar with the business aspect of music, as well as the performance part.

LANGUAGES

Language: Spanish
Proficiency: Professional Proficiency