Fast forward 3 years. As "the best bassist in my high school", I went into auditions for a Theme Park that needed young musicians in my home town and was promptly blown out of the water by a talented young bassist from neighboring Ft. Worth, Texas, named Gilbert Cruz. (To this day, Gilbert has a flourishing career as a local musician and commercial artist in the Dallas-Ft. Worth area. . . at least, last I heard.) I knew I HAD to find out where he learned to play so well, and he directed me to Ed Garcia, bassist with the 1971 One O' Clock Jazz Band at North Texas State and one of the busiest teachers and players in the DFW area. Since he was so busy, it took me about 3 months to track him down and get my first lesson.

Fortunately, Pat Nobles had trained me to read music and I was ready to deal with more advanced material, including Jazz Theory, Sight-reading (a very big deal in the North Texas State University program) and finally, Classical and Jazz String Bass to augment my electric bass studies.

That started a Teacher-Student relationship that has lasted over 30 years. Ed taught me how to deal with auditions, how to work with different pianists and drummers (sometimes "interesting" ones!), and, most importantly, to love practicing and improving and not lose faith in myself. Ed referred me to my first professional gigs and, when I was ready, started recommending me as a substitute for various Big Band and Society gigs in addition to my first tour (which paid for a new Alembic bass back in 1976). I sometimes worked with other teachers at the University, but Ed was my constant Mentor.

I studied with Ed in both University and private settings for five years until I felt like I needed a different musical environment from Texas and North Texas State's Music Program. That brought me to the University of Miami School of Music and Don Coffman, my other Bass Mentor. With Don and the other teachers at U of M, I learned things that filled in the gaps in my personal knowledge and, most importantly, taught me how to be a self-sufficient learner as an qdult and Professional Musician. I worked with Don for only 18 months while I was earning my Master's degree (apart from a two private lessons, when I literally flew from Texas to Florida to study with him), but we are good friends to this day.

In working with both of these gentlemen, I learned things that it would have taken me years to find out on my own and my playing advanced dramatically in short periods of time. With Ed I went from playing in Top 40 and Rock Bands with my buddies, to reading shows at the Dallas Theater Center, hiring musicians for a Society Orchestra as a 20-year-old Contractor, and jamming onstage with Larry Coryell in front of hundreds of listeners at the height of the Fusion Era. With Don, I learned the same 3-7 voice-leading techniques I'm passing on to you in the Intermediate Bass Columns. (I also have to credit Jazz Pianist and Improvisation Teacher Vince Lawrence for teaching me how to do that In the Heat of Battle).

You can find a Mentor teaching at the College you attend, giving music lessons in your area, or gigging in clubs, churches, and studios where you live. Most accomplished musicians are secure enough in their abilities that they are only too happy to share with private lessons (even Symphony Principals supplement their incomes with lessons). There are also World Class Players like Jeff Berlin, Gerald Veasley, Victor Wooten, and Steve Bailey offering week long intensive classes where you can study with the best musicians in the world. Of course, there are many opportunities to study in Music Schools, including Belmont University here in Nashville, Berklee in Boston, The University of Miami and the University of North Texas (North Texas State to us Oldtimers) and far too many others to mention here. We're at a Renaissance of Bass Knowledge here, folks, and working with a skilled Teacher/Mentor is a Great Shortcut that can take away years of trial and error.

Since this column falls right when so many of us are making New Year's Resolutions to lose weight, manage our finances better, and other goals, I'd like to encourage another resolution. Find a Bass Mentor and spend the next year studying with him or her. Record yourself at the beginning and the end of the year. I promise you: you will be a different player with more depth, range and confidence.

Peace and Low Notes,
Roy C. Vogt
Nashville Bassist
Bass Instructor, Belmont University, Nashville, TN

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