Andre Berry and Doug Ross Join Los Angeles Music Academy Bass Department

2009-06-06 00:34:06 - Two new instructors join the renowned LA Music Academy; Department head Jerry Watts adds three new courses to curriculum

Pasadena, CA – LA Music Academy‘s (www.lamusicacademy.edu) Jerry Watts has brought in two exceptional instructors to the school’s Bass Department, Andre Berry and Doug Ross. Additionally, Watts has developed and added three new courses to the department’s curriculum, including Fretless Bass, Extreme Electric Bass and Studio Bass. These courses, and a variety of new electives to be announced soon, will be offered starting in Fall 2009.

“We are certainly excited to have two phenomenal players and educators here to share their experiences and techniques with our student body,” says Watts. “Additionally, our new courses demonstrate our commitment to offering classes that are essential to advancing the careers of our graduates.”

Originally from Cleveland, OH, Berry (www.andreberry.com) moved to LA in 1985 where he studied under Doc Simpson and Woody James. He’s toured extensively and performed and/or recorded with Total Eclipse, Dave Koz, George Duke, Warren Hill, Marcus Miller, Danny Jung, Jeffrey Osbourne, Tom Scott and the L.A. Express, Mindi Abair, Dave Benoit, The Brothers Johnson, Rick Braun, Peter White, Jeff Golub, Steve Ferrone, A Tribe Called Quest, Paul Jackson, Jr., and many others.

For more than 20 years, Doug Ross (www.dougross.net) has performed, recorded and taught bass all over the world, including four years as head of the bass department at Fukuoka School of Music in Japan. Ross has recorded or performed with Brett Garsed, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas, Otmaro Ruiz, Fantasia Musical Circus, Katia Moraes and Sambaguru, Gregg Bissonette and jazz pianist Ron Kobayashi.

Watts says that the three new bass guitar courses will be incorporated into the program in Fall 2009 and will focus on three main areas of technique including:

Fretless Bass: This is an introductory technique class that will focus on developing the most crucial elements of fretless playing: good intonation, tone production/touch, proper set-up, string selection and development of an effective practice regimen. The class examines the history and development of the fretless by exploring the classic players/music of the instrument from all styles.

Extreme Electric Bass: covers the "extreme" approaches (technical/musical) to electric bass playing by examining contemporary players from a variety of styles. Included are Matt Garrison, Gary Willis, Billy Sheehan, Victor Wooten, Les Claypool and others. A tune exemplifying the specific approach of each artist is chosen weekly, then studied and played in the ensemble workshop format.

Studio Bass: a class designed to guide a player through the practical, technical and creative aspects of studio performance. Topics include session preparation, taking direction from the artist/producer, understanding studio equipment, instrument tone/selection/maintenance, as well as the use of direct boxes, amps and effects. Weekly projects are assigned to record and submit for evaluation.

For more information visit www.lamusicacademy.edu or contact Iris Alba in admissions at 626-568-8850 or email iris@lamusicacademy.edu. LA Music Academy is located at 370 S. Fair Oaks Ave., Pasadena, CA 91105.

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About LA Music Academy
LA Music Academy in Pasadena, a suburb of Los Angeles, CA, offers an intimate and friendly, yet serious and rigorous contemporary music education to male and female students 18 and over through its vocal, drum, bass and guitar programs. Founded in 1996, the Academy is accredited by the National Association of Schools of Music and has provided a solid musical foundation for more than 1,000 international and domestic students. LA Music Academy’s 35 instructors immerse students in practical courses. The Academy offers a significant number of real world playing situations with professional musicians, not just peers, setting the school apart from other prestigious music institutions. LA Music Academy gives its students the skills necessary to apply their learning in a wide variety of professional situations in the music industry.
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