Piano, Guitar & Bass Programs

Program Overview

Point Blank Music School offers a 6-month Bass Skills program with start dates throughout the year. Led by experienced faculty, this program covers fundamental and advanced bass techniques, including walking basslines, improvisation, sight-reading, and more. Students benefit from small group learning and access to fully-equipped workstations. The program prepares aspiring bassists for careers as musicians, studio bassists, and music performers.

Program Outline

Outline:

• Duration: 6 Months
• Available start dates:
• 2024: July 8, September 30
• 2025: January 13
• Weekly timetable: One 2-hour class each week for 20 weeks.
Daytime, evening & weekend slots available.
• Modules:
• Term 1:
Bass Skills - Level 1
• Gain confidence in fundamental techniques for writing and performing music on the bass guitar, including walking basslines, scales, arpeggios, melodies, rhythms, charts, and more.
• Perform popular basslines from tracks in modern styles before writing your own bass parts.
• Improve bass abilities, fretboard knowledge, and skills for writing and playing live.
• Topics Covered:
• Musicianship Fundamentals
• Electric Bass Techniques
• Walking Basslines
• Popular Song Forms
• 12-Bar Blues
• Basic Music Theory
• Reading Chord Charts
• Rhythm & Pocket
• Major & Minor Keys
• Scales
• Reading & Writing Bass Parts
• Chord Tones
• Term 2:
Bass Skills - Level 2
• Go further with creative musical skills on the bass guitar, including extended chord shapes, exotic scales, slapping, popping, sight-reading, and more.
• Improvise and walk basslines over popular chord progressions in modern styles and craft creative bass parts.
• Improve bass tone, rhythm, chart-reading abilities, harmonic vocabulary, and skills for improvising and producing on the bass, the foundation of the rhythm section.
• Learn how to approach the notes on the fretboard creatively in order to manifest unique musical ideas through the bass guitar.
• Topics Covered:
• All-Around Musicianship
• Progressive Bass Techniques
• Extended Basslines & Patterns
• Improvising on Bass
• Rhythm Section Techniques
• Modes & Exotic Scales
• Writing Creative Basslines
• Sight-reading Bass Parts
• Touch & Dynamics
• Ornamentation
• Pick & Fingerstyle
• Fretboard Dexterity

Teaching:

• Teaching Methods: Small group learning (maximum 16 students per class)
• Faculty:
• Jaron Lopez: Multi-instrumentalist composer on guitar, bass, keyboard, and electronics.
• Linda Good: Composer, songwriter, producer, multi-instrumentalist.
• Nathaniel Nutter: Writes and produces music under the names Savah and Lost Triibe, has over 5 years of music teaching experience.
• Marko DeSantis: Lead guitarist and co-songwriter for Sugarcult.
• Chloe O'Brien: Alternative rock/pop singer, songwriter, and producer.
• Daniel Brummel: Multi-instrumentalist producer, recorded & toured with Weezer, Nada Surf, Spain, Ozma, Sanglorians, and more.

Careers:

• Potential career paths:
• Musician
• Electric Bassist
• Touring Bassist
• Studio Bassist
• Band Member
• Music Performer
• Recording Artist
• Bass Teacher
Not just gaining the knowledge, but also the know-how, expertise, and help from the instructors."
• Joana, Point Blank student
• Partner Discounts: Point Blank LA offers partner discounts and exclusive features to students in their LA School.
• Global Alumni: The program boasts a global alumni community including:
• Kamel Omais (Dead-Tones): Guy Gerber’s protege, personal assistant and tour manager.
• Nicole Moudaber: Studied DJing at PB.
Residencies in Ibiza, Ministry & releases on VIVa Music & Plastic City.
• Loren Granic: Co-founder of 'A Club Called Rhonda', has organized parties in LA & beyond.
• Bryan Dotel: Latin Grammy Award nominee, has had great success as a Tropical Reggaeton producer.
• Cathleen Cher: Toured with Kanye West as part of his creative team, DJ and classically trained pianist.
• Travis Holcombe: KCRW DJ.
• Gina Cat: Holds residencies in top California night clubs, tours internationally & plays festivals around the world.
• Equipment: Point Blank provides fully-equipped workstations in class and during practical studio work outside of class time.
• International Students: International students have different options for attending Point Blank classes depending on their country of origin.