Bass Lessons By Correspondence Testimonials

"I'm always looking for ways to make information about music theory more understandable and applicable to my playing. Even though I had a pretty good understanding of modes and their uses for improvisation under my belt, I was immediately struck by the design of Cliff's program because it was very comprehensive and well organized. It really was a pleasure to work through. By including tips on productive practicing, play-along audio tracks, and encouragement to create melodies with each of the modes, my understanding of how to use that material deepened tremendously. Thanks for giving us bassists an effective resource through which to learn new material and further strengthen our command of the instrument!" - Jeff Schmidt, California (Winner of the 2005 Bass Extremes International Solo Bass Competition)

"I spent several years of applying, auditioning, and being accepted to several long-term in-residence bass curricula, but I could never seem to find the dedicated time to attend. Then, I found Cliff's website while surfing the internet for an online correspondence course and what a fortunate "accident" that turned out to be. While at the very outset I was somewhat skeptical of the quality, comprehensiveness, and applicability of any online music course, I became a complete convert after only the first lesson. Following a brief Q&A so he could determine where I was with my playing, Cliff was able to tailor a course that fit my needs perfectly. The pacing of each lesson was right on the mark, and the session-specific course materials were easy to understand and complimented each tutorial perfectly. I wish I had found his capability years ago. I highly recommend Cliff's course to any bassist who wants to improve their music theory and technical abilities." - Wayne Purser, Georgia

"After scouring the internet for teachers and online classes that offer instruction in jazz improvisation, I finally stumbled upon Cliff's website. I am pretty picky about who I study with since I already have a degree in music and have studied jazz bass at the local conservatory and jazz improvisation with Adam Nitti. I contacted Cliff to see if he could help me with improvisation, walking bassline construction, and sight treading. He wrote back with an outline of concepts I had never even heard about. After I received my first lesson, I found that Cliff took the concept of correspondence lessons to the next level. Each lesson came with a personalized audio track that was recorded specifically for me, and sometimes those recordings lasted for over an hour. The lesson material could be easily printed out and organized in binders. There were also MP3 examples of important points in the lessons or simply chordal tracks that I could practice improvising over, and all of this material was easily accessible through Cliff's website. 10 lessons after we started, I had three large binders full of lesson material that was well organized for quick review when I needed it. My schedule changed quite often and sometimes I didn't have the time for a heavy lesson load, but Cliff was always willing to tweak my lessons to allow us to continue to work together through busy times. He has always been easy to stay in touch with via e-mail no matter how busy things have been. The fact that he can offer all of this for such a low price amazes me. I am also a bass instructor, and I couldn't do it so well for so little. If you are considering trying some lessons with Cliff, I can guarantee that your money will go far." - Mike Shaw, Massachusetts

"I played bass as a kid and played in a few bands, but I never took lessons. Years later, I decided to play bass as a way to relax and enjoy music again. I had tried a couple local bass instructors, but the lessons never got interesting. I felt like a guinea pig that they were trying out materials on. While surfing the internet, I discovered Cliff's website and decided to try his correspondence lessons. I am so glad I contacted Cliff because his lessons covered all the essentials I needed. While at the same time, I received things I enjoyed and wanted to play. His materials were very real world. I not only learned new skills, but the lessons were presented in a way that made the material easy to start incorporating into the music I play. Plus, Cliff's materials were professionally notated, not just scribbled out on pages. He included audio files of examples, play-alongs, and an audio explanation of each lesson. The other thing that was great about Cliff's lessons was that I had more contact and feedback from him than I would get during a weekly lesson with an instructor at a music store or someone's house. If I had any questions, I could e-mail him and get an answer without waiting until the next lesson. I was concerned about taking music lessons online, but they were far better than my previous in-person lessons. I really enjoyed my lessons with Cliff and highly recommend checking out his lessons to anyone looking for bass instruction." - Steve Barnette, California

"I teach bass in southwest Florida, but I have always struggled with sight reading as a player. While I studied with Cliff, sight reading was my main point of interest, but there were several other areas we studied including fingerstyle funk and improvisation. After discussing which areas I wanted to study, Cliff took the reigns and started sending lessons. The audio tracks where Cliff went through the lesson material was completely thorough and at a totally understandable rate. The concepts that I learned opened up new doors in my playing and my studying. Cliff improved my playing many fold. I am able to read music much better than I ever had before, and that really helps in teaching my own lessons as well. He answered any questions that I had surprisingly fast. He also gave me many ideas for my own teaching. You can't beat the price of Cliff's lessons. I charge $30 per lesson. My lessons are good, but Cliff's lessons were much more involved. I get kids from ages 9-18 to enjoy playing the bass, to learn some basic theory and musicianship, but basically to learn the function of the bass and get those little fingers wiggling and the kids smiling. Cliff offers something different than that. His course of study is for serious musicians who really want to learn the electric bass guitar, music theory, and more from a killer player and patient teacher. Plus, with having kids, Cliff's lessons worked out perfectly for my schedule because I could practice and study at night after the baby went to bed." - Kyle French, Florida

"I had been talking about learning to play bass for years. My wife tired of all of the "talk" and bought me a bass for Christmas. I came upon Cliff's website while surfing the internet, and after reading his biography and testimonials from some of his students, I decided to inquire about his correspondence lessons. I e-mailed Cliff and he responded immediately. When I received my first lesson, I was pleasantly surprised because there was so much material. Cliff's lessons covered everything. He even included play-along MP3 tracks for me to practice with. The best part about it was that Cliff was always readily accessible, as if we were located in the came city. Cliff bent over backwards to ensure all of my questions and uncertainties were answered. He even provided live chat sessions for more personal interaction. I highly recommend you take a look at what he has to offer." - Al English, Maryland

"It was encouraging to see such professionalism and commitment displayed through all the time and effort Cliff placed in each of the lessons he sent me. I once took one lesson from a well-known New York City studio session ace, and while he is a wonderful musician, he was a demeaning and arrogant instructor. I have studied with some wonderful players and great teachers, but Cliff is the best instructor I have ever had. I will be chewing the cud of the lessons for a long time to come." - Edward Coiro, New York

"I found Cliff's lessons to be very helpful in learning the fundamentals of bass playing. The material was always very well organized and explained. I was able to pick up new ideas and concepts from each lesson, and the amount of practice material was phenomenal. If Cliff can help me play better, Cliff can help anyone!" - Darrell Adams, North Carolina

"After several failed attempts at finding a good bass teacher in my area, I decided to just "fly solo" for awhile. Although I did make progress during this time, I had little to no structure in my learning material. This definitely hampered my progress as a bass player. I heard about Cliff Engel's bass lessons by correspondence program, and I inquired about it. Cliff replied almost instantaneously and told me more about the lessons. In just a couple months, I really made serious progress as a bass player. The lessons provided challenging material in a structured manner. The audio clips were extremely well done, and it really felt like Cliff was in the same room as me. Cliff's correspondence lessons were the next best thing to having a personal one-on-one bass teacher, and for a lot of people, they are better. You are taking lessons with a seasoned bass player and educator, and not many people have that option in their local neighborhood." - Ross Macdonald, United Arab Emirates

"I attended the "One Week Intensive" at Jeff Berlin's Player's School of Music in March of 2003. Upon leaving the Player's School, I had a direction to go with my playing but needed to find a good teacher I could study with to provide the coaching and the more advanced material I was seeking. One of the concepts Jeff Berlin stressed was the importance of finding an instructor to study with who knows "the right stuff" to teach. In my search for such an instructor, I found Cliff Engel and his bass lessons by correspondence program. After a year of lessons, I can say that Cliff not only knows what to teach but how to teach it. The program was first class. The content, pacing, and support with each lesson were excellent, and the flexibility of the correspondence format was ideal for my busy lifestyle. You will be hard-pressed to find Cliff's knowledge, dedication, and the quality of his bass lessons by correspondence program anywhere else, either in private or online." - Tim Sedgwick, Washington