Lessons
Every style of bass playing taught, including rock, blues, jazz, country, metal, pop, funk, classical, swing, latin and we teach all levels from beginner to advanced player.
We devise a learning programme to suit your individual requirements and very quickly improve your technique, aural ability, chord theory, range of playing styles, sight reading, and of course, musicality.
Want to learn double bass or bass guitar but don’t have an instrument yet? No problem, sign up for an introductory lesson (£30) and use one of our basses
Single 1hr lessons – £30 each
Click here to buy a £30 lesson voucher from our shop
Special Offer…
5 x 1 hr consecutive weekly lessons only £120
(normal value £150)
Click here to buy a 5 lessons voucher £120 from our shop
Who are we?
The Bass Academy is Northern Ireland’s first teaching facility dedicated to YOUR instrument. Lessons are given by experienced professional bassist Rod Patterson. Since graduating from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne College of Music and turning pro nearly 25 years ago, Rod has been much in demand worldwide. He has worked on bass guitar and double bass in every type of musical situation imaginable from musical theatre tours, recording dates, concerts, TV & radio sessions, to several world cruise contracts. His work as a musical director includes seven years with UTV (Kelly) and three years with Irish Jazz & blues legend, Mary Coughlan.
The Bass Academy has students studying for Rockschool exams on bass guitar and for Royal Associated Board exams on Double Bass. We use a number of teaching methods including The Rabbath fingering method for Double Bass and with both instruments there is a large element of playing along with tracks from our library which contains all styles of music – simulating, as closely as possible, actual playing situations.
If you don’t wish to do an exam, The Bass Academy places a lot more emphasis on getting your playing to the next level, and beyond – exams are very much optional but they can help in this process.
Take your bass playing to the next level – book lessons today and Explore Bass!
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Rod Patterson
A music graduate from Newcastle College of Arts, England, Rod has worked in every imaginable musical situation since his return to Belfast in 1990. As a professional freelance bass player, his work takes him around the world and his performing and recording credits range from ‘The Full Monty’ to The Ulster Orchestra, from Jazz concerts to pop gigs! His work as a musical director includes eight years with UTV on ‘Kelly’, and numerous programs for BBC (N.I.).
Recent positions include worldwide cruise contracts with P&O, Crystal and Princess cruise lines and a three year period as Musical Director for Irish Blues and Jazz legend, Mary Coughlan. In 2013 he founded The Bass Academy and in 2014 teamed up with luthier Tom Barrett to begin retailing Shen Double Basses. Rod is married to recording artiste Siobhan Pettit.