Bass lessons, on electric or double bass, cost $40/half hour or $78/hour paid in advance. Lessons are on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We have two teachers to choose from. Brendan Clarke teaches double bass and electric bass, while Saul Richardson only teaches electric.
Brendan Clarke, Dip Mus. (Jazz)
Double bass and Electric Bass.
Brendan Clarke is a graduate of the Canberra School of Music at the Australian National University. He was the 2001 winner of the prestigious National Jazz Award at the Wangaratta Jazz Festival.
With over 15 years professional experience he is one of the most in-demand bass players on the Australian jazz scene and has played with a wide range of international and national artists including Kirk Lightsey, Barbara Morrison, James Morrison, Vince Jones, Renee Geyer, Bernie Mcgann, Dale Barlow and George Washingmachine.
Brendan teaches both the double bass (specializing in jazz) and the electric bass and can cover all contemporary styles, theory, improvisation and reading for beginners to advanced students. He is also available as an accompanist.
Brendan’s past students can be found working as professionals in the Sydney jazz scene and studying at the Conservatorium.
Saul Richardson, B.Ed (Hons), MACE
Electric bass only
Saul Richardson is Principal and co-owner of Jazz Workshop Australia. He is a guitarist and bass player who graduated from the University of Sydney with First Class Honours in Education and the University Medal in 1995. He studied Jazz guitar under Steve Brien and Steve McKenna, and conducting with Jerry Nowak. He is an internationally recognized Jazz educator, and served two years as Australasian representative on the Executive Board of the International Association for Jazz Education (IAJE).
Richardson worked from 1991 to 2011 at North Sydney Boys’ High School where he established and developed a well-known Jazz program, which became widely regarded as a benchmark of excellence in its field in Australia. He was recognized by the (IAJE) at their January 2004 conference for his outstanding service to Jazz Education. He also directed the NSW Arts Unit Stage Band for many years. leading them to a series of podium finishes at the National Stage Band Awards in Mt Gambier, including a first place in their debut year at the event.
As a performer he has worked with many of Australia’s leading Jazz artists and groups including Ed Wilson, John Morrison and Swing City Big Band, Andrew Firth, Roger Frampton, Don Burrows, Col Nolan, Keith Stirling and Tony and Bob Barnard. He has performed throughout Australia, the UK and Europe and in the USA. Mr Richardson is also director of the NSW Department of Education and Training Arts Unit Stage Band and has previously directed the Blue Riff big band and the Powerhouse big band. He is a founding member of IAJE in NSW and works as a clinician, consultant and adjudicator.
Saul’s HSC students consistently achieve outstanding results in music performance and gain entry to tertiary jass studies courses. Provided a student is prepared to work, Saul can help them become an excellent player.
Some of Saul Richardson’s past students have included Simon Ferenci, National Jazz Award winning pianist Jackson Harrison, Dale Gorfinkel, Jeremy Rose, Jamie Castrisos, Scott Simpkins, Robert Sidaway, Andrew Brooks, Martin Wieczorek, and many other fine young musicians now making their own mark on the Australian Jazz scene. Graduates of his programs and ensembles can be found studying tertiary music across Australia, working professionally as performers and educators, or simply appreciating and hearing Jazz with discerning ears.