masterclasses every month, and the students
features in addition to the full lesson library.
that attend it are able to interact and ask
What current projects are you working
questions through a chat window that is a part of
on and are there any new releases in the
the website. It’s a two-way conversation instead
works?
of me just lecturing and playing the bass for
students. If members are not able to make
I started writing for my next record earlier this
the class while it is being taught, we archive
year but I don’t have any sort of release date
it so everyone can view it anytime they want.
for it yet. I’m still in the early compositional
We also have an interactive feature that allows
stages. My goal is to have all of the songs
students to participate on their own schedule,
ready to record by Fall, 2016. I’ve also been
requesting feedback or critique on anything
working with a fantastic band project based out
they are working on. We call it the Feedback
of Nashville called The Bottom 40. It’s led by
Forum, and it is the central location for written
Michael Whittaker, who is the keyboard player
dialogue between the students and myself. If
on many of the tunes from my Liminal and Not
students are working on a particular lesson
Of This World albums. The Bottom 40 is a band
or assignment, they can upload what they are
that takes popular cover tunes, and rearranges
working on and I can look it over or listen to
them into very sophisticated funk and jazz
it and give them feedback; or if they just have
performances with fantastic singers. The goal
questions about particular lessons they can
is to create music that can be enjoyed by
post that, as well. It’s essentially a community
musicians and non-musicians, alike. We have
educational dialogue that continually grows.
been recording videos of the band performing
It used to be that the interactive features were
these new songs, and we will be releasing our
only available to premium subscribers but we
first album in March 2016. In the meantime
recently changed our site format so that we now
we are playing more shows and trying to grow
offer a single subscription model. Standard
the audience. I’m also planning on recording
subscriptions now include all of the interactive
a live album this year, which will most likely