About
Abbey Blackwell is a multi-faceted double and electric bassist in Seattle, WA. She is a member of many musical scenes in Seattle’s music community, including the improvised, rock, classical, and jazz spheres. In addition to playing in a variety of groups, she also has a band of her own, Rae, which features her compositions and group improvisation.
Abbey has performed and recorded with a variety of artists including Jonathan Wilson, Jackson Browne, La Luz, Macklemore, Myrkur, Thousands, Red Ribbon, and Cassandra Jenkins. In addition to recording, she plays in a variety of groups around town including with Wayne Horvitz, The Seattle Modern Orchestra, Tomo Nakayama, and Great Spiders.
Outside of performing and recording, she teaches private lessons, as well as coaches through the Jazz Scholars program and the Jazz Night School.
Abbey holds a master's degree in Jazz and Improvised Music and a bachelor’s of music in Double Bass Performance from the University of Washington.
The mind is the most flexible and effective tool we have for learning a physical instrument like the bass. I use imager, metaphors, examples, and demonstrations to show how to maneuver an issue in the most effective way for each student's learning style.
Students will immediately begin with hands on the instrument, either manipulating their current approach to technique if necessary or jumping right in to theory, transcriptions, etudes, or whatever else may suit the student's goals.
I prefer to teach toward a varying level of goals. They can be small and focused (learn a song/play in tune) or very broad (become more aware of different styles/start a band).
I like to keep lessons positive and encouraging, finding the best ways to make progress on any issue. My teaching philosophy is that every person's body and mind are different, so why try to teach everyone the same way? We need to find the most effective way to physically maneuver the instrument as well as mentally maneuver a road block, depending solely on how the student will absorb information.
On a personal note, have dealt with various physical problems, both traumatic and repetitive use injuries so playing pain free is my number one priority for myself and my students.
University of Washington - Bachelor of Music in String Performance
University of Washington - Master of Music in Jazz and Improvised Music
I develop exercises and lesson plans for each student specifically as we progress through lessons, depending on their specific needs and goals.