Spencer Jensen
Lesson Feesfrom $30.00 / 30 Minutes
Promotions Available
About
Spencer Jensen is a double bassist, composer, and teacher who compliments a Western classical performance career with a foot in Americana. As a teacher, Spencer has taught bass privately for over 10 years and his students have ranged from age 8 to 70+. He has substitute taught various subjects including instrumental music classes for several school districts, and has been a visiting artist and educator for schools.
As an acclaimed classical double bassist, Spencer has performed as a section bass member with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Ballet West Orchestra, Charleston Symphony, and the Orchestra of the Southern Finger Lakes. Spencer has also recorded soundtracks for films and performs as a freelance chamber musician. As a soloist, he performed the Vanhal bass concerto with the Brigham Young University Symphony orchestra, and is a passionate recitalist.
An avid folk and bluegrass musician, Spencer performed and recorded with bluegrass and folk ensembles in Utah and New York. His compositions and arrangements are deeply influenced by his experiences with various musical traditions.
Some of Spencer's accomplishments include winning the Brigham Young University concerto competition, 1st place in the double bass category of the National Federation of Music Clubs Biennial Awards, 3rd place in the Utah American String Teachers Association Solo competition, and 1st place in the instrumental division of the Utah Composers Guild composition competition.
Spencer received his Doctoral of Musical Arts degree in double bass performance at the University of South Carolina studying with Craig Butterfield. He received his Master's of Music degree in Double Bass Performance and Orchestral Studies Diploma from the Eastman School of Music, and received his Bachelor's of Music degree in Double Bass Performance from Brigham Young University. His other teachers include James VanDemark, Eric Hansen, and Thomas Zera.
Much of my work with bass students revolves around my desire to help them become proactive learners and problem solvers in approaching the bass and music. Depending on the the student's skill level, lessons often include a combination of students learning by imitation, or by ear, and learning to play from sheet music. I find that combining both learning approaches to be very effective in helping students master skills and concepts more completely. My work with students also includes discussions on effective practice and discovering a student's learning style.
I work with students who are interested in classical, bluegrass/old time, and jazz bass. I believe that a solid grounding in classical double bass technique will enable any bassist to tackle non-classical genres with technical flexibility and greater musicianship. So my bluegrass and jazz students will learn many of the things I have my classical students learn. I also believe that performing classical music without the knowledge and ability to compose, improvise, and think creatively (even just a little) is only getting the job partially done. Consequently, I encourage my classical students to try some improvisation or composing. Often, students are interested in trying this before I even suggest it . In short, I aim to help my students have a degree of well rounded musical skills.
I have had great success in helping beginning and intermediate bassists, from young children to retirees, strengthen their technical skills and passion for playing the bass more freely. Each student's lesson experience is dependent on the students musical interests and I help the student identify the order of technical and musical steps needed to progress towards their goals.
Doctor of Musical Arts in Double Bass Performance, University of South Carolina;
Master of Music, Double Bass Performance, Eastman School of Music;
Bachelor of Music, Double Bass Performance, Brigham Young University
I usually prefer to have beginning and intermediate students work from the Progressive Repertoire books by George Vance. These books help the student learn the bass in a very friendly, engaging, and logical way. The Suzuki bass books are fairly similar in approach. I sometimes have students work out of the Simandl method books as these book have useful content. Advanced students will work out of more advanced technique and etude books along with learning standard repertoire. Scales, arpeggios, bowing and pizzicato exercises are also a regular part of the lesson curriculum. I teach students who use the French or German style bow.
When booking a first lesson, I will determine what materials we will work out of based on your skill level and past training. If my listed availability doesn't work for your schedule, you can message me and I can likely find a time that will work for both of us.