"Arcellus is fun to work with, and has taught me a huge amount about technique, and music in general. He approaches everything with a positive personality, and respects whatever level you’re at. Lessons are hands-on, and he goes at whatever pace you’re comfortable with."
-Devin V., private student
"I truly enjoyed the hands on approach liberally sprinkled with the right amount of theory and technical instruction. His coaching allowed me to move forward while keeping my balance in grasping the musical sense of the project at hand."
-Alan M., private student
Lessons are available for students of all levels. From beginning to advanced levels, I believe that I can help you move forward in your playing and bring you closer to achieving your goals, whatever they may be.
Lessons are tailored to the desires of each student - rather than adhering to a pre-formed method of teaching, I prefer to discover each student's needs and create a custom curriculum from there. We can use songs you'd like to learn as a jumping-off point for in-depth study or stick to the basics and build a solid foundation in theory and technique to help you find your own style.
While the student has the final say in what is studied, here are a few things beginners generally focus on:
- Building proper technique from the ground up
- The basics of music theory and how to make it work for you
- Building bass lines in various styles and studying the tradition of great bassists
- Creating and sustaining the all-important 'groove'
And for more experienced players:
- How to apply more advanced theory and harmony concepts in real-world situations
- Extended techniques - slapping, tapping, harmonics and chording - and how to use them musically
- Exploring your favorite music through transcribing recordings
- Building a practice regimen that works for you
Lessons are held at my studio in the Mississippi neighborhood of Portland, near downtown. Lesson times vary depending on what works best for the student, but 45-minute sessions are standard. Discounts are available for those who wish to purchase packages of lessons, and your first half-hour lesson/consultation is free.
I've dedicated my life to music and I'm excited to pass my knowledge on to anyone willing to learn. If you're at all interested, please contact me at 971-221-4042 or arcellus@arcellussykes.com.
"I had been noodling for years and finally decided to get serious. You really can't learn to play an instrument without lessons. Arcellus has proven to be worth every penny. He presents the instrument in a very traditional and educated manner which has provided me an excellent foundation from which to expand my bass guitar skills. He has been very patient with me as a beginner and now that I am starting to have confidence with the instrument I look forward to our future studies."
-Mason D., private student
