I’ve been teaching for over 20 years, primarily focusing on the electric bass. My education is ongoing, but it began with learning to play in church—a great training ground for developing the ear—then moved into formal jazz studies, where I earned a Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from Capilano College in 2006. More recently, my growth has been shaped by periods of study with the legendary Barre Phillips.
My approach to teaching is deeply influenced by my own teachers—Chris Tarry, Jodi Proznick, André Lachance, and Barre Phillips. It’s an approach that balances exploring how the instrument works with developing what I see as the foundational concepts of being a bass player: feel, time, musicality, and ear training. We can work on these ideas through learning songs, transcription, listening to records, or any approach that strengthens the connection between listening and the instrument.
I also had the privilege of teaching at the Sarah McLachlan Music Outreach from 2007-2009, where I was part of launching the digital music program in 2007. There, I introduced kids to GarageBand and Ableton Live—well before digital music production became the common focus it is today.
Other areas where I can be of help:
Genre specific areas of expertise:
© Josh Cole 2022-2025