PRIVATE MUSIC INSTRUCTION WITH RON SMITH

Welcome to my music instruction center. You are invited to come to my teaching studio in the beautiful village of Stony Brook, Long Island, for an introduction to the music skills that have enabled many of my former students to attain their personal and professional musical goals.

Long before the term "user friendly" came into common terminology, I was passing on the professional advice that I received from the best performers/teachers on Long Island. This legacy is one that I am proud to pass along to my own students.

 

THE MENTOR/PROTÉGÉ/STUDENT RELATIONSHIP:

Many great musicians and composers have known the importance and enrichment of teaching and mentoring students, from Bach and Beethoven, to Leonard Bernstein and John Corigliano.

As a teenager, my first professional string bass lessons were from the Long Island musician Charles "Slats" Sladovnik. He introduced me to my first rehearsals with the Great Neck Symphony Orchestra and taught me the value of hard work and preparation. This preparation enabled me to play in the award-winning jazz program at Walt Whitman High School in South Hungtington, NY, under the direction of renowned drummer and jazz educator Clem DeRosa. Clem became my main mentor in jazz, a relationship that has continued to this day.

My first professional tuba lessons were from William "Bill" Barber. Bill set the standard for jazz tuba playing in the 20th century. That's Bill playing with Miles Davis on the "Birth of the Cool" recordings. Bill was also a high school teacher, and his musicianship and teaching skills inspired in me a love of the tuba, which I've played in concert bands, symphonies and jazz ensembles.

After high school I attended the celebrated music programs at North Texas State University and the Berklee School of Music in Boston. Following a tour of duty with the U.S. Army Band, I secured my B.S. from CUNY and M.A.T. from Lehman College, both in New York City.

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE:

As a tenured instrumental music teacher at the F.H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and the Performing Arts (the "Fame" school) in New York City, I had the pleasure of teaching many young talented musicians. I am now retired from that wonderful school, and continue to teach many of those same classroom courses in the individual student setting. I am still an adjunct bass instructor in the CUNY system.

 

AWARD-WINNING STUDENTS:

Several of my students have become notable in the music industry. Jon Burr, the string bassist, has performed with many leading jazz musicians including Tony Bennett, Stephane Grappelli and Mark O'Connor's Hot Swing Trio. Jimmy Haslip is the electric bassist and a founding member of the Grammy Award-winning "Yellow Jackets." Chanell Crichlow is a classical orchestra tuba player, a tuba soloist and modern pop stylist with a bright future. Tommy Uzzo is a world renowned recording engineer, whose Mirror Image Recording Studio in New York City engineered the sound tracks for many well-known musicians.

 

PLAYING BIO:

I have played with such notables as Buddy Rich, Elvin Jones, Gary Burton and Marian McPartland. In addition, I have played in Broadway pit orchestras, concert bands, symphony orchestras and am the leader of the Ron Smith Quintet.

 

Course offerings:

• String bass instruction, classical style:
  F. Simandl method, Nanny Method, Etudes, Solos. Also prep for NYSSMA and All County competitions.
• String bass instruction, jazz style:
  Construction and development of the walking bass line. Big band chart reading, soloing in the jazz style. Also prep for NYSSMA and All County competitions
• Electric bass instruction, (fretted, fretless):
  Reading, soloing, and ensemble playing. Styles taught: Jazz, Contemporary, Experimental. Also prep for NYSSMA and All County competitions.
• Tuba instruction, classical style:
  Embouchure development, Arban's Method, etudes, solos. Also prep for NYSSMA and All County competitions.
• Tuba instruction, jazz style:
  Development of swing concept leading to ensemble playing and jazz solos. Also prep for NYSSMA and All County competitions.
• Jazz composition:
  Writing for small ensemble, big band, and jazz orchestra.
• Jazz improvisation:
  All instruments are welcome to this course. The areas covered are the small ensemble, big band or jazz orchestra. Also prep for NYSSMA and All County competitions.
• History of Jazz instruction:
  A course that covers materials in text form and includes extensive recordings.
• Theory instruction:
  This course includes intro to piano, major and minor scale construction, triads, and four part writing. Single line dictation, for both rhythmic and tonal training.
• Sight singing instruction:
  This course includes fixed do and moveable do. Single line dictation, rhythmic and tonal.
  

 

Beginning piano children/adults

I am now accepting BEGINNING PIANO STUDENTS who want to learn the very basic fundamentals of keyboard playing. My playing background is simply that of an arranger, composer, teacher of sight singing, theory, and improvisation, My professional instruments are string bass, electric bass, and tuba. I now offer piano instruction as I have found that many long time piano instructors do not want to accept young children (parent must be present during the lesson).

School Clinics
The Jazz Clinic:

I fondly remember the Stan Kenton stage band clinics in high school. Others which made a huge impression on me were taught by Ron Carter, Donald Byrd, Charlie Mariano, John LaPorta, Leon Breeden, Oliver Nelson, Herb Pomeroy, Phil Wilson and Dave Brubeck. At clinics, students experience the special kind of excitement provided by live performance.

I've participated in clinics in Boston, New York City and Long Island, with musicians including Andy McGhee, Howie Mann, Clem DeRosa, Ranny Reeve and Jack Reilly.

 

Clinics Available:

• Rhythm section Jazz
• Jazz ensemble rehearsal
• The low brass section rehearsal
• The low string section rehearsal
• Jazz band arranging rehearsal
• Jazz quartet/quintet rehearsal
• Building the practice routine for the high school music student
• Supporting your local music program (a guide for parents, discussion format)