Current Location Teaching bass is best done in-person and not online, so for now I would like to restrict my teaching to the Chicagoland area. However, I have a large definition of Chicagoland. I am teaching one day per week in the Downers Grove, Illinois area, as well as one day per week in the Lafayette, Indiana area. I am also happy to teach where I live in Chicago on other days of the week, and please be in touch if that works best for you.

Contact Me I am interested in teaching bass if it interests you! The easiest way to get in touch is to email me at craigsamm@gmail.com. I would offer my phone number too on this website, but I fear that I would get spam as a result. So, if you prefer reaching me by phone, send me an email to ask me for my phone number.

Teaching Rates Before I start explaining my teaching rates, I want you to know that I care most about education being possible. If what I mention is too high to work for your situation, please still feel free to be in touch. It is very possible that we could work something out. My rate is cost of living adjusted to the metro area that the lesson is happening within. My Chicago rate is $72/hour, adjusted to the length of the lesson, and when in Lafayette, Indiana, the rate is a bit lower to account for cost of living. If you are wondering how long of a lesson is best for your child, 30 minutes is probably best.

Philosophy My biggest goal when teaching is for the material to be fun. If you love a song or a music group, let's explore that music and learn how it works and how we can play it! I happened to fall in love with classical music in the end, but it is not a requirement for you to. I am happy for us to chase your passion, together. In more direct terms, I expect lessons to cover technique (how can we play in a way that will never hurt and allow you to play into old age?), harmony (scales, chords, etc.), and melody (playing songs that you love).

Past Experience I have been teaching in the Downers Grove, Illinois area since September 2023. I have been teaching in the Lafayette, Indiana area off and on since October 2015. In total, at this point, I have taught regular lessons to 29 students so far.

I took Suzuki Bass Unit 1 in July and August 2024 at the Greater Austin Suzuki Institute in Texas with Kate Jones. Before that, I took Every Child Can! at the Chicago Suzuki Institute in July 2022. While at Oberlin Conservatory, I took String Pedagogy II in the spring semester of 2020.

A video of me playing a duet with a student is below.