Private Bass Guitar Lessons with Dawson Lau
Build groove, timing, and a strong theoretical foundation on electric bass with structured, personalized lessons from Dawson Lau.
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Dawson is a working bassist and sideman who performs with artists across many genres. Lessons combine ear training, music theory, technique, and practical playing experience so you can learn and play virtually any bass line.
About Bassist Dawson Lau
Dawson Lau is a seasoned bassist, guitarist, and passionate educator based in California. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Global Jazz Studies from the UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music, where he studied under some of Los Angeles’ leading jazz musicians and educators, including Jacques Lesure, Tamir Hendelman, Clayton Cameron, and Hitomi Oba.
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As a session and performing musician across Los Angeles and the Bay Area, working in pop, indie, rock, gospel, and more, he brings real-world experience playing bass into his lessons, teaching groove, timing, ear training, and music theory so students can play with other musicians and learn virtually any bass line.
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
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Technique and timing: building a strong foundation and a reliable, confident feel on electric bass
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Ear training: learning to hear what is happening in the music and play it back
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Music theory: understanding why music works so you can apply it in any situation
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Playing with others: opportunities to jam and practice with other musicians, developing listening, communication, and adaptability
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Sideman, Freelance (2022-Present): performs with artists on guitar and bass
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Ann Sobrato Marching Band, Front Ensemble Instruction (2022-2023): coached students on technique, rhythm, and ensemble listening, and arranged exercises tailored to each student's level
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Live Oak Emerald Regime, Front Ensemble Instruction (2025): coached students on technique, rhythm, and ensemble listening, and arranged exercises tailored to each student's level
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UCLA Jazz Orchestra, Charles Mingus Ensemble, Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, Cameron Clayton Jazz Combo, and African American Music Ensemble
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Over 7 years of teaching and gigging experience as a guitarist and bassist
Dawson also teaches guitar with a structured four-level curriculum. See his guitar lessons for the full roadmap.
Bass Guitar Lessons
Learn electric bass with Dawson, a working bassist and sideman. Lessons build groove, timing, and music theory for pop, R&B, soul, blues, rock, and jazz.
Session & Sideman Work
Need a guitarist or bassist for a gig, session, or recording? Dawson performs and records with artists across many genres.
Teaching Philosophy
Based on my over 7 years of teaching and gigging experience as a guitarist and bassist, my approach to teaching emphasizes versatility and a strong theoretical foundation.
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Rather than simply teaching students where to place their fingers to play a handful of songs, I use a structured curriculum designed to help students develop the skills and understanding needed to learn and perform virtually any song. Lessons combine carefully selected material, either written by me or drawn from established instructional books, with extensive ear training, music theory, technique, and practical playing experience.
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Students will also have opportunities to jam and practice with other musicians, developing the listening, communication, and adaptability that are essential to playing in real-world musical settings.
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My goal is to build not only confident musicians, but well-rounded, adaptable players who understand why music works and can apply that knowledge in any situation. Whether a student wants to play for fun, join a band, pursue professional work, or major in music, I aim to bring them one step closer to becoming a versatile, hirable musician who is ready to play anything.
Dawson's honors include the National Jazz Festival "Superior Musician" award (2022), the Louis Armstrong Jazz Award (2020 and 2022), and Ann Sobrato High School Outstanding Musician (2019-2022).
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At UCLA, Dawson performed with the Jazz Orchestra, Charles Mingus Ensemble, Contemporary Jazz Ensemble, Cameron Clayton Jazz Combo, and African American Music Ensemble. He has worked with artists including Chiabiee, Kelsey Kuan, Dasloe, Kiara Skylar, Aleyna Moon, Paolo Sandejas, Sarah Solomon, and Brynne.
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Dawson's teaching emphasizes versatility and a strong theoretical foundation, preparing students to play pop, R&B, soul, neo-soul, jazz, blues, fusion, and classic rock.