Teaching
Private lessons start with an evaluation of the student to get a sense of their current level and experience. Then, students are asked to come up with specific musical concepts they would like to improve on. Each lessons is recorded and documented to track improvement.
Students are given assignments centered on standard jazz repertoire and the history of the jazz bass. The goal is to enhance the students abilities and to expose them to different styles of music and bass playing. Students will examine the bass lines, melodies and solos of some of the bass masters including Jimmy Blanton, Irsrael Crosby, Milt Hinton, Oscar Pettiford, Wilbur Ware, Paul Chambers, Ray Brown, Ron Carter, Sam Jones among others.
For inquiries about lessons
Matt Dwonszyk has been the Jazz Bass Instructor at Manchester Community College since 2019. He coaches ensembles at the Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz and teaches privately throughout New England.
In the summer, Matt teaches at the Litchfield Jazz Camp and Bennie Wallace's Back Country Jazz Summer Program. He maintains a solid balance between performance and teaching making sure to hold each to the highest standard.
Matt has taught at the Greater Hartford Academy of Performing Arts High School and the Artist Collective after school program. He was the director of the Litchfield Fall Jazz Ensemble 2014-2015 and was the Bass Instructor for Latin Meets Jazz Summer Program in 2014 & 2015.