Terry J.
Yelp
I want you to know a little about Harlan Terson, bass teacher and musician, because every Saturday for the past 9 months, after dropping off my endearing grandson for his lesson (sporting that morning's furrowed-brow), he always, always, reappears 30 minutes later with a smile, refreshed, conversant and so civil (and pleasantly unfurrowed).
So, recently, following Matthew's lesson, while driving away from the Lincoln Square location, I said, "we're going to write a review on Harlan as a way of saying thanks for all he does for you. I have seen your amazing progress on bass but you are the real expert on what happens in the studio lesson. What changes you in that half-hour?.... your thoughts and words."
Slightly pensive, he grinned. "We laugh, a lot. He's cool, really cool. Harlan helps me understand music theory, like the theory of fifths, which I use in my high school guitar class. He shows me bass techniques he developed over the years as a bass player in bands. He teaches me to read music so I'll be able to play in blues, jazz, rock bands and maybe someday an orchestra. I like it because it's not like a regular school class. It's more fun! He's funny." If this reads like a grandfather spieling off, it's not, (kinda).
I asked Matthew to look at this review for accuracy and tone. He immediately asked if it included Harlan's music theory teaching.
And, that's what Harlan does. In his way, he pays forward his deep musical knowledge (Bachelor of Arts in Music, University of Illinois-Chicago) and artistic perspectives as a world-class bass guitarist. He teaches as he plays the blues, each audience different, and each student like the music as it comes to him.
Yes, a music teacher's bio matters, it does. But for Matthew, a 15-year old bass student, his music education will be lasting because his teacher's lessons go well beyond his credentials. You know the familiar adage, "it's not what someone says you remember, it's how they made you feel." With Harlan Terson, bass teacher, Matthew gets both.
To better understand what I mean by "deep musical knowledge," check out these credentials. Harlan Terson toured and recorded for several years with the great Lonnie Brooks and appeared and recorded with many of the most influential blues artists in American music history, including legendaries Otis Rush, Bo Diddley, Magic Slim, Sunnyland Slim, Johnny Littlejohn, Eddy Clearwater, and Jimmy Rogers, among others.
He appeared for 20 years at the internationally famous Kingston Mines, and has been on more than 45 recordings and jingles, two of which have been nominated for Grammy Awards. That's backstory, but pretty cool. Impressively, Harlan has taught for two decades at the revered Old Town School of Folk Music, including Group Bass Guitar, Paul McCartney Bass Style, Blues Band, Classic Rock Bass Lines and Beginning Bass Guitar (Matthew's instrument). Harlan has in a heartbeat helped us with lesson schedules, registration, and other issues crazy important but outside the parameters of teaching.
What I have discovered about Harlan from Matthew is they have mutual respect. Harlan thinks this young student is a cool kid and has told him so. It meant a lot to a young boy for a man of Harlan's stature to offer that.
The Saturday morning student leaves class feeling better and the sounds of a dissonant world seem pianissimo (softer), all from a half-hour bass lesson with Harlan Terson. And that, sir, ain't half-bad. Thank you, Harlan.
