Valda Hammick is truly a professional player/instructor who has worked as a guitarist/bassist doing recording and television shows in Australia. She has toured worldwide as bassist for singer Lovelace Watkins. She is also the author of a series of bass method books, Electric Bass Techniques, which received rave reviews in Down Beat jazz magazine.

Richard Simon

Richard Simon has been an upright bass player for over twenty years, performing and teaching a broad spectrum of "stand-up" bass styles. Originally a classically-trained violinist, he teaches the use of the bow as well as the development of "walking" bass lines for blues, jazz, country and swing bass playing. He has worked and recorded with blues vocalist Ernie Andrews, traditional jazz clarinetist Abe Most, and many mainstream jazz artists, including saxophonist Rickey Woodard. He is Program Director for JazzAmerica, a non-profit organization that provides jazz education "WorkChops" for youngsters throughout the summer, as well as after-school instruction at LA-area schools (www.JazzAmerica.org). In addition, Richard is the Jazz Director for VYMA (Verdugo Young Musicians Association), where he teaches jazz to classically-trained young violinists, violists, cellists and bassists.