A brief history about the author:

For several years I have worked as a musician and composer and it has been my career helping other artists to succeed in the music industry. My own music career began at the age of twelve.

The year was 1989. The place was Lincoln Park Academy, Fort Pierce, Florida, and I was in the sixth grade wheel program. In the wheel program, every quarter, students were rotated between all of the electives to expose them to the arts, (band, choir, orchestra, etc.). Each quarter after that, the students would rotate to another elective.

I was first placed in the orchestra program. I sat in the back of the room just watching students practicing under the direction of my soon to be music teacher, Dr. Diane Float. It was the first time I've ever heard live music and I knew at that moment it was something that I wanted. I completed the wheel program my sixth grade year and I completed my seventh grade year in the orchestra program.

My first day of orchestra was the most memorable. I sat in the back of the room with a few eighth graders watching the other students play. Then the time came for us to pick out the instruments we were interested in playing.

Everyone knew what they wanted to play but me. It was a disadvantage of being a year younger than every one else. The Wheel Program was intended for sixth and seventh graders and full electives wasn't an option until the eighth grade, but thanks to my parents I was made an exception.

As I was sitting in the back of the room by myself, (everyone had already picked out their instruments), and Dr. Float looked at me and asked me what I wanted to play. Seeing these instruments for the first time in my life and not knowing what they were, I answered, "I don't know."

Dr. Float then asked me to stand up. At the time it was a really odd request, but I complied. "Wow!" she exclaimed, and the whole class started to laugh. I was definitely the tallest seventh grader anyone had ever seen. At over six feet tall, I towered over the rest of the class. Once I had stood up, she directed me over to a double bass in the corner of the room.

"This?" I asked as I pointed towards the instrument rack. "Yes. Pick one out and go stand with the other basses." she instructed. The bass was taller that I was and with a bit of instruction from another student, I pulled the bow across the string for the first time and I fell in love with my double bass and my music.

That day I became a musician and music became more than my bass, the students, or the music that was played. It became my first true passion; and like many artists before me, it became a safe place to escape to when I needed it.

The next several years became an exciting adventure that changed my life forever. In the years that followed, I studied with some of the most brilliant musical minds and honed my skills with performance, composition, and by educating others.

Among those who have helped me to aspire to my highest achievements is Dr. Diane Float for years of core training, theory and methodology in music and on the double bass; Dr. Lucas Drew for the countless hours of monotonous instruction; and to my principal chair and section leader of the Bass section all through High School, Joseph Smith. You are an inspiration and a credit to the music culture. That reminds me, you still owe me a play-off challenge.

Kevin Cassiday, (University of Florida), for teaching me how to fine tune finger positions, teaching me the "emotion" of music, and for motivating me through what was a tough time in my music career; Vincenzo Bucci, (classical bassist/composer), for showing me that music is a life unto itself and should be used to enrich lives; the Moody Blues for opening my eyes to a world of music and culture; and The Palm Beach Pops Orchestra and Walter Cronkite for showing me that dreams do come true with faith, hard work, and dedication. You all are awesome musicians, and I'm sorry I never played the concert after all of that practice.

There is simply not enough room to list the names of everyone who have helped me to succeed in music. You all know who you are and you have my deepest gratitude.

In honor of those who have helped me along the way, and of course because of my love for music, I currently own a music-based business, (Echoingwalls Music), in which I do exactly what others have done for me. That is to help others succeed in music and to enrich the lives of others.

This book is dedicated to all of you who have helped me to succeed and enabled me to help others to this very day.

Second Revision Updates: I've taken the time to include more detailed information on counting and syncopation. Music is in many respects a mathematical occupation and several of the students I've taught as well as readers of have asked for more instruction.