Bessy & Benny School of Bass.
SPECIALISED DOUBLE BASS LESSONS FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL CHILDREN
FROM AGE 6
Is this your child…
Aged between 6 -11
Likes music
Enjoys activities on and off screens
Always up for a challenge …?
If that’s a YES, you need to meet Bessy & Benny!…
Who is Bessy?
Bessy Bass is the brainchild of her musician, May Halyburton. May named her first double bass (and subsequently most of the basses she has owned thereafter) “Bessy” as her double bass has always been her BFF!
Bessy Bass, #thebasswithaface is the central character in the “Around the World with Bessy” series of story books with music for all children up to age 12. The young Scottish double bass loves to travel and has adventures with other musical instrument family and friends. Her stories also include the themes of inclusion, kindness and friendship and each one come with a CD or download of her music that integrates into the story.
Bessy has taken her stories throughout the UK in the form of her interactive shows and workshops. Each book has its own show and spin off workshop and Bessy has been invited to perform from as far north as the Orkney Islands and as far south as Kent. She has appeared at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe several times, making new friends and gaining sell-out garlands!
As music is a universal language and Bessy loves to travel, it wasn’t long before she made friends with audiences overseas. She has received fabulous letters and drawings from the wonderful pupils from a remote primary school in New Zealand, and in Melbourne, Australia some lovely school children dressed their instruments up as characters from the stories to celebrate “Book Week”!
…AND BENNY?
Benny is Bessy’s cheeky wee brother! He doesn't appear in the stories just yet but he attends the shows and workshops so that the younger audience members can have a try at playing double bass!
BREAKING NEWS!!
Double basses come in a range of sizes so that as with most musical instruments, children can learn at any age!
At the Bessy & Benny School of Bass, we currently carry and have access to a range of sizes of double basses to accommodate children age 6 -11. However, we aim to be as inclusive as possible, so if you have a younger or older superstar, please do get in touch here as we might just be able to help them get started too!
“May is an inspirational teacher who really engages the children. They loved meeting Bessy the Bass.”
~ Fiona Penman - Head of Junior School Music at Edinburgh Academy Junior School
Why Double Bass?
The double bass is one of the most versatile instruments and can get involved in most genres of music. So whether you love classical, country, rock, jazz, pop…….etc you can get involved with your double bass. However, it is often classed as one of the “endangered” instruments as it takes a special kind of character to really make it sing!
Have a look at what goes on behind that face on the bass with our founder, bassist and teacher, May Halyburton! 👇
Pretty cool eh?
So, whether your child already has an interest in music or not, this could be for them. They will quickly get a huge sense of achievement as they serenade you with their first tune! Watch their confidence grow as they take responsibility in looking after their new friend and see that proud smile as they learn to play some familiar tunes!
Having a bit more time at home to practise, means your child could be heading to join the school or a local authority children’s orchestra when restrictions ease and things become a bit more “normal”. Until then, they can join in with the Bessy & Benny School of Bass community and take the first steps of a very exciting journey ahead.
Why Learn With Us?
We are Passionate & Experienced about all things bass! Whatever your style, we’ve got it covered!
We want to share the incredible life enhancing power of music and the golden opportunities that learning a musical instrument can offer!
We can’t wait for you to experience the thrill of ensemble playing and discover just how important you and your double bass are to every orchestra, band or group!
We want to introduce you to a world where social circles are expanded country-wide and potential life-long friendships are made!
We will help you progress and make the most of this invaluable life-skill!
We provide EVERYTHING you need to get started and the first lesson is FREE! Check out all the cool stuff that is included in your package!
👇👇👇
• We offer Affordable and Convenient Pricing!
For around the price of your daily cuppa, you have EVERYTHING you need for your junior maestro!!
🎶☕️ 🎶
👇👇👇
• We get IT!
We know how important screens are to kids (and grown-ups), and we do sneakily tempt them away for a little while, but we do believe in balance and are even more aware of the importance of technology since March 23 2020! Some of our activities will continue to be online and we have exciting trips to other countries via Zoom. Lessons can be blend of face to face and online.
• We are a Community
The importance of feeling connected has never been highlighted so much as it has in the last 8 months, so we have an exclusive Facebook Group just for BBSB and their families. This is a private group where we can meet informally and check in on each other. Exciting news, special events, motivational posts, competitions and games will be hosted there as well as shout outs for birthdays etc within our community.
You will have exclusive membership to our online library of playing tips, practise help videos & more!
This of course will be balanced with off-screen practise time and when it is safe to do so, face to face lessons and ensemble playing.
All students will have the option to continue lessons with us when they move to high school. The Bessy Academy offers the same experience as BBSB but at a higher level, suitable for teenagers.
“May Halyburton has taught my daughter for the past seven years. Kimmy has progressed through the grades but more importantly has gained a love for playing. This has developed due to May’s friendly approach to learning which has enabled Kimmy to grow in confidence in her ability. May has encouraged her to develop her musicianship in several different styles and has always been highly supportive in all of her endeavors. Kimmy has enjoyed the lessons from the start. I would thoroughly recommend May as a teacher for any age or level.”
~ Current student’s parent, Edinburgh
Ready to do something
AWESOME
for your child?
With the first lesson FREE, you have absolutely nothing to lose!*
Choose the phase that suits you best from below and let’s get your child
“BASSING LIKE A BOSS!”
OPEN NOW!!!
PHASE 1 with only T H R E E places available for students resident in the central belt of Scotland (Edinburgh, Glasgow, Stirling, Perth areas). These lessons will be a blend of face to face and online lessons, following government guidelines for COVID-19.
ARE YOU IN?
🙌
Don’t live in central Scotland?
DON’T WORRY…
Our eSchool is
Coming Soon!!!
Our Virtual School is open to ALL ages and stages and is completely online and available globally!! Full details are coming soon.
Sign up below to register interest and reserve a place for yourself or your child on the waiting list.👇
We will keep waiting time to a minimum as we want to get your young bassists up and running as soon as possible!
Changed your mind?
We are confident that your child will love their bass at first sight but if it’s not a match made in heaven and you decide not to continue with lessons directly after the first FREE lesson, we will refund your first payment on return of the complete package.
We will keep waiting times to a minimum but should you decide you no longer wish to be on the waiting list or move to a different phase waiting list, please let us know as soon as possible using the form below 👇