So you want to learn how to play the bass...


I am a professional bass player with over 30 years of playing experience and close to 25 years of teaching experience. Along the way I've helped numerous bass players develop from being "a person with a bass" to being a functioning money making musician. I love guiding students through thoughts of studying bass after high school, to months of audition preparation, through university acceptance bliss, through hearing stories of success from around the globe from former students - working, gigging, and now teaching bassists. I also absolutely love working with gigging bassists who want a new perspective on technique, tone, and other sometimes dreaded T-word: Theory!

I work full time in IT, and have taught the bass programs at UPEI and Holland College. I'm a busy father of six, but I make time for those appreciate the journey of bass education. Let's talk about Jazz, Classical, Funk, Rock, etc. on upright, fretted, or fretless bass, let's talk about making the right note choices, and gear choices.
I am very happy to help with university audition prep, theory exam prep, and more.

Whether rock, funk, classical, or jazz, above all you shall groove.


Bass instruction (Upright and Electric) focused on:

  • Proper technique application and development
  • Ear training and transcription creation
  • Various styles of chart reading (notes, fake book, chord analysis, and more ) 
  • Practical ($$$) application of theory concepts
  • Groove
Music theory instruction focused on:
  • An easy common sense approach that relatively easy to understand
  • Usability in everyday musical life in practice and in performance
  • Simplified charts to organize important concepts
Bonus instruction focused on:

  • Being professional, organized, and as hireable as possible

Contact info@bassplayer.mobi

What the students thought...


Devin Hornby

Professional Bassist, Bass Instructor at Holland College School of Performing Arts

"Deryl is a well-rounded and knowledgeable bass player who is also a great teacher. He was a bass teacher of mine before I went on to study music at the post-secondary level and I count him as one of the important musical mentors in my life."

Patrick Reid

Bassist/composer - Fieldtrip, Christine/Ingrid Jensen, Joel Miller

"Aside from his many accomplishments as a double and electric bassist, Deryl is also a very gifted communicator. He was my first instructor on both of these instruments and was instrumental in my early development as a reliable bassist."

Rheo Rochon

Award-winning bassist, composer and producer based in Halifax. (Keith Hallett, Cyndi Cain, The Chronos Band

"Deryl's friendly, relaxed, and fun approach to teaching was a perfect fit for me, and I always looked forward to our weekly lessons. His students greatly benefit from his deep knowledge and understanding of music. In the space of just a year he brought me from a non-reader who knew no theory to passing the entrance audition to Humber College's music program."

James Wright

Gigging bassist and former bass student at Holland College School of Performing Arts, bassist for several local bands

"My high school music appreciation teacher recommended Deryl Gallant as a private bass instructor. I knew right away that taking lessons from him would be the best move for me to make as a Bass Player. Those next couple of years I really learned the true roles of a bass player, how to take care of business and also how to be more creative on my instrument. Deryl taught me how to be my own musician, not just a band member in a group. It really helped set me up with the later decisions I made to apply and study at Holland College’s Music Performance Program. He has guided me through every question I had about not only becoming a bass player, but becoming a professional musician. "