www.allstarstrings.com
  
 
 
 
 
  Allstar Guitar
  3226 Harborview Dr.
  Gig HarborWA 98332
  (253) 853-5610
 
Store Hours:
  Monday thru Thursday
  11am - 7pm
  Friday & Saturday
  11am - 6pm
 

Allstar Academy - Bass Instructors


Randall Ireland
Based on reports from my parents I started playing music between age three and four. My instrument of choice was drums (select pieces of "Tupperware") that I would beat to death with wooden spoons while the radio was blasting away.  Fast forward to 5th grade and a brief stint playing trumpet where I learned how to read music and found that my lips reacted to the metal in the mouth piece.  I switched to snare drum and my lips returned to their normal size within a few weeks.  By junior high it was obvious that the music program at school wasn't enough to keep my interest so I began private lessons, got my first drum set, and started playing in a garage band called Red Ball after our $7.00 mic we purchased at Radio Shack.  By high school I was a veteran of the garage band scene and moved up to a top 40 band.  We played for dances at the junior highs and high school in the Gig Harbor area.  It was during this time that I started playing Bass and Guitar, mainly because we practiced at my house and the other guys in the band would leave their instruments from time to time.  After a few months plunking away I decided that the bass would be my next venture.  I took to the bass quickly because of my foundation in rhythm and my experience playing with other bass players.  By the end of high school I was playing in the school jazz band, backing the vocal jazz group, and gigging on a monthly basis.

After graduation I went to Western Washington University in pursuit of a performing arts degree.  I studied music theory from Bach to Blues, worked on jazz improvisation, and played with some great musicians.  When I returned to the Gig Harbor area I continued to play with a variety of artists while holding down an "real job".  About 15 years ago I started giving private lessons and enjoyed experience so much that I pursued a career in teaching.  I taught at the junior high level four years.  During the past few years I have focused on home schooling my children and teaching part time for the Peninsula School District.

   

Don Swensen