Chicago Bass Teachers

Kim Mason

Kim Mason is a Music Education major at Elmhurst College. She started with the clarinet in 5th grade and has playing through her college career. She really fell in love with music when she picked up the electric bass in 8th grade. In high school she learned how to play jazz and received a scholarship for her playing before she graduated.

Since then, Kim has studied electric bass with numerous professors in both jazz and classical genres. She has played professionally across the Chicagoland area. A few years she picked up the double bass and has continued into her college career and currently plays in the Elmhurst College Orchestra. In addition, she has played in the Elmhurst College Symphonic Band, Jazz combos, Late Night Blues vocal jazz ensemble, Electric Guitar Ensemble, Pit Orchestra, Women's Choir and Varsity String. Kim has picked up piano and studied under professional jazz and classical professors. She has also started learning the viola and teaches it to beginner students.

Presently, Kim teaches voice and piano lessons through Northwest Special Recreation Association. She works extensively with children and adults with disabilities of all kinds. While music has opened Kim up to many amazing opportunities in life, she has discovered that teaching music is her true passion.

Canaan Gillihan

Canaan is currently a senior at Columbia College Chicago and is working towards earning his Bachelor's degree in Music Composition. Canaan found his initial love for music when he was given a bass guitar by a family friend at age 13. He began by learning the bass riffs to his favorite rock songs and hasn't looked back since. Over time, his musicianship only grew as he began to play in his church worship group, played the bass in his high school band and began to study music theory at community college.

Now at 22-years-old, Canaan is a self-taught multi-instrumentalist, is fluent in recording and scoring softwares and is currently a private lesson instructor at a music school in the Naperville. He has a strong passion for sharing his love of music with his students and passing down his knowledge of both musical instrument and theory in his lessons. Because of his versatile music experience, he knows what it is like to play with bands and other performers as well as to play by yourself, whether it be composing or practicing until proficient.

If you are in need of a guitar, piano or bass instructor and/or are interested in learning the theory behind music, then Canaan is the instructor for you.