Steve Hatfield

Teachers

Read the bios of the wonderful Air House instructors.

Find out more

About House of Rock

Play in a band!

Find out more

Bass

Instruction is available in all genres of bass including rock, jazz, blues, funk, pop, country, worship and more.

Students taking lessons at Air House will learn the following skills:

  • Learn to read music
  • Read chord charts
  • Read tablature
  • Learn how to play by ear
  • Write their own bass lines
  • Learn how to improvise
  • Students will also learn fundamentals of music theory to make them a knowledgeable and competent bass player

Interested in taking Bass Lessons?

Fill out the form below to request information.

You can also email info@airhousemusic.com or call 316-613-3378 for Bass lesson information.

Events

Find out more

Our Vision

Find out more

Why Air House

Find out more

Our Approach

Find out more
Lessons

Lessons

Private lessons available for all ages and skill levels.

Find out more
Ensemble

Performance

Play in a band!

Find out more
Studio

Studio

Hybrid analog/digital recording studio.

Find out more

109 S. Ridge Rd.
Wichita, KS 67209
316-613-3378

info@airhousemusic.com

 

Get the Inside Scoop

Copyright 2020 Air House Music Academy
Website Design and Development by Rich Interactive

Kurt Aiken Banjo, Bass, Guitar, Mandolin, Piano, Ukulele

Coming from a family of talented musicians, Kurt Aiken grew up with a love for music and especially music performance. He wrote his first tune on the piano at eight years old and that sparked a creative drive that never left. Although piano was his first love, the guitar seemed to be calling him and he dedicated himself to the instrument. Practicing for hours each day in his dorm room as a Kansas University engineering student and track and field athlete, Kurt began learning all the styles of American music. Engineering wasn’t his future. He knew that his true calling was to be a musician, and he began playing gigs around Lawrence Kansas. In those days he played mostly for little or no money, but those early gigs were the beginning of his career as a professional musician that has lasted over two decades and counting.

Kurt had always known that his passion in music was to express himself through improvisation but mostly in the rock and blues tradition up to that point. Then one fateful day he walked into a little pizza joint in Lawrence Kansas not expecting his life to change. The music playing on the sound system was unlike anything he’d ever heard. That was the very first time he heard John McLaughhelin, Al DiMeola, and Paco de Lucia. They were playing some sort of flamenco jazz guitar fusion and Kurt was mesmerized with the sound. The album was “A Friday Night in San Fransico” which he promptly purchased and set out to learn every note the three masters had played. This was the start of his love affair with jazz music. The complex harmonies and rhythms and the freedom to be creative were a perfect fit for his musical capabilities. Kurt went on to study jazz guitar performance at Wichita State University under the guidance of the great Craig Owens who would become his mentor and a major influence on Kurt’s music. To this day the two guitarists can be seen playing in Craig’s avant-garde jazz group, Bodo Ensemble, along with other heavy hitters in the jazz arena. Dale Black, one of the nation’s premier bass players, is the arguably the most famous band member, but there are so many others. Brian Mueller, Andrew Bishop, Jeff Stidham, and many other accomplished musicians trace their roots back to Bodo Ensemble. The band is a breeding ground for great jazz players. Kurt has also performed with funk legend Rudy Love, Steve McClure of Garth Brooks fame, and the well known actress/singer Cindy Summers to name a few. Showing his versatility, Kurt can also be heard playing some nice keyboard in the R&B, soul group Blue Eyed Soul, and regularly works as a session guitarist in Wichita Kansas.

Even though performing and recording music for a living is a dream come true for Kurt, he wouldn’t be complete without sharing the joy with others. Kurt has taught over 40,000 lessons to date. He is experienced teaching piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele lessons. He seems to get more joy helping his students attain their musical goals than even working on his own, and it shows. Kurt has been at it so long that these days he is teaching many of his former student’s children, and he keeps himself busy teaching a studio of about 50 students per week. He is very excited about getting the students up in front of an audience, when they are ready, and he frequently organizes recitals for them to get their feet wet. In fact, many of Kurt’s students have gone on to become pro musicians themselves. A true musician’s musician, Kurt Aiken loves to share his talents with the world through both performance and education.

Randy Fields Bass, Guitar, Ukulele

A life-long resident of Wichita, KS, Randy Fields has been playing guitar since age 6 and bass since age 9. While at Derby High school he played in the Wichita Youth Symphony and then attended Wichita State University, where he graduated with honors in Music, minors in psychology and German.

During College, Randy studied at the University of Strasbourg in Strasbourg, Alsace, France. Another highlight was spending 3 months in Canada serving as sound Technician for a Kansas based group at the Worlds Fair in Vancouver, BC in 1986.

Randy has taught private lessons for over 26 years on the west side of Wichita, also teaching for Friends University as an Adjunct Music Instructor in 1999-2001.

As a Performer, Randy has had the opportunity to share the stage with a wonderful variety of musicians. In recent years, he has played Jazz with Bill Caldwell, Jerry Hahn, Bill Harshbarger, Steve Hatfield, Tim Henry, Lisa Hittle, Beau Jarvis, Clarence King, Roger Lewis, David Lord, Jim Pisano, Clark Terry, Donna Tucker and Randy Zellers. He has performed blues with Rachelle Coba, Jeff Corbett, Cliff Major, Pat McJimsey, John Salem, Craig Steward and Matt Walsh. Randy has also played Rock and Pop gigs with Blue Eyed Soul and The Source, along with Music Theater productions for the Crown Uptown, Gridiron, MTFYP, Stage One and Wichita East High school with Tim Raymond, Doug Riney, Steve Rue and Jesse Warkentin.

Randy served with the Central Community Church Orchestra for over 20 years and is currently with the Wichita Jazz Orchestra, Elvis tribute artist – Marshall Matthews and the Valley Center FUMC Contemporary Praise and Worship band. He has also been involved at events with Pathway and Eastside Community Church.

Randy brings a wealth of knowledge to his teaching, incorporating multiple playing techniques, foundational music theory, and a combination repertoire of Rock, Pop Jazz, blues and contemporary genres. He has a great desire for each student to reach their potential as a Musician, no matter their age!

Seth Carrithers Bass, Guitar, Piano

Seth Carrithers has been an active musician and music educator in Wichita Kansas for nearly 20 years. As a double bassist working in various jazz ensembles, Seth has had the pleasure of playing with many notable musicians ranging from well know locals such as Craig Owens and Sterling Grey, to internationally recognized recording artists such as Benny Golson and Jerry Hahn. Outside of the jazz world, Seth has worked in the studio with Grammy Award winning country music star Lynn Anderson. While the double bass remains Seth’s primary instrument, he excels at the electric bass as well, and has utilized this skill as a staff musician at the Book of Acts Tabernacle of Praise Church for the past 15 years, and East Heights United Methodist church for the past 4 years. In addition to Seth’s various experiences both playing and teaching music, he holds a Master of Music Degree from Wichita State University. Seth offers lessons in electric bass, double bass, guitar, ukulele, piano and music theory.

Zach Lorenson Bass, Guitar

Zach Lorenson received his Bachelor’s degree in Music Education from Friends University and his Master’s degree in music from Kansas State University. For the past 15 years, Zach has performed around Wichita on guitar, bass guitar, and upright bass in a variety of styles including jazz, rock, country, pop, classical, and worship. Zach has played bass with Wichita cover band “The Source” for the past seven years and has played bass at Wichita First Church of the Nazarene for the past six years. He has also performed with Polygnome Trio, LoWhitHake, India Jade Band, Clarence King Trio, B-Sides, Stage One, Electric Betty Band and many others. He has taught students of all ages and ability levels including adult beginners. Music is for everyone, and Zach loves to help people achieve their musical goals!

Close