Faculty member Jim Ouska is accepting students on electric and acoustic guitar, and electric bass. He is available for lessons at Watershed High School, 46th Street and 4th Avenue South in Minneapolis.
A versatile multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, Jim Ouska has been teaching guitar and electric bass at West Bank School of Music for more than 20 years. His experience playing an eclectic range of styles including acoustic roots, funk, blues, and jazz has made him a valuable teacher as well as an accomplished performing artist. Prior to teaching at WBSM, he studied finger picking here with former faculty member, Dean Carr. Jim takes particular joy watching students learn and helping them progress. We asked him to share his thoughts with us on a variety of topics.
What is it about WBSM that has kept you teaching here all these years?
I enjoy the students who come to WBSM and the school has a unique environment and sense of history you can feel when you walk in the door. The teachers in the beginning were largely devotees of roots based folk music and jazz and were among the best performers anywhere in their styles of music. With all the changes over the years I think you can still feel their spirit permeating the walls. The school still maintains the same level of teachers who are also active performers, locally and nationally and are drawn to what is essential and authentic in music. I studied finger picking styles with Dean Carr before I began teaching there myself. I enjoy the students that come to the west bank school.
What is the biggest challenge about being a performing musician?
I think it can be difficult to maintain what I think of as “equilibrium” where your level of playing is consistent with the level of venues and pay. Also, many of us enjoy playing a variety of styles and many venues tend to build an identity around a single type of music. Having said that, I must also add that Minneapolis is blessed with a wonderfully rich music community.
What’s the best piece of advice you can giving to aspiring students who would like to be a performing artists?
Follow your heart, study, practice and keep company with other players. There are more resources available now than ever. There are many aspects of sustaining a livelihood in music and it can be quite consuming. Be open to advice from others and maintain a balance with other life endeavors.
What’s the best piece of advice you can give to aspiring students who would like to teach?
Instrumental and vocal instruction has evolved a lot in the past 25 years. Students of folk, rock and jazz can attend a variety of schools that acknowledge those styles in the way that was previously reserved for students of classical music. I think the West Bank School of Music contributed to this evolution. The field is growing, methods are improving and so there’s plenty of room for good teachers. Continue your studies and go for it!
Help us finish this sentence: Most people don’t know that I really love…
Being outdoors, walking, cross country skiing, swimming, reading and spending time with my family and friends.
Bands that Jim is in:Jim and Jane (original folk, funk, and jazz), The Marinators, (Blues and R&B), Jim Ouska and John Iden duo. Read more about Jim at JimOuska.com.
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Meet Jim Ouska
Jim Ouska
Faculty member Jim Ouska is accepting students on electric and acoustic guitar, and electric bass. He is available for lessons at Watershed High School, 46th Street and 4th Avenue South in Minneapolis.
A versatile multi-instrumentalist, singer, and songwriter, Jim Ouska has been teaching guitar and electric bass at West Bank School of Music for more than 20 years. His experience playing an eclectic range of styles including acoustic roots, funk, blues, and jazz has made him a valuable teacher as well as an accomplished performing artist. Prior to teaching at WBSM, he studied finger picking here with former faculty member, Dean Carr. Jim takes particular joy watching students learn and helping them progress. We asked him to share his thoughts with us on a variety of topics.
What is it about WBSM that has kept you teaching here all these years?
I enjoy the students who come to WBSM and the school has a unique environment and sense of history you can feel when you walk in the door. The teachers in the beginning were largely devotees of roots based folk music and jazz and were among the best performers anywhere in their styles of music. With all the changes over the years I think you can still feel their spirit permeating the walls. The school still maintains the same level of teachers who are also active performers, locally and nationally and are drawn to what is essential and authentic in music. I studied finger picking styles with Dean Carr before I began teaching there myself. I enjoy the students that come to the west bank school.
What is the biggest challenge about being a performing musician?
I think it can be difficult to maintain what I think of as “equilibrium” where your level of playing is consistent with the level of venues and pay. Also, many of us enjoy playing a variety of styles and many venues tend to build an identity around a single type of music. Having said that, I must also add that Minneapolis is blessed with a wonderfully rich music community.
What’s the best piece of advice you can giving to aspiring students who would like to be a performing artists?
Follow your heart, study, practice and keep company with other players. There are more resources available now than ever. There are many aspects of sustaining a livelihood in music and it can be quite consuming. Be open to advice from others and maintain a balance with other life endeavors.
What’s the best piece of advice you can give to aspiring students who would like to teach?
Instrumental and vocal instruction has evolved a lot in the past 25 years. Students of folk, rock and jazz can attend a variety of schools that acknowledge those styles in the way that was previously reserved for students of classical music. I think the West Bank School of Music contributed to this evolution. The field is growing, methods are improving and so there’s plenty of room for good teachers. Continue your studies and go for it!
Help us finish this sentence: Most people don’t know that I really love…
Being outdoors, walking, cross country skiing, swimming, reading and spending time with my family and friends.
Bands that Jim is in: Jim and Jane (original folk, funk, and jazz), The Marinators, (Blues and R&B), Jim Ouska and John Iden duo. Read more about Jim at JimOuska.com.