Norm Stockton is a highly respected bassist, someone any bass player would be happy to learn from. In Grooving for Heaven Volume 1, he works on helping the bass player become a `groovin' bass player. The focus is on the bassist in contemporary worship, but the things he teaches would pretty much apply to any Christian bassist.

It does help to have some knowledge of the bass, but Stockton starts you off with the things you need first: the necessity of proper warm-ups, why it's important to have your strap set to the right length, details on proper positioning for both hands, and being familiar with the fingerboard. He explains fingerboard familiarity very well, making it simple to pick up on, which allows you to flow up and down the fingerboard with ease (with practice of course). He makes it very clear that while you can teach yourself to play the bass, there are certain things you must be careful to learn if you're going to have a solid foundation, and he works on teaching you those things.

Stockton gives solid instruction in what he calls "playing a groove," teaching a lot about using the bass properly. He explains various ways you can play with the drums, to get a variety of results. He also explains, and demonstrates, that any song can be played in many different styles, showing that any chord progression can have a variety of styles and dynamics applied to it, rather than leaving each song sounding the same as the next.

From technique to theory, his explanations and examples are clear and easy to follow. His instruction covers basics like "meat and potatoes intervals" and important touches like playing thematically - reaching that place between boring repetition and a bass line that's way too busy. He stresses the importance of practice too, and shows you how to make practice fun and even competitive (You're competing with yourself of course). He gives exercises that will challenge you, and in the fun of mastering these exercises you will find your abilities strengthening automatically.

Also, Norm teaches and reinforces the fact that as part of a worship team you are a minister and have a minister's responsibility to live, daily, a life that is worthy of His calling. I appreciate the fact that he makes it clear that the most important thing you can do is always keep your relationship with God first, that there is no place for a "Rock Star Mentality" in God's house.

This DVD comes with a few special features.
Reference Tuning allows you to tune your bass so that you can play along with the DVD.
We Will Stand is a music video.
Technique for Tone helps you evaluate your technique to ensure that you get the right tone from your instrument.
Road Case shows Stockton packing the road case he uses when traveling for concerts. This is a great help for those who have to fly.
Clinics shares photos and endorsements from some who have attended Stockton's music clinics.
Chapter Lists lets you go to specific sections so that you can get the specific instruction or refresher that you need.

If your desire is to play the bass to God's glory, this DVD is for you.

Running time: 76 minutes