Teacher Feature showcases the incredible journeys and accomplishments of SoundLife mentors that you may or may not be familiar with, but should be!
Blake Estrada has a serious stare and a fascination with low-end frequencies. His eyes are a window into deep musical understanding. Blake is here and now. He is present and filled with a wealth of knowledge to share, though it may also be true that he sees beyond what most people are capable of.
Born and raised in greater Los Angeles, Blake is the rare local in a city full of transplants. He began seriously studying the bass at age 17 and attended the Cal State Northridge Jazz Program. This world-renowned jazz program put Blake under the tutelage of jazz greats such as Gary Fukushima, Darek Oles, John Daversa, and Matt Harris. It was during this time that Blake developed an advanced harmonic understanding of music, arranging, composition, and improvisation.
Since graduating from CSUN, Blake has spent nearly a decade touring and performing. He is currently a member of the house band at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz and at Harvard and Stone in East Hollywood. Blake is equally fluent on both upright and electric bass. His sight reading is outstanding, which is especially rare considering reading music at a high level is becoming an increasingly difficult tradition to pass down in response to the digital on-demand era. Blake’s skill set allows him to dive into the worlds of composition, arranging, chart writing, and so much more.
Blake is a unique soul filled with history and appreciation for culture and the tradition of music being passed down from generation to generation. This appreciation is a perfect marriage with our mission to educate, inspire, and unite. As a SoundLife instructor, Blake works with students of all ages. He teaches piano, bass, beginning guitar, and band classes. His passion for music is so deep that his students cannot help but be inspired and motivated.