The Bass Found Me | Dan Hawkins on Building a Life in Music, Teaching & Never Stopping Learning

What does a sustainable career as a professional bassist really look like?

In this episode of Now That's Bass, Pete sits down with bassist, educator and online creator Dan Hawkins to explore the journey from an 11-year-old schoolboy discovering the bass to performing in the West End, touring with major artists and teaching thousands of bass players around the world.

Dan shares how incredible teachers shaped his playing, why reading music opened doors throughout his career, and how adapting to technology helped him build a successful online business without ever losing his love of performing.

They also dive into practice, motivation, overcoming plateaus, balancing family life with music and why the best bass players never stop learning.

Whether you're an aspiring professional, a weekend player or somewhere in between, this conversation is packed with practical advice and honest insight.

In this episode:

How one music teacher completely changed Dan's life

Getting Grade 8 bass in just two years

Learning from West End session musicians

Why reading music still matters

Following a professional bassist for work experience

Building a career through teaching, sessions and live work