Piano Second Instrument instructor
Benedikt Mattmüller, born and raised in Basel, turned to jazz and improvisation in 1982 after his first years of classical piano lessons. This was followed by two years with Fritz Pauer at the general department of the Swiss Jazz School in Bern. In addition to several participations in bands, musicals, choir, theatre and other projects, he studied at the St. Gallen Jazz School, where he took piano lessons with Uli Scherer (VAO) and Art Lande and drum lessons with Heinz Lieb until 1989, graduating with a diploma.
In addition to his own trio, he gained experience in a big band, in various jazz, fusion, pop and funk groups and played with many local, national and some international musicians. A long collaboration with Bene Müller as keyboardist and drummer also took him to various places in Europe and into the studio.
After initial, smaller stints in Zurich and Köniz, he taught jazz, piano and ensemble from 1991 at the newly founded Basel Jazz School, now the Basel School of Jazz, and the Basel University of Music FHNW, as well as privately. He also taught music for several years at the middle school in Basel, which led to a simultaneous degree in School Music 1. In more than thirty years of (also private) piano lessons, he developed an individual, student-oriented teaching method with a focus on improvisation and song accompaniment in newer styles.
He has three grown-up children and lives in Basel.