Photo: Ellen Alaverdyan | By Gen Handley, Yahoo | For the past few years, 10-year-old Ellen Alaverdyan has charmed millions of viewers with her phenomenal, funky bass playing and her infectious smile. Fostered by her father Hovak, also a musician, her love of the bass was forged through exploration and experimentation, the grand prize of trying out four other instruments first: piano, ukulele, guitar, and drums.
Watching her groove and sway to her music, Ellen is clearly in her own special world. “If I’m playing slow blues or jazz, I often feel relaxed, but in the beat,” she explains. “Or, if I’m playing funk or disco, I feel energized and feel the need to move around, dancing to the beat. Sometimes, I feel sad when I’m playing, depending on what the song is about.”
Ellen has been impacted by the early musical experiences with her dad, who would play his guitar when she was a baby. Other influences include legendary funk bassist Bootsy Collins, Cameroon multi-instrumentalist Richard Bona, and bassist-songwriter Victor Wooten. An eclectic mix you wouldn’t expect to find in a pre-teen’s list of top artists.-
“I would like to play with them because those were the main people I knew when I was starting to play bass,” she says. “And also because I’ve known Victor Wooten ever since I was a toddler – those would be the people I would like to jam with.”
Getting to Know Ellen:
Age:
I am 10 years old.
Current Grade:
I am currently in fifth grade.
How I’m feeling, at this exact moment:
I am feeling a little tired but exited to watch my favorite show that just came out.
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https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/10-old-bass-player-ellen-170003459.html
Photo: Ellen Alaverdyan (Credit: Hovak Alaverdyan)
10-Year-Old Bass Player Ellen Alaverdyan Brings the Funk
