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Well, folks…the fat lady is singing, so this must be my final column. I've really enjoyed sharing some of my ideas with you over the past year, and I hope you were able to wrestle something of value from my words. To bring this series to a proper close, I thought it would be appropriate to answer some of the questions you've sent me. So here we go!

I want to take some lessons, but I'm afraid of losing my style and sounding like everybody else. What can I do?
The best way to maintain your individual musical voice is to not worry about losing it. Too many people think that education erases identity and stifles creativity, but nothing could be further from the truth. If you really want to find your own voice, you should learn everything you can about the bass. Study all styles, learn all techniques, and transcribe lines from many different players. By drawing upon a wide variety of resources, the end result will be a unique combination that's nearly impossible for someone else to duplicate.

Although I play only bass, I love to read guitar mags. Is this okay, or should I focus on bass?
By no means should you focus only on bass! We're not just bassists - we're musicians. That means we're allowed to roam freely in the entire realm of music. I read drum magazines frequently, and you'd be amazed at the wealth of information they have for bassists. Don't limit yourself! Read everything and anything - but be sure to ask yourself: "How can I relate this to my playing?"

Whenever I play in front of people, my hands start to shake and I make stupid mistakes. What can I do?
If you suffer from "stage shakes," there are two things you can do to alleviate the problem. First of all, breathe. In times of stress, musicians sometimes hold their breath or breathe irregularly. Next time you're onstage and start to shake, check your breathing. Chances are…you aren't. Second, the shakes might indicate a lack of preparation. Just because you played a song correctly once in rehearsal doesn't mean you know it. We have a tendency to memorize material by relating it directly to the bass ("At this point in the song, I put my finger there), so here's a great exercise to see if you really know a song: Put away your bass, close your eyes, and visualize yourself playing the song. If you can mentally "play" the tune all the way through, you know it.

Whenever I try to get creative and do something new, like tapping, the other guys in my band get upset. Any suggestions?
Look for another band.

How can I make learning more fun?
Easy. Each time you learn something new, write a song or create a groove based on the new information. This will allow you to internalize the theory and make it yours. And it should be fun.

That's about it. When I asked you to send me letters, I didn't expect such a massive response - but it's been great. Thanks! (And if I haven't written back to you yet, please be assured that I will.)

Once again, thank you for your support and for the wonderful input some of you have given me. I'd like to leave you with a brief reprise of something I've been harping on all year: Creativity is a muscle that needs to be exercised daily if you want it to get stronger. So get out there and pump some iron!