More Advice on Flying with Your Bass
Polyphonic.org has an informative new post from Eric Beers, a member of the Symphonic Services Division of the American Federation of Musicians. Flying with the bass (or any musical instrument) has grown increasingly more difficult with each year after 9/11. In 1997 and 1998 I flew about seven or eight times a [...]
Flying with the bass
I just read a new post by Renaud Garcia-Fons in the International Society of Bassists Events page:
On the 28th of October, departing on an Air France/Alitalia flight [...]
Buying a Bass Part II - Where to Look
There are four main methods used to find a bass. In this post I will write briefly about these methods and their benefits and drawbacks. These are my opinions based on my own bass searches and those of my students. I welcome any feedback and comments on any of these methods. [...]
Buying a Bass Part I - three basic categories
Buying the right double bass is never easy. Basses vary drastically in quality even when the cost is the same. There are quality basses out there in every price range–the challenge is where to look. What characteristics should one look for in a bass? Private teachers and knowledgeable bass dealers are incredibly valuable in answering [...]
Reaching the Low Notes
Being able to play below the open E string is an essential part of the skill set for the modern bassist. Most orchestral bass parts reach below the low E, and not being able to play these notes means not really having all of the professional tools necessary for the job. Reaching these [...]
Playing Bach cello suites
Playing movements of the Bach cello suites is a must for all bass players these days. It is a requirement for many (if not most) orchestral auditions, and it is a bass player’s only real opportunity to play solo works from this great master.
Several challenges arise when playing the Bach cello suites. The [...]
Humidity and the bass
How much humidity is too much for a double bass? How much is too little? Do I need Dampits? Do I need to run humidifiers in the house? How about in the summer? Do I need a dehumidifier?
These are question every bass owner asks, and the answers are not really [...]
Getting into the top bass colleges
Scott Bakshis of the Chicago Youth Symphony recently compiled a list of what the requirements for all the top bass schools are. This is a meta list derived from the requirements of Indiana University, Boston University, Rice University, Curtis, Juilliard, Eastman, and many others. If bass students can have this repertoire under their [...]
Ed Barker Master Class Summary
On Wednesday, March 8, Boston Symphony principal bass Ed Barker gave a fantastic mastercless. The class was held in Roosevelt University’s beautiful Ganz Hall (pictured above) and was open to the general public free of charge. Four Roosevelt University students performed, and Mr. Barker devoted a half-hour to each of them. All [...]
Joining MYA and CYSO
I encourage all of my pre-college double bass students to get involved with either the Midwest Young Artists program or the Chicago Youth Symphony. Both of these Chicagoland youth orchestra programs are really top-notch. I have work with both of them if various capacities over the last few years, and I send students [...]
