Colorado State University – Fort Collins

Forest Greenough, bass faculty

General Statistics

  • US News Ranking: #129 (tie) in National Universities
  • US News Overall Score (out of 100): 42
  • In-State Tuition & Fees 2016-17: $11,080
  • Out-of-State Tuition & Fees 2016-17: $28,374
  • Room & Board 2016-17: $11,862
  • Total Enrollment: 31,943
  • Acceptance Rate (from 2015): 81%
  • Student – Faculty Ratio: 18:1
  • 4 year graduation rate: 41%
  • % of undergrads receiving Financial aid: 46%
  • Average Financial Aid: $7,162

Double Bass Statistics

  • 2015 ISB Convention Host
  • Average number of undergraduate bass students: 12
  • Average number of graduate bass students: 1
  • Studio Class, Orchestral Repertoire Class, Bass Ensembles, 3 Semester Pedagogy Sequence

What Alumni Are Doing

  • Many have won regional orchestra positions, and/or are gigging as pro jazz musicians. Some have gone on to perform and record in other genres as well, such as bluegrass. As our focus is primarily undergraduate studies (due to different funding streams), many continue on to graduate school in programs around the country.

Perspectives from the Bass Faculty

Q: What are some of your favorite experiences teaching at your school?

A: Hosting the 2015 ISB Convention! The outdoor opportunities are some of the best in the country, and I highly encourage my students to pursue those opportunities–I do myself. Fort Collins is a vibrant music hub, and being close to Denver, is part of a larger thriving arts/music/gigging scene. I love that we have a focus on undergrads at CSU–while I usually have at least one graduate student per year, being undergraduate-centric allows for ample high end performance opportunities for undergraduates, plus a stronger mentorship of my smaller gradate pool.

CSU attracts many music students who double major in STEM fields, so our program is fairly unique that way. These students go on to have a “day job” as an engineer, etc., and continue to play professionally as a secondary revenue stream. I love working with the intellectually diverse community a public land-grant, state university attracts–it creates a great vibe in the studio, and while musically rigorous, provides a well-rounded educational experience different from many other programs. I work with each student to help you achieve your individual goals (and show you goals you never knew existed), realizing that career potential is very diverse these days.

About The Bass Faculty

Known as a very diverse performer, bassist Forest Greenough has performed concerts and given clinics on four continents, and is a regular member of the Fort Collins Symphony, principal bass of the Steamboat Symphony Orchestra, and principal bass of the Colorado Bach Ensemble. He has also performed in various roles with the Greeley Philharmonic, Cheyenne Symphony, Strings in the Mountains Summer Festival, and Boulder Philharmonic, and has toured nationally as a soloist and with artists such as Andrea Bocelli. As a chamber musician, he has received commissions and premiered many new works in many genres, and has performed with the Front Range Chamber Players and members of the Colorado Chamber Players. As a jazz bassist, Dr. Greenough currently plays regular engagements throughout Colorado and is also in demand nationally and internationally as a clinician and adjudicator. An accomplished studio musician, he has performed on numerous recordings across the musical spectrum, from contemporary jazz and classical to pop/rock and metal.

Also an avid outdoor sports enthusiast, Dr. Greenough spends his time away from music whitewater kayaking, mountain biking, and backcountry snowboarding, and also works as a professional whitewater guide and kayak instructor in the summer. On faculty at Colorado State University since 2005, he also has served on the board of directors of the International Society of Bassists (ISB) since 2014, and was host of the 2015 ISB convention at Colorado State University.

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