Eastman School of Music

• State: New York
• Private School
• 2013 International Society of Bassists Convention Host
• School Website

James VanDemark, classical bass faculty

• Email James
• James’s Website
• Contrabass Conversations Interview

Jeff Campbell, jazz bass faculty

• Email Jeff

General Statistics

• US News Ranking: #32 (tie) in National Universities
• US News Overall Score (out of 100): 68
• Tuition & Fees 2016-17: $50,142
• Room & Board 2016-17: $14,890
• Total Enrollment: 11,105
• Acceptance Rate (from 2015): 34%
• Student – Faculty Ratio: 10:1
• 4 year graduation rate: 74%
• % of undergrads receiving Financial aid: 51%
• Average Financial Aid: $37,467

Double Bass Statistics

• Average number of undergraduate bass students: 15
• Average number of graduate bass students: 3
• Studio Class, Orchestral Repertoire Class, Bass Ensembles, Orchestral repertoire taught in private lessons as well. Sectionals are offered on a regular basis.

What Alumni Are Doing

• Michael Fuller – New World Symphony, finalist Doublestop Foundation Award
• Michael Franz – sub with Philadelphia Orchestra, 1st Prize winner Doublestop Foundation
  
• Kieran Hanlon – named Assistant Professor at SUNY Fredonia
  
• James Sullivan – named Assistant Professor at University of Evansville
  
• Jon Hamar – named Assistant Professor at University of Tennessee
  
• Kaveh Rastegar – bassist with John Legend, Bruno Mars, Kneebody; appearances in film La La Land
  
• Geoff Saunders – 2017 Grammy Winner with O’Connor Band

Perspectives from the Bass Faculty

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

A: It’s been gratifying to have my students from the past – Jeff Turner of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Tom Sperl of the Cleveland Orchestra, Yung-chiao Wei of LSU, Brett Shurtliffe of Buffalo and many others – return to share their expertise and insight with my current students in master classes.

There has always been a supportive atmosphere among the bassists in my studio and throughout the Eastman School, a distinct benefit when combined with the rigor of the program. I make a point of having highly individualized instruction – yet embracing specific high standards – to attempt to ensure each student’s success in artistry and employability.

About The Bass Faculty

James VanDemark

Initial bass studies with James Clute of the Minnesota Orchestra (then Minneapolis Symphony); solo debut with Minnesota Orchestra at age 15; began performing as part-time member of St. Paul Chamber Orchestra at age 16; Principal Bass, Hamilton Philharmonic, age 17; subsequent bass studies with Gary Karr, Stuart Sankey, and cellists Paul Katz and Leonard Rose; named to Eastman School in 1976; subsequent concerto performances with New York Philharmonic and the orchestras throughout the world. Chamber music appearances with Cleveland, Guarneri, Muir Quartets; three performances on Lincoln Center’s Great Performer’s Series; Principal Bass, Chamber Orchestra of Puerto Rico; as an amateur boxer, featured on ESPN, CBC, and The Wall Street Journal.

Jeff Campbell

Jeff Campbell has carved out an impressive career as bass player of extraordinary artistry, fluent in both the jazz and classical idioms. As a jazz bassist, he maintains an active schedule performing with Marian McPartland, Gene Bertoncini, Rich Perry, Trio East, Harold Jones, and the Eastman Jazz Quartet featuring Harold Danko, and has appeared on McPartland’s Piano Jazz program on National Public Radio. In high demand across the globe, Jeff has performed at such prestigious European musical events as the Nice, Montreux, North Sea, Riga, and Parnu Jazz Festivals and has also appeared in the former Soviet Union and the Baltic Republics. His first CD, West End Avenue, with John Hollenbeck and John Wojceichowski, features a combination of original compositions and jazz standards. Additionally, Jeff is a member of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra bass section. His summers are occupied with the Birch Creek Music Performance Center in Door County, Wisconsin, where he serves as program director, and the Eastman Summer Jazz Studies and Bass Day, of which he is co-director.

In addition to a busy performing schedule, Jeff maintains an active career as a jazz educator with a keen interest in bass playing of the past, present, and future. A full-time professor at Eastman since 1997, his teaching duties include jazz bass, jazz history, jazz theory and aural skills, and small group performance. He is a regular contributor to the Double Bassist magazine, and is the Jazz Editor of Bass World, the official publication of the International Society of Bassists. Jeff’s book on the famous Duke Ellington-Jimmy Blanton duets (in preparation for publication) provides bassist with an opportunity to study the bass playing of the great Jimmy Blanton.

Jeff’s music education began at an early age under the influence of his professional-musician parents. As a young musician, Jeff received much of his musical training working with local professional musicians in a myriad of musical styles and venues. Through these experiences, Jeff developed a healthy balance between the artistic and practical issues faced by today’s professional musician. Jeff holds degrees in double bass performance and music education from Brigham Young University (BM) and the Eastman School of Music (MM, DMA). He has studied bass with John F. Clark, James VanDemark, Jeffrey Turner, and Robert Zimmerman, and jazz composition with Bill Dobbins and Fred Sturm.