University of Miami

Brian Powell, bass faculty

General Statistics

  • US News Ranking: #44 (tie) in National Universities
  • US News Overall Score (out of 100): 63
  • Tuition & Fees 2016-17: $47,004
  • Room & Board 2016-17: $13,310
  • Total Enrollment: 16,847
  • Acceptance Rate (from 2015): 38%
  • Student – Faculty Ratio: 12:1
  • 4 year graduation rate: 68%
  • % of undergrads receiving Financial aid: 19%
  • Average Financial Aid: $11,662

Other Distinctions

  • Music School Central Top 10 Colleges for Jazz 2014 (#6)
  • Christian Howes’ Best College Programs for Creative String Players

Double Bass Statistics

  • Average number of undergraduate bass students: 10
  • Average number of graduate bass students: 5
  • Studio Class, Orchestral Repertoire Class, Bass Ensembles, Chamber Music for Bass and other instruments

What Alumni Are Doing

  • 2017 graduate just won a Grammy for Best Bluegrass Album this year with Mark O’Connor in his album “Coming Home”

Perspectives from Students and Alumni

Q: What are some favorite memories about studying at this school?

A: Dedicated instructors in performance and academic arenas

A: Side by side with the Cleveland orchestra, master class, near New World Symphony

A: Concerts with Leon Fleischer, side-by-sides with the Cleveland Orchestra

Q: How did this school help prepare you for your future endeavors?

A: I studied double bass and pre-vet so this school gave me a pretty well rounded education, however for someone looking for strictly a classical music education I did not find it competitive or rigorous enough

Q: What advice would you offer others thinking about studying at this school?

A: The rehearsals and events of orchestra are pretty heavy, you will play 4-5 orchestra concerts each semester.

A: If you want to be at a vibrant jazz school and study jazz, this is your place. If you are strictly classical, you will find great diversity here that will make you a more varied player. Otherwise, others should choose the conservatory route.

Q: Is there anything else you’d like to share about this school?

A: It’s a beautiful school with great professors, especially bass professor, Brian Powell. He is a very nice educator, patient and knowledgeable.

Harley R, Yen-Ling L, Lauren G

Perspectives from the Bass Faculty

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

A: Being able to teach high-level and motivated bassists who pursue a wide variety of career aspirations in music and unique individual performance goals. Blending traditional and contemporary musical experiences make for a stimulating learning environment that helps me grow as a musician alongside my students.

The motto of our school is “Build Yourself at Frost”. Students in the bass studio have a curriculum expressly tailored to them, whether they want to win a professional orchestra job or explore Creative American Music or become a teacher and have an informed pedagogical approach to bass performance. Whatever their interests are, we allow them the flexibility to explore and be exposed to the highest level of performance opportunities available.

About The Bass Faculty

Brian Powell is Associate Professor of Double Bass and String Music Education at the University of Miami Frost School of Music. He has a Bachelor of Music degree in Performance and a Masters degree in Teaching both from Indiana University, and he completed his doctoral studies at the College-Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati. He is a former member of The New World Symphony, under the direction of Michael Tilson Thomas, and has also performed with the Louisville Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Florida Philharmonic, and the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.

Dr. Powell currently has publication and recording projects with Boosey & Hawkes as well as Centaur Records, with a primary interest in promoting chamber and solo music of 20th and 21st Century composers. In addition to his performance experience, Dr. Powell also has an extensive resume in string music education and pedagogy. He has presided as President of both the Kentucky and Florida chapters of the American String Teachers Association, and given masterclasses at the ASTA National Convention. Dr. Powell also served in the mentor program of the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). He remains an active performer, adjudicator, conductor, and clinician throughout the United States and abroad.

Bass News Right To Your Inbox!

Subscribe to get our weekly newsletter covering the double bass world.

Powered by ConvertKit