We have a tremendous amount of informative, interactive, and downloadable resources for double bass teachers here at doublebassblog.org. If you are having trouble locating a specific resource, or if you would like to suggest a new resource for the blog, please e-mail us at jasonheath@doublebassblog.org or fill out the contact form at the bottom of this page. A list of complete double bass blog resources is available at doublebassblog.org/features.
Articles for the Music Educator
These articles focus on educational issues and information for double bass instructors. A complete list of available articles is available at doublebassblog.org/articles.
- Adjunct University Teaching by Jason Heath
- Advice for Aspiring Music Performance Majors by Jason Heath
- Arm Exercises for Flexibility and Strength by Phillip Serna
- Arm Exercises for Flexibility and Strength by Rob Oxoby
- Auditioning for the older musician by Jean-Yves Bénichou
- Balancing solid musicianship and solid bass playing by Nicholas Hart
- Buying a Bass by Jason Heath
- Choosing a double bass gig bags by Jason Heath
- Comparing Rabbath and Simandl techniques by Jason Heath
- Contemporary conservatory life by Nicholas Hart
- Double bass extensions by Jason Heath
- Ethical considerations in adjunct teaching by Jason Heath
- Essentials for bassists by John Floeter
- German bow grips by Robert Oppelt
- Getting a Good Sound by John Floeter
- Getting in shape fast after a vacation by John Floeter
- Getting out of the practice room by Nicholas Hart
- How posture affects sound by Nicholas Hart
- How to polish ebony fingerboards by Jean-Yves Bénichou
- Jean Cros – in memorium Jean-Yves Bénichou
- Mental aspects of bass playing by Nicholas Hart
- Misconceptions between teachers and performers by Jason Heath
- Mock Auditions by Nicholas Hart
- Organizing practice time by John Floeter
- Performance Anxiety by Nicholas Hart
- Playing the Mahler 1 bass solo by Robert Oppelt
- Practice organization – getting a good sound by John Floeter
- Reflections on Double Bass Teaching by Jason Heath
- The Psychology of Being Musical by Nicholas Hart
- This new bass (a painful journey) by Eric Hochberg
- Tuning in Fifths with Joel Quarrington (audio interview on NACO)
- Upgrading instruments by John Floeter
- Sound and motion in bass playing by Nicholas Hart
- What to practice when time is of the essence by Joe Lewis
- Why I teach by Jason Heath
- Why teach music? by Jason Heath
Auditions for Double Bass Students
Teachers – your students considering music school after high school should visit our database of audition requirements for major music schools. Familiarity with the repertoire listed here will help with the future success of your students!
The following summer festivals will help to broaden a student’s musical horizons and are definitely worth looking into:
Aspen Music Festival
Tanglewood Music Festival
National Repertory Orchestra
National Orchestral Institute
Pacific Music Festival
Schleswig-Holstein Musik Festival
American School of Double Bass
Brevard Music Center
Sewanee Music Festival
Birch Creek Music Performance Center
Hot Springs Music Festival
MYA Summer Music Festival
Interlochen
Bradetich Master Classes
Karr Kamp
Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp
Pine Mountain Music Festival
National High School Music Institute
Boston University Tanglewood Institute (BUTI)
Crane Youth Music Camp
Sarasota Music Festival
Youth Orchestra of the Americas
Frenchwoods Festival of the Performing Arts
Collaborators
We have a diverse set of excellent collaborators contributing content to doublebassblog.org. This page features biographical information for our writers and a link to all of their contributions.
Double Bass Interviews
Check out our constantly evolving archive of double bass audio interviews with luminaries from all musical genres. Once on this page, individual guests may be selected (each is pictured next to their name and occupation). We add to this archive on a weekly basis, so check back frequently for more content!
Take me to the archive >>
Selected Interviews:
- Tuning in Fifths with Joel Quarrington (audio interview on NACO)
Double Bass Performances
Visit our Contrabass Conversations archive for weekly performances from double bassists across the globe! Classical, jazz, bluegrass, and electric bassists are all featured, and available offerings may be searched by guest or keyword.
Take me to the archive >>
Double Bass Repairs and Sales
Teachers – are you looking for shops that will service your instruments or those of your students? Are you looking for an outlet to purchase new basses for your school or your private students? Then visit out Luthier Directory!
Double Bass Teacher Directory
Orchestra directors – visit this page to find local bass teachers for your students or coaches for your school sectionals. Bass teachers – be sure to visit this page and add your information to this database!
Double Bass Video Lessons
We have several multi-part video lessons available. These may be viewed online or can be downloaded. Links are available to download each individual video (viewable on your computer, iPod, or other portable media device), and all available videos can be downloaded automatically by subscribing to our Contrabass Conversations feed.
Downloads
Click here to visit the doublebassblog.org download archive and check out hundreds of educational PDFs, MP3s, and other resources.
Education-Related Posts
Check out all of our education-related posts through doublebassblog.org/category/education.
Links for Music Educators
Music Educator Resources:
FlexiMusic (offers a set of great music software, including FlexiMusic Wave Editor, Generator, Composer, Orchestra, Composer, and Kids Composer)
String Pedagogy Notebook (excellent internet resource with videos)
Blogging for teachers
Internet Public Library
http://chicago.learningguidenetwork.com
Music Publishers for Bass:
Discordia Music
Slava Publishing (Progressive Repertoire by George Vance)
Liben Music
BassPlace.com online distributor
Thomas B. Gale publications
Aebersold Bass Publications – jazz
Professional Associations for Bass Players:
International Society of Bassists
American String Teachers Association
Orchestral Training:
Civic Orchestra of Chicago
New World Symphony
Quality Bass Programs Beyond Chicagoland:
Peabody Conservatory
Indiana University
Rice University
Curtis Institute of Music
Boston University
Colburn School
University of North Texas
Cleveland Institute of Music
Oberlin Conservatory
Duquense University
University of Southern California
Juilliard School of Music
Yale University
Manhattan School of Music
Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music
New England Conservatory
Free Scores:
Neue Mozart-Ausgabe: Digitized Version This site provides a complete and freely accessible and downloadable catalog of the same source material used in the Bärenreiter edition of Mozart’s works.
The NMA Mozart project places restrictions on the use of material on the site, making you click through a license agreement that restricts you to personal use (not public performance use).
Practice Tools:
Audacity – a great FREE sound recording and multi-track editing program
Classicalmusicarchives.com (comprehensive MIDI orchestral repertoire)
Violinmasterclass.com – an excellent educational resource for all string players with videos, practice charts, and more
MusicTheory.net – great online music theory compendium
Online Ear Training
Practicespot.com – great site filled with practice tools, games, downloads, exercises, articles, etc.
Getting the Most Out of Your Practice Session (Bill Koehler)
Inner Game of Music
MIDI Library for Solo Bass
more solo bass MIDI
more MIDI files
MIDI World
Hans Sturm’s Double Bass Audition Resources (audio and text bass resources)
Finale Notepad (basic free version of Finale)
Electric Bass Downloads Page
Douglas Yeo Trombone Home Page (not a bass page, but full of valuable career and practice info.)
FlexiMusic (offers a set of great music software, including FlexiMusic Wave Editor, Generator, Composer, Orchestra, Composer, and Kids Composer)
Podcasts for Double Bass Teachers
Learn more about the double bass and hear great interviews and performances from leaders in the field through the Contrabass Conversations audio and video podcast series!
Virtual Master Class Project
Teachers – let your students know about the doublebassblog.org Virtual Master Class Project! This project lets students submit recordings of themselves for constructive comments from the worldwide bass community–a great way to get advice for improving one’s playing!
To get in touch, email jasonheath -at- doublebassblog.org.
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