I’d like to give readers a heads up regarding guests for the next few weeks of Contrabass Conversations. I think that people will be very interested both of the guests we have scheduled for the next couple of episodes.

This weekend, you will be hearing an interview I did recently with double bassist Ira Gold. Ira joined the National Symphony in 2005. He and I played together for a few seasons in the IRIS Chamber Orchestra of Memphis, Tennessee, and I think that this interview contains some of the most interesting and useful advice I have ever heard. Ira’s insights should prove valuable to people on the audition circuit as well as people looking to strengthen their fundamental technical and musical concepts. You will also get to hear Ira play the first movement of the Vanhal Concerto on this episode, which is an absolute treat as well. This interview will be released this weekend (April 7-8), so check it out in a few days!

I just did an interview this past Tuesday with double bass virtuoso Francois Rabbath. I feel honored to have gotten the opportunity to sit down with Francois, and I am really happy that he was interested in being interviewed on the podcast. Listeners will get to hear Francois discuss such subjects as the origins of his technique, his thoughts on weight and balance in both arms of the double bassist, his concepts regarding the bow arm, issues facing traveling double bassists, and advice on what to look for in a teacher. This interview will be released in two weeks (April 14-15) so stay tuned to the blog or the Contrabass Conversations website for this episode.