There are a tremendous number of summer programs that you can attend to take your playing to the next level.
We have a comprehensive guide to summer study programs for double bassists. This is updated each year as dates for programs are announced, so be sure to bookmark this page and visit it regularly.
There are a lot of reasons to attend a summer program for bass:
1. Fresh Perspective
Getting out of your daily routine and going somewhere new accelerates your learning process. Most musicians consider summer programs to be the place that they grow the most as a player.
2. Meet New Players and Teachers
I’m still in regular contact with people that I met 20+ years ago at summer bass camps. These are people that I ended up studying with, collaborating with, and developing deep friendships with. There’s nothing like this focused time together for developing great relationships with other musicians.
3. Learning new ways of approaching the instrument
Summer programs are a great place to meet people that come from different schools of playing than you. Coordinators of these programs look for a diverse set of players to make up the faculty. This means that you’re likely to encounter people playing the bass in ways you’d never imagined. This is both inspiring and educational.
4. Focused Time
Getting away from the daily grind and focusing exclusively on music all day long does something magical to your mind, body, and soul. I feel like a different person every time I leave a summer program. A big part of that experience is spending a duration of time focusing exclusively on music with like-minded individuals. It’s amazing!
Consult our Summer Study Guide
Be sure to check out our summer study guide to find a program. The benefits of doing these programs are tremendous.
What to Do if Your Summer Plans Don’t Work Out
We can’t control the outcome of auditions, and sometimes things just don’t work out for a particular summer. That’s OK! You can still get a lot done, as Rob Knopper of auditionhacker shares in this video:
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