The pedagogical influence of Francois Rabbath on the double bass world has been tremendous. Once seen as a dramatic departure from traditional bass technique, the Rabbath approach has become mainstream and perhaps the most commonly used method for young bassists.
The story behind the Rabbath Institute
Cielito De Jesus started the Rabbath Institute Los Angeles in 2017, with Francois himself as the featured guest. This institute is dedicated to the Rabbath approach to double bass, featuring faculty who have studied under Rabbath and incorporate his principles of playing into their technique.
A longtime student of Francois Rabbath, Cielito was inspired to start this institute through Johnny Hamil, a fellow Rabbath student and the founder of the Kansas City Bass Workshop.
After a successful inaugural event in 2017, Cielito ran annual programs in 2018 and 2019. After taking a year off in 2020 due to the pandemic, she resumed the institute in 2021 with a five day event in Long Beach that included Ted Botsford (LA Phil) and David Young (Colburn School) along with herself and me.
Schedule
The 2021 Institute started off each day with a warm-up and technique class featuring different faculty members. Next up was a master class, followed by David Young rehearsing bass ensembles and concluding with a faculty recital.
Day 1 Recital: Ted Botsford
Day 2 Recital: David Young
Day 3 Recital: Ted, David, Cielito, and Jason
Day 4 Recital: Jason Heath
Day 4 Recital: Student Bass Orchestra
Final Thoughts
The Rabbath Institute Los Angeles is an outstanding opportunity to delve into double bass technique through the lens of Francois Rabbath’s teachings. Cielito brings together a stellar faculty lineup each year, and it’s remarkable to watch the progress of the students throughout the week.
If you’re looking to develop your facility, ease of playing, and tone, this institute is for you. Whether you’re a Rabbath technique novice or a seasoned pro, you’ll find plenty of takeaways from this excellent program.
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