TopPodcast.com
Menu
  • Home
  • Top Charts
  • Top Networks
  • Top Apps
  • Top Independents
  • Top Podfluencers
  • Top Picks
    • Top Business Podcasts
    • Top True Crime Podcasts
    • Top Finance Podcasts
    • Top Comedy Podcasts
    • Top Music Podcasts
    • Top Womens Podcasts
    • Top Kids Podcasts
    • Top Sports Podcasts
    • Top News Podcasts
    • Top Tech Podcasts
    • Top Crypto Podcasts
    • Top Entrepreneurial Podcasts
    • Top Fantasy Sports Podcasts
    • Top Political Podcasts
    • Top Science Podcasts
    • Top Self Help Podcasts
    • Top Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Top Stocks Podcasts
  • Podcast News
  • About Us
  • Podcast Advertising
  • Contact
Not in our directory?
Add Show Here
Podcast Equipment
Center

toppodcastlogoOur TOPPODCAST Picks

  • Comedy
  • Crypto
  • Sports
  • News
  • Politics
  • True Crime
  • Business
  • Finance

Follow Us

toppodcastlogoStay Connected

    View Top 200 Chart
    Back to Rankings Page
    Music

    Contrabass Conversations

    Contrabass Conversations features interviews and performances from top leaders in the world of the double bass. Podcast host Jason Heath dives deep into what makes these world-class artists tick. With 2 million downloads and counting, Contrabass Conversations is the most popular podcast for double bassists. Join the community and experience life on the low end of the spectrum!

    Advertise

    Copyright: © 2019 Contrabass Conversations

    • Apple Podcasts
    • Google Play
    • Spotify
    Latest Episodes:
    274: Yung-chiao Wei on overcoming challenges, Carnegie Hall recitals, and living through music Nov 14, 2016
    Show notes

    I had the good fortune to meet Yung-chiao Wei back in 2000 at the Pacific Music Festival in Japan. She was wrapping up her time with the New World Symphony and was just about to start new new position at Louisiana State University.

    The rich double bass culture she has created the past decade-and-a-half is remarkable.

    In addition to creating the Louisiana Bass Fest, Yung-chio has propelled her students into all sorts of "next steps" like:

    • winning auditions such as tenured Principal Bassist and Assistant Principal Bassist in the Baton Rouge Symphony and the Acadiana Symphony
    • Assistant Principal Bassist of the Taipei Symphony Orchestra
    • going to prestigious music schools with full scholarships at the Juilliard School, Yale University, Eastman School of Music and Cincinnati Conservatory
    • teaching at at the Cincinnati Conservatory and Southeastern Louisiana University
    • founding the Brava Orchestra, an youth orchestra in Brazil, with a mission to bring music to the poor
    • becoming the Executive Director at New York Baroque Incorporated
    Talk about having an impact on future generations of musicians!

    Yung-chiao and I dig into all kinds of topics, like:

    • how playing Brahms makes her feel alive
    • the Tai-chi horse stance and how it applies to bass playing
    • overcoming some of her physical limitations
    • over-practicing and how to avoid it
    • her solo recordings
    • the value of creating a bass festival

    ...and much more!

    Be sure to subscribe to Contrabass Conversations to get these episodes delivered automatically to your mobile device!

    Links to check out:
    • D'Addario strings giveaway!
    • Yung-chiao's website
    • Yung-chio's YouTube channel
    • Yung-chiao's faculty page at LSU
    • Yung-chiao Wei Plays Brahms, Elgar, Yen and Tommasini (her latest CD)
    • Yung-chiao's first CD
    • Yung-chiao on Facebook
    • Tai Chi horse stance (YouTube)
    Links from news and listener feedback:
    • winningtheaudition.net (my new book!)
    • my appearance on TEM podcast
    • notablevalues.com (Susan Weger's site on musical entrepreneurship)
    • video featuring Normand Guilbeault from Montreal
    • Dan Pink and why you should write a failure resume (from Jerry Fuller)
    Celebrate the 10th anniversary of Contrabass Conversations!

    The 10th anniversary of Contrabass Conversations will happen on January 1, 2017! Call into our special voicemail line at (415) 952-5643 and leave a message telling me a thing or two about yourself like:

    • your name
    • where you live
    • how long you've played bass
    • where you play
    • when you discovered the podcast
    • your favorite episode(s)
    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    273: My New Book! Nov 10, 2016
    Show notes

    I'm thrilled to announce that my new book Winning the Audition will launch on Thursday, November 17th. This book expands on the content provided in the Winning the Audition podcast series.

    You'll learn:
    • Why thinking of your audition preparation as a scientific experiment unlocks your potential.
    • How charting your audition progress keeps you from making the same mistakes repeatedly.
    • How you can take your auditioning to the next level through changes in mindset.
    • Why auditioning is a skill that can be mastered.

    Visit winningtheaudition.net to pre-order your copy. You can also sign up for bonus content from the book like my Four Methods of Slow Practice worksheet!

    Here's what people are saying about Winning the Audition:

    "Professor Larry Hurst likes to say 'orchestras are the largest employers of musicians in the world,' As a result, auditions consume the lives of so many aspiring classical musicians. We have all obsessed over them to the point of auditions becoming mystical events with their own lore and urban legend. That somehow they are won with some kind of secret handshake, studying at the right school, playing like a machine, selling your soul to the devil, etc.

    Jason Heath's new book Winning The Audition goes a long way to demystifying this frequently misunderstood and intimidating process. His book is the most thorough and exhaustive book on orchestra auditions that I have come across for any instrument. Through his book and his podcast, Jason has created one of the most invaluable educational resources available for classical bassists."

    Owen Lee Principal Bass, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra Adjunct Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati CCM Principal Bass and Faculty, Chautauqua Institution

    "Jason has put together an essential resource for any musician wanting to gain the edge and to win their audition!"

    Geoff Chalmers Discover Double Bass Founder

    "Thank you Jason for putting this book together! Finally someone has compiled best practices in the realm of audition taking and Jason has gotten together some of the best minds in the music world. I'm sure anyone can gain insight into their own audition preparation from this book."

    Harish Kumar Oulu Sinfonia, Helsinki

    "I love how all these wonderful resources are in one easy to read tool. Thank you, Jason, for continuing to harness the uniqueness of the double bass community!"

    Dennis Bergevin music educator, Grand Rapids

    Learn more at winningtheaudition.net!

    More links to check out:

    • D'Addario string giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners
    • Road Warrior Without an Expense Account (my first book)
    • Winning the Audition podcast series
    • contrabassconversations.com/donate (new donation option)

    Be sure to subscribe to Contrabass Conversations to get these episodes delivered automatically to your mobile device!

    The 10th anniversary of Contrabass Conversations will happen on January 1, 2017! Call into our special voicemail line at (415) 952-5643 and leave a message telling me a thing or two about yourself like:

    • your name
    • where you live
    • how long you've played bass
    • where you play
    • when you discovered the podcast
    • your favorite episode(s)
    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    272: Reuben Rogers is a "Super-Sideman" Nov 07, 2016
    Show notes

    Reuben Rogers and I got connected through our mutual friend Allan Santos.

    I wasn't even sure where to begin with a player like Reuben.

    I mean, he has played with Charles Lloyd, Wynton Marsalis, Joshua Redman, Roy Hargrove, Marcus Roberts, Nicholas Payton, and a long list of jazz luminaries. He's played on some of the best jazz albums of the past 20 years.

    Where to even start?

    So I reached out to Allan, and he told me:

    "You've got to ask Reuben about the time he fell asleep on the bandstand during a set."

    That's how we kicked it off. It was the first of many stories like that. In fact, I was sore from laughing so hard after we finished talking!

    We dig into:

    • how to get work done at 3 am on the road
    • Reuben's first blizzard experience living in Boston and how it nearly drove him back to the Virgin Islands
    • how Reuben's high school music teacher Georgia Francis helped him repeatedly during his younger years
    • mistakes that derail the careers of many young musicians

    ...and much more!

    This was a super fun conversation. Reuben is an awesome guy, and you'll have a great time and learn a lot from this conversation!

    Links to check out:
    • Reuben's website (click the bass trunk for a surprise!)
    • The Things I Am (Reuben's solo album)

    Reuben even has a set of bass loops available from the Loop Loft! Here's a clip featuring these groovy tracks.

    Be sure to subscribe to Contrabass Conversations to get these episodes delivered automatically to your mobile device!

    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    270: Alexandre Ritter on method books, new works, and Brazilian double bass Nov 03, 2016
    Show notes

    Alexandre Ritter has become a champion of Armando Trovajoli's work Sconcerto.

    Once you hear this amazing piece, you'll understand why.

    Written for Franco Petracchi, this work has been largely unplayed until Alex got his hands on it.

    The process was complex, but Alex worked it out to record the entire piece and publish it on YouTube. This piece is destined to become one of the major concert works for orchestra. It's jazzy, colorful, mysterious, and magical.

    But that's not all Alex is doing these days.

    We dig deep into Bille, how Alex uses it in his teaching, and we get into the debate of using the 3rd finger in the lower positions like what's printed in Bille—Alex makes a compelling case for it.

    While we were talking, he actually grabbed the bass and played through several examples for me!

    Alex and I also talk about the experience of leaving Brazil to study in Georgia, how philosophy has influenced his thinking, job prospects in Brazil, and much more!

    Learn more about my coverage of music teaching at contrabassconversations.com/teaching.

    Links to check out:
    • Alex's website
    • TROVAJOLI - I TEMPO DI BLUES - ALEXANDRE RITTER 2016 (YouTube)
    • TROVAJOLI - II ALLEGRETTO - ALEXANDRE RITTER 2016 (YouTube)
    • TROVAJOLI - III PAVANE - ALEXANDRE RITTER 2016 (YouTube)
    • TROVAJOLI - IV SCHERZO - ALEXANDRE RITTER 2016 (YouTube)
    • Joel Quarrington's Method Book (here's a link to my Joel Quarrington interview)
    • Alex's dissertation about the Rota Divertimento (in the ISB's Online Journal of Bass Research)

    Be sure to subscribe to Contrabass Conversations to get these episodes delivered automatically to your mobile device!

    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    269: Dennis Bergevin on public school teaching, professional development, and advising Nov 02, 2016
    Show notes

    Dennis Bergevin and I have a lot in common.

    He's a bass player. Me too.

    He taught public school orchestra. So did I.

    His career has taken an unexpected turn.

    I totally identify with that.

    For Dennis, it was the interactions with the students that he found most valuable. Not that the music wasn't important, but helping young people to find their path in life was what really mattered to him.

    I agree 100%.

    By the way, Dennis is a rockin' bass player. Check out this video of him playing Bach.

    So Dennis has transitioned out of that orchestra director role and is now training to work in guidance at the college level. It's amazing the opportunities that exist at the university level outside of being a professor, and how critical the people in roles like what Dennis is doing are to shaping the direction of student's lives.

    I also like this photo of Dennis and Edgar Meyer!

    Learn more about my coverage of music teaching at contrabassconversations.com/teaching.

    Be sure to subscribe to Contrabass Conversations to get these episodes delivered automatically to your mobile device!

    Other episodes where we talk about teaching orchestra:
    • Peter Tambroni
    • Gabe Katz
    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    268: Cornelia Watkins on private lesson teaching and Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance Nov 01, 2016
    Show notes

    I first learned about Cornelia (Corky) Watkins through my friend Jeremy Little. Jeremy and I used to teach together in Illinois. He is a proponent of a style of music teaching called Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (CMP).

    Teaching music through this model is interesting. CMP teaches the complete musician. The intent is to provide music students with deeper understanding and more meaningful experiences with the music they play.

    I went to a workshop on CMP. It was cool. I learned a lot. Here's a YouTube video with my friend Jeremy that gives a brief CMP overview.

    But most of what we talked about revolved around teaching in a classroom. Could this be applied to a private lesson setting? How would that work?

    That's when Jeremy told me to get in touch with Corky.

    Corky is a pro at this. She served as the national chairperson of American String Teacher Association's Committee on Studio Instruction, and also served for six years as the Private Teacher Representative on the board of TexASTA.

    So I emailed her. We set up a time to talk. I read her book Rosindust. It was great!

    Here's the thing that I was interested in...

    Most of the young people that I teach don't want a career in music. That's a good thing! I want people to have amazing experiences with music while they're young and continue to have it be a meaningful part of their life when they're older.

    The point isn't to create a bunch of performance majors. The point is to bring the gift of music into these young people's lives.

    Are we doing these young people a disservice by focusing only on technique and the music on the stand? How do we teach beyond that without turning the private lesson into a music appreciation class?

    That's what Corky and I dig into!

    Learn more about my coverage of music teaching at contrabassconversations.com/teaching.

    Links to check out:
    • Corky's Rice University page
    • Comprehensive Musicianship through Performance (main page)
    • Rosindust: Teaching, Learning and Life from a Cellist's Perspective by Cornelia Watkins
    • From the Stage to the Studio: How Fine Musicians Become Great Teachers - co-authored by Cornelia
    • Shaping Sound Musicians by Patricia O' Toole - the foundational resource for CMP

    Be sure to subscribe to Contrabass Conversations to get these episodes delivered automatically to your mobile device!

    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    267: Johnny Hamil on student motivation and building bass events Oct 31, 2016
    Show notes

    Johnny Hamil has dedicated his life to teaching bass. Starting out as a music education student, Johnny met George Vance at an International Society of Bassists Convention, and his life has never been the same since.

    After years of prodding from George, Johnny started the Kansas City Bass Workshop. This event has grown into one of the most vibrant double bass events in the country.

    But Johnny's not worried that others are going to take students away from him by starting their own events.

    In fact, he's convinced that every city should have their own bass event. And after listening to this conversation, I'll bet you'll agree!

    Johnny's book Jamming On The Bass is an improvisational accompaniment to Vance's Progressive Repertoire series. Check it out! It'll add some great variety to your teaching.

    Here's a video describing Johnny's teaching philosophy. This will give you some background on why Johnny was inspired to write his book.

    Learn more about the materials Johnny uses and what hundreds of other leaders in the double bass field use at contrabassconversations.com/teaching.

    More links to check out:

    • Feature on Johnny and the KC Bass Camp from KCUR
    • Johnny Hamil Bass Studio (FB page)
    • Rabbath - Bass Ball (vinyl!)

    Be sure to subscribe to Contrabass Conversations to get these episodes delivered automatically to your mobile device!

    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    266: Garrett Hope on portfolio careers Oct 27, 2016
    Show notes

    I love episodes like this.

    Garrett Hope of The Portfolio Composer and I wanted to feature each other on our podcasts.

    But we couldn't figure out the best way to do it.

    So we chucked the script, flipped on the mic, and riffed for an hour on the subjects that interest us the most.

    We're both bass players. We're both podcasters. We're both building our careers around this crazy podcast model.

    Already, we have a lot in common.

    But that's only the beginning.

    We're both constantly thinking about what it really means to build a career in music.

    • How does that even work these days?
    • How do income streams for musicians work?
    • Where are things headed?
    • What can today's musician do?
    We dig into all this and much more!

    By the way, if you don't subscribe to Garrett's podcast, stop reading this right now and go subscribe. And get on his email list while you're at it. Garrett has figured a lot of things out on the career front, and he has tremendous value to offer all of us.

    I love listening to Garrett's podcast. It's one of the shows that I immediately click on when I see a new episode. You'll love it too.

    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    265: Szymon Marciniak on DVDs, travel, and freelance life Oct 25, 2016
    Show notes

    Szymon Marciniak played a killer recital in Prague for BASS2016. Here's a great photo from that standing-room-only event.

    The centerpiece of this recital was Frank Proto's compelling new Sonata No. 3. Frank wrote this piece expressly for Szymon, and it is--to say the least--epic in scope.

    Along with pianist Evan Mitchell, Szymon recorded a CD and DVD called New Music for Double Bass for Liben Music.

    This new release includes Proto's Sonata No. 3 along with the 2009 Sonata by Richard Dubugnon, Lu Shang's Fantasy Higgs Boson, and Chiel Meijering's The Ultimate Workout (Part 1).

    We talk about:

    • this feature-packed new release (check it out!)
    • Szymon's decision to leave his principal bass position with The Hague Philharmonic Orchestra and embark on a freelance career
    • strings, endpins, balance, sound, and much more!

    Check out this YouTube video with the complete first movement of the Proto Sonata No. 3. This will give you a feel for the incredibly musicianship and high production quality on this CD/DVD release.

    Links to Check Out:

    • Szymon's YouTube channel
    • Szymon plays Proto Sonata No. 3 mvt 1 (complete movement from DVD)
    • Omega - Hungarian rock band we talk about
    • New Music for Double Bass (CD/DVD)
    Thanks to our sponsor!

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    264: David Heyes on leaving a legacy Oct 24, 2016
    Show notes

    David Heyes needs no introduction.

    Since founding Recital Music over 20 years ago, David has brought the music of composers like Tony Osborne, Teppo Hauta-aho, and Simón García to countless bass players.

    David has also commissioned over 500 double bass compositions. Talk about an impact on the bass world!

    In recent years, David has become a prolific composer.

    In only three years, his compositions have been performed in eight different countries. He is constantly thinking of new ideas for pieces. In fact, he's even writing a piece for me!

    It was such a pleasure to meet David in person in Prague for BASS2016. Here's a favorite photo of us meeting in the airport--talk about a warm welcome to the Czech Republic!

    David is also a prolific writer. In addition to writing for publications like The Strad, David has created A History of the Double Bass in 100 Pieces and BASS NOTES. He is constantly finding new ways to synthesize double bass knowledge and provide value to the community.

    By the way, his recital in Prague was awesome. Here's a bit of it on YouTube. Check it out, and enjoy this interview with Davide Heyes!

    Links to check out:

    • BASS Notes
    • A History of the Bass in 100 Pieces
    • Recital Music
    • Wells Cathedral School
    • David's Prague recital (YouTube)
    • A Tribute to Teppo (GoFundMe)

    Listener Feedback Link:

    • Crafting a Music Career

    This episode is brought to you by D'Addario Strings! Check out their Zyex strings, which are synthetic core strings that produce an extremely warm, rich sound. Get the sound and feel of gut strings with more evenness, projection and stability than real gut.

    Enter the D'Addario strings giveaway for Contrabass Conversations listeners at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

    Previous 1 89 90 91 92 93 117 Next

    Related Podcasts

    Twenty Thousand Hertz

    1

    Twenty Thousand Hertz Arts
    NPR Music

    2

    NPR Music Music
    Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin

    3

    Here’s The Thing with Alec Baldwin Arts
    Drink Champs

    4

    Drink Champs Music
    Soundtracking with Edith Bowman

    5

    Soundtracking with Edith Bowman Music
    Red FM Bauaa

    6

    Red FM Bauaa Music
    footer-logo

    Contact Us

    Toll Free: 844-670-7747

    Links

    • Home
    • Top Charts
    • Networks
    • Apps
    • Independents Podcasts
    • Podcast Advertising
    • Podcast News
    • Contact Us
    • About Us
    • Analytics & Insights

    Stay Connected

      Privacy, Terms of Use & Our Code of Ethics Protecting Content Creators Copyrights