Contrabass Conversations

Latest Episodes:

234: Justin Locke returns! Jul 28, 2016

Show notes

Today's episode is a "round two" with Justin Locke. After playing double bass for many years with the Boston Pops, Justin is now a management coach, speaker, author, and playwright.

We talk about many concepts, including the Toyota Lean Manufacturing system and how it relates to the Simandl technique, crazy stories from the Boston Pops, arts education, lessons from the music world that can be applied to the corporate world, workflow and timing, the "Mozart in the Jungle" effect that Justin has experienced, and his latest book that explores the physics of emotional energy.

Check out the original interview from nearly a decade ago here.

Books mentioned:

Winning the Audition 2: Practicing Techniques for Peak Auditions Jul 25, 2016

Show notes

Welcome to Winning the Audition - a special series from Contrabass Conversations featuring advice from leaders in the field about preparing and executing auditions successfully. This series is drawn from interviews conducted with dozens of bassists from orchestras like the Boston Symphony, Cleveland Orchestra, National Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Chicago Symphony, and Houston Symphony, plus some of the most influential pedagogues in the field.

This episode is sponsored by Discover Double Bass, and they have a course on bowing technique with Lauren Pierce that I highly recommend checking out. This course is divided into 37 HD lessons, and Lauren gives a short video overview of the three categories that these videos cover: the basics, bow control, and real world techniques. There's also a free preview lesson on phrasing with the bow. Check out over 70 free lessons and much more at discoverdoublebass.com!

About Winning the Audition

This series provides actionable advice that you can use to take your auditioning to the next level, and while we're speaking with bassists for these episodes, the advice can certainly be applied to other instruments and disciplines as well.

This series is divided into four episodes: Preparing for Audition Success, Practicing Techniques for Peak Auditions, Preparation Routines That Work, and Sealing the Deal. Special thanks goes to John Grillo, who was my co-host for many of these interviews.

Today's episode includes advice from dozens of major figures in the bass world, including Lawrence Hurst, Michael Hovnanian, Ranaan Meyer, Ian Hallas, Brandon Mclean, Robin Kesselman, Ira Gold, Max Dimoff, Jack Budrow, Andrew Anderson, Rob Kassinger, Peter Tambroni, Greg Sarchet, Andrew Raciti, Marc Ramírez, Gaelen McCormick, Joseph Conyers, Colin Corner, Ju-Fang Liu, Jeffrey Turner, Owen Lee, Brad Opland, Alex Hanna, and Ed Barker.

232: Jory Herman on community engagement, balance, and resonant churches Jul 21, 2016

Show notes

Today's episode features Jory Herman, who is a member of the San Diego Symphony bass section and has just released his second solo album titled Life. In addition to playing in the San Diego Symphony, Jory is actively involved in community engagement in the San Diego area. He has recently become Director of Community Engagement with Art of Elan and is an active teacher and clinician.

We talk about his early years in music, studying bass with Paul Ellison at Rice University, and his time playing in the New World Symphony, where he got bitten by the community engagement bug. We also discuss the recording of both his previous album of Bach Cello Suites and his most recent album, as well as what it's like to continue to develop as a player and a person after landing an orchestra job. Enjoy!

Links:

Interview Highlights

Early years
- piano first instrument, started cello in 5th grade and switched to bass a few months later
- First bass teachers were Becky Merritt and Dennis Whittaker, then Andy Moritz and Paul Ellison
- studied with Paul Ellison at Rice - 5 year honors program - BM and MM
- the student experience at Rice
Early professional experiences
- New World Symphony
  - getting the "community engagement bug" while in this program
- Spent a year playing in the National Symphony before joining San Diego Symphony in 2010
Continuing to set goals and develop as a musician "after the audition"

lessons learned from Paul Ellison
- 1) Things you know
- 2) Things you know you don't know
- 3) Things you don't know you don't know.
finding inspiration in the dynamically changing double bass community
continuing to develop as a person
feeding your soul as well as the technical aspects of your playing
Jory's educational and community engagement work

- Art of Elan - Jory has just been named the Director of Community Engagement
- San Diego Youth Symphony
- Jory's Book of Warm-Ups
- learning to to present what you do - lessons from the world of science
Bach album and Life album

- recording venues
- Brahms arrangement
Work-Life Balance

Listener Feedback links:

bass for sale from Eric Windmeier

Winning the Audition: Preparing for Audition Success Jul 18, 2016

Show notes

Our sponsor for this episode is Discover Double Bass. This site is run by Geoff Chalmers and provides lessons and step-by-step courses on a variety of double bass areas of study. They've got free articles, string reviews and a show called Ask Geoff and Lauren where they answer questions from the double bass community. Geoff does great work and has built this into a tremendous resource for bassists everywhere. Check out over 70 free lessons and much more at discoverdoublebass.com!

About Winning the Audition

Links from the episode:

230: Taking the Podcast to the Next Level Jul 14, 2016

Show notes

Jason reveals his "top secret" plans for the podcast!

229: BASS2016 Prague European Biennial Double Bass Congress Preview Jul 11, 2016

Show notes

Today's episode features a conversation with Ursula Dieterich-Pedersen, who is organizing the 5th European Biennial Double Bass Congress, which will be taking place in Prague this September 20-25. Ursula and I got a chance to talk recently about some of the details for the event. You can find all the details for this event at bass2016.eu.

228: David White on Broadway, New York City, and Networking Jul 07, 2016

Show notes

Today's episode features David White, who works as an upright and electric bassist in the world of musical theatre. David is based in New York City and is currently on tour with the Bridges of Madison County. We talk about his time at the Berklee College of Music and working as a bassist for Royal Caribbean, moving to New York City and getting involved with the theatre scene, a week in the life of a theatre musician, developing networking skills, and much more. Enjoy!

Links:

Interview Highlights

Early Years

mom choir teacher, dad lighting designer
started playing drums, then started bass in 6th grade
attended Berklee College of Music for two years

Working for Royal Caribbean's Brilliance of The Seas for 9 months

weekly schedule varies depending on the length of the cruise
production shows made by Royal Caribbean that are played for every cruise
- three of these productions for David's ship
  - tango show
  - rock song medley
  - Broadway medley
fly-ons or guest artists
- people that would come in and just do their one show for that cruise
big band set / jazz set depending on the show
generally no days off

Getting into the theatre scene in New York

David moved to New York with the intention of getting into the theatre scene
joined the union (802), got the union book and started contacting bassists
networking principles
how subbing for a show works

The Zen mindset of playing the same music every night

Typical weekly schedules for a show

Mondays typically travel day
Tuesday is opening night for the show
- morning is free
- load-in during the afternoon - unpack instrument, get it plugged in, cords taped down, etc.
- soundcheck at 5 or 5:30 - cast is also getting a walkthrough in the theater (weird entrances for that particular theater, etc.)
- you get an hour before the show to eat and change
Wednesday, Thursday, Friday have evening shows (mornings and afternoons are off)
doubles on Saturday and Sunday
close the show Sunday, pack up gear and head back to hotel

Gear: what David uses for shows

upright
electric
amp
accessories

Developing networking skills

227: Lloyd Goldstein on Yoga, Habits and Entrainment Jul 04, 2016

Show notes

Today's episode features Lloyd Goldstein, who has transitioned from playing in the Florida Orchestra to his current role working as a certified music practitioner at the Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa. It's so exciting to speak with someone who has continued to evolve so dramatically in his craft and career throughout his life. Lloyd's path is unconventional and inspirational.

We get into all sorts details about Lloyd's life like his "burning bush" moment that propelled him into a career on the bass, his circuitous path to the Florida Orchestra, discovering François Rabbath, the multiple benefits he has experienced from his practice of yoga, and how he came to find himself in his current role as a certified music practitioner.

Links:

Interview Highlights

Early Years

bass first musical instrument
no bass lessons outside of 1/2 hour weekly public school lessons
graduated high school early, started college at 16
decided at 20 that he wanted to study bass
had a "burning bush" moment propelling him to the bass during a table saw injury
began to study bass through several Florida schools, eventually began to study with Lucas Drew
practicing 5+ hours a day
got a job in the Florida Gulf Coast Orchestra, eventually became the Florida Orchestra
stayed there for 21 years

Discovering François Rabbath

10 years into his time at the Florida Orchestra, Lloyd felt like he had hit a wall in his bass playing
went to George Vance workshop in Washington D.C. area where Rabbath was teaching
that was "the" moment for him
started making yearly trips to Paris to study with François
would practice all day and walk around Paris at night
learning the "first bow stroke" - the son premier on which all other bow strokes are based
the forearm is the conductor and the wrist and fingers are relatively passive
François says that we never unlearn anything - you don't get rid of bad habits - you add new skills

The Power of Practicing Yoga - 700 pieces of writing emanated from Lloyd's first two years of practicing yoga and 400 drawings - eventually compiled into Lloyd's book Inside Yoga

Finding balance between organized practice goals and "obsessing" on something

Working in a hospital environment

Lloyd had started to compose simple melodies from which pieces emerged
through yoga practice, kept getting this inner self message to do volunteer work
began to volunteer at Moffitt Cancer Center
learned about certified music practitioners through contact at Moffitt
became certified and began to work in the Moffitt Arts In Medicine program
took a year's leave from the Florida Orchestra to try out this new career and loved it
got hired as an artist-in-residence at Moffitt 8 years ago
performing versus giving a gift of music
details about the experience of performing in this setting
the idea of entrainment and meeting patients where they are
entrainment has two aspects to it:
- physical
- psychological/emotional

226: ISB 2017 Convention Preview Jun 28, 2016

Show notes

This is a special episode featuring International Society of Bassists 2017 Convention Chair and Artistic Director Nicholas Walker discussing plans for the upcoming convention. This 50th anniversary convention looks like it will be outstanding, with several new developments unique to this event. Enjoy!

International Society of Bassists 2017 Convention June 5-10 at Ithaca College, New York

Other ISB-related interviews you may enjoy include:

Douglas Mapp - current president of the ISB
Madeleine Crouch - general manager of the ISB

Tentative Convention Details

Headliners
- Confirmed:
  - Sébastien Dubé
  - Etienne LaFrance
  - Christian McBride
  - Gary Karr (keynote speech)
- Tentative:
  - Edgar Meyer
  - Renaud Garcia-Fons
2015 Competition Winner Recitals
- Mike Forfia
- Sam Suggs
2017 Competitions will take place Sunday and Monday (6/4 and 6/5)
- Competition Chair - Sandor Ostlund
Opening Night Celebration on June 5
June 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 - convention days
Young Bassists Program organized by Gaelen McCormick
Adult Learner Double Bass Program organized by Elizabeth Steves
Tentative plans with Chicago Symphony principal bass Alex Hanna for a daily hourlong "orchestra repertoire throwdown"
Joel Quarrington - Friday night recital
a time each day where we all work out on the bass together - led by David Allen Moore
dozens of presenters
- call for presentations will go out soon
philosophical approach to the 50th anniversary convention
- great talk with Gary Karr about the ISB 50 years ago compared to today
- what connects us is that we all love and play the bass
- coming into contact with the instrument is one of the themes Nicholas would like to dwell on for this convention
- make sure that there's something at the convention for everyone
- opportunity to geek out on very specific topics
- get the luminaries of our bass world there - we covered this topic in our Douglas Mapp interview
- probably have a session where people can sit down and talk with Gary Karr about his life and career
the halls are fantastic - great acoustics for bass
Grammy-winning sound recording technology specialist Brian Dozoretz will be recording events at the convention
- Brian has recorded numerous luminaries in the bass world
the convention will take place mostly in one building - vendors, sessions, etc.
spaces for impromptu jams
after hours event on campus at the pub
Ithaca is within driving distance of most of the major Northeast population centers: New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Cleveland, etc.
bass rental/borrowing for those traveling from far away—like Zipcar for basses

225: Nicholas Walker on musical influences, performing, and Domaine Forget Jun 27, 2016

Show notes

Today's episode features Ithaca College professor and International Society of Bassists president Nicholas Walker. In addition to teaching at Ithaca College, Nicholas performs between 170 and 180 concerts a years in a wide variety of musical genres, he is a prolific composer, and he has taught for many years along with Paul Ellison and François Rabbath at Domaine Forget in Quebec. Nicholas will be hosting the 2017 ISB Convention at Ithaca College next June 5-10.

We talk about his early musical influences, his experiences working with Paul Ellison and François Rabbath, balancing performing with other activities, and the Ithaca double bass experience. We also go into great detail about a day in the life of a student at Domain Forget, which is a topic that we talked about with David Allen Moore back on episode 162 of the podcast.

We also feature several musical excerpts from Nicholas, starting with excerpt of a tune with singer songwriter Tenzin Chopak called "Just Don't Go." We'll also play a few excerpts of some of Nicholas' solo bass compositions, and you can find complete recordings on his YouTube channel. Enjoy!

Musical Excerpts:

"Just Don't Go" with singer songwriter Tenzin Chopak
Chorale - solo bass
Watermark - with cellist Elizabeth Simkin

Interview Highlights

Background and Early Years

started on piano, picked up bass in 4th grade, playing jazz early on and music with friends in addition to the public school
started taking lessons with Duane Rosengard, who was a student at Eastman at the time
played in the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
studying with Mark Foley
with many of the people surrounding Nicholas, there wasn't a big distinction between jazz and classical playing - it was all part of musical life for him

Working with Paul Ellison

moving to Houston and meeting Paul Ellison
Paul's teaching style
the Domaine Forget double bass experience
Buddhist philosophy - any student who shows up has earned the right to learn
Paul's comfort moving from student to teacher role

Working with François Rabbath

the right time to hear something from a teacher
how, exactly, can he help each particular person
his first experience meeting François

A Day in the Life at Domaine Forget

put the bass players in a barn and let them work
get up early
8:30 am - all meet together - 25 students plus the two teachers
bodywork and 90 minute workout together
- Stretching
- Yoga
- Feldenkrais Method
- Alexander Technique
- Pilates
bass workout together - all done by ear and by rote - no music stands - working together in a big circle
- shifting exercises
- bowing exercises
- specific left hand techniques
- hand frames
- drop thumb
- expansion
- pivoting
- hammer on / pull off
- fingering patterns
- etudes
at the end of the two weeks, they have a 90 minute routine that they do together without stopping - one exercise after another
all this material comes from meeting with all the students the first night and asking them their goals for the camp
10 am - break followed by two hours of lessons
lunch
1:30 pm - back in the barn for another 90 minute class with the senior faculty member
- Paul does a lot of stroke work and body awareness
- opportunity to introduce concepts like balance, arm weight, anything that came up in prior master classes
- everything from the simplest open string playing to more complex bow bouncing, forward/reverse curve
3:00 pm - master class
evening - concerts with notable visiting artists, bass recital, public master classes

The Double Bass Program at Ithaca

largely modeled on the way Domaine Forget operates
one of the nation's oldest conservatories - Sevcik and Rachmaninoff were both on faculty
group classes for technique, orchestra rep, studio class in addition to lessons
alternative lesson approaches in addition to traditional one-on-one lessons

Performing, Teaching, and Composing

finding balance (or not finding balance)
being at peace with the choices you make
170-180 concerts a year
the concerts and individual practice are where the "important stuff" happens

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