How do you get a student excited to play the bass?

What does it mean to go slow now so that you can go twice as fast later?

Why is learning like a spiral?

We answer these questions and much more on this episode featuring Caroline Emery.

Caroline is a Professor at the Royal College of Music and Yehudi Menuhin School. She’s the author of Bass is Best!, which I’ve had in my library for decades. And she just came out with a new book called Bow Works.

Here’s the flow for the episode:

• Part 1 – Bass is Best and Bow Works
• Part 2 – go slow now to go twice as fast later
• Part 3 – how to hook students from the beginning

Links to check out:

• Bass Is Best! by Caroline Emery
• Bow Works by Caroline Emery
• Bass Club
• Will Duerden and Ketan Curtis performing for 30th Anniversary Bass Club Concert
• International Society of Bassists: A Historical Look
• Mind Mapping Tutorial

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

The Upton Bass String Instrument Company.  Upton’s Concord model is the first truly authentic New England double bass that they’ve made. Beautiful sloping shoulders (the same upper bouts as their Gary Karr Upton Double Bass), Busetto corners, Prescott ff-holes, flat maple back and sides (many grades available) with deep ribs (lined outside) and a deluxe spruce top combined with a finely detailed scroll, button and hand-cut tuners that pay homage to Prescott while keeping with their own highly-revered and uniquely New England tradition of instrument building.

A440 Violin Shop – An institution in the Roscoe Village neighborhood for over 20 years, A440’s commitment to fairness and value means that we have many satisfied customers from the local, national, and international string playing communities. Our clients include major symphony orchestras, professional orchestra and chamber music players, aspiring students, amateur adult players, all kinds of fiddlers, jazz and commercial musicians, university music departments, and public schools.

Bass Violin Shop –  Offers the Southeast’s largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome!