Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

1068: Mastering Double Bass and Digital Presence with Emilse Rios

In this episode, Emilse Rios recounts her journey from studying music at the José Luis Paz Music Conservatory in Venezuela to balancing her academic pursuits in sociology at La Universidad del Zulia.

Emilse talks about the challenges and cultural richness of moving to Buenos Aires, her experiences as one of the few female double bass players, and the influence of her sociology background on teaching music. Through Venezuela’s national orchestra system, El Sistema, she has managed to blend her dual interests seamlessly.

She also delves into her strategies for maintaining an online presence on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, especially during the pandemic, and discusses the importance of efficient time management to balance her professional life and content creation.

Emilse shares valuable insights on finances, sustaining creativity, the myth of perfectionism in classical music, and the importance of building a supportive community through newsletters and independent platforms.

Enjoy, and connect with Emilse on her website and on Instagram!

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Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah’s website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

1067: Jazz Bass 101 with Matt Rybicki

In this episode, the conversation explores the development and launch of Matt Rybicki‘s new online jazz bass course, JAZZ BASS 101, which aims to deepen participants’ understanding of fundamental jazz concepts through innovative teaching methods. Rybicki shares the inspiration behind the course, stemming from his 26 years in New York City and his experience in the Juilliard Jazz program. He discusses the inclusion of master bass player transcriptions, original compositions, call-and-response exercises, and play-along tracks featuring renowned musicians. The course promises a comprehensive and user-friendly experience for bassists of all levels, enabling them to master essential jazz tunes and structures.

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Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations.  Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah’s website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

Double Bassists: Register for the Grunewald International Music Competition, which will take place in the former Mendelssohn family palace in Berlin’s Grunewald from December 2nd to 7th. Klaus Trumpf and Miloslav Gadjoš are double bass jury members.

1066: Brian Powell on Stravinsky for the double bass

Today’s episode features Brian Powell, double bass faculty at the Frost School of Music, discussing his recently released album, ‘Suite Italienne Double Bass and Piano.‘ This album marks the first full arrangement and recording of Igor Stravinsky’s Suite Italienne for double bass and piano, approved by Stravinsky’s estate and published by Boosey & Hawkes. 

It features 8 movements, incorporating elements of Pulcinella, with contributions from artists Oleksii Ivanchenko, Karen Lord-Powell, and Ross Harbaugh. Recorded in 2023 at the University of Miami, the album aims to contribute to the double bass repertoire, highlighting Powell’s ongoing efforts to promote new music for the instrument.

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

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Thank you to our sponsors!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations.  Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah’s website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

Double Bassists: Register for the Grunewald International Music Competition, which will take place in the former Mendelssohn family palace in Berlin’s Grunewald from December 2nd to 7th. Klaus Trumpf and Miloslav Gadjoš are double bass jury members.

1065: From Choral Singing to Bass Fiddler – Nate Sabat’s Musical Journey

In this conversation, Nate Sabat, a bassist, singer-songwriter, and arranger based in Brooklyn, NY, discusses his musical journey from joining the Young People’s Chorus in New York City to exploring the role of bass in folk and bluegrass music.

Nate talks about his inspirations, including Edgar Meyer, and the influences that shaped his debut album, ‘Bass Fiddler‘. He shares insights into his education at Berklee, mentors like Scott Lee and Susan Hagen, and his approach to upright bass playing.

Nate also discusses his teaching endeavors aimed at bridging the gap between beginner and advanced bluegrass bass players, promoting a curriculum for acoustic music bassists. His unique contribution to the genre comes through his exploration of acoustic and folk music, blending classical techniques with folk traditions.

Enjoy, and be sure to check out Nate’s Patreon for additional content from this cool artist!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Connect with us:

Thank you to our sponsors!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations.  Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah’s website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

?Double Bassists: Register for the Grunewald International Music Competition, which will take place in the former Mendelssohn family palace in Berlin’s Grunewald from December 2nd to 7th. Klaus Trumpf and Miloslav Gadjoš are double bass jury members.

The competition also supports young up-and-coming artists with cash, non-cash prizes, and vouchers.

1064: Exploring Intonation – A Double Bass Journey with Lauren Pierce

In this episode, double bass performer and educator Lauren Pierce delves into the inspiration and development of her new book on intonation titled ‘Please Play in Tune.’

She shares her personal journey and challenges in tackling the daunting topic! We explore the concepts of ear, technique, and response as key elements in mastering intonation.

Lauren discusses the importance of making intonation a fun and rewarding process while addressing common misconceptions, such as the belief that intonation is an innate ability. Through detailed exercises, etudes, and repertoire examples, she provides a structured method for musicians to improve their playing technique. Her approach aims to demystify the process and make it accessible, even for individuals learning without a teacher.

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Connect with us:

Thank you to our sponsors!

Upton Bass – From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations.  Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah’s website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.