Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

686: Dennis Whittaker on Incredibly Useful Exercises

Houston Grand Opera principal bassist and University of Houston bass faculty Dennis Whittaker recently launched a YouTube Channel called Incredibly Useful Exercises.

Dennis has 45 of his favorite exercises that he is putting on YouTube and also into a series of 16 volumes plus an appendix.  He rates each exercise on a scale of 1-5 for the following attributes:

  • Control
  • Mindfulness
  • Expression
  • Power
  • Velocity
  • Coordination
  • Endurance

We dig into his inspiration for the project, efficiency and mindfulness in practicing, and much more.  Enjoy!

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379: Dennis Whittaker on opera life, endurance, and career paths

Dennis Whittaker has had a fascinating journey through the music world.

After his studies in music education at Baylor University and a masters degree with Jeff Bradetich at Northwestern University, Dennis found himself teaching middle and high school orchestra in Texas.

After seven years of teaching in the Waco and Houston public schools, a series of events occurred that propelled him into the professional performing world:

  1. he landed the principal bass position for the Houston Grand Opera
  2. he was hired to teach bass at the University of Houston
  3. he began subbing regularly in the Houston Symphony

We dig into the events surrounding this transition and much more!

Check out the opera excerpts that Dennis talks about here!

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