How do we learn a piece?

That’s a question thatI recently put out to the Contrabass Conversations community.  The responses I got back were fascinating.

While we all have a different approach to learning a piece (as you’ll see in this episode!), there are certain recurring approaches that I discovered:

1. Listening to recordings
2. Watching videos on YouTube.
3. Beginning with a “bird’s eye” perspective
4. Playing along with recordings.
5. Working in chunks.
6. Connecting small chunks to form bigger chunks.
7. Slow practice.
8. Identifying key notes in phrases.

This podcast episode consists of advice from Ed Maxwell, Cristóbal Caballero, Dennis Bergevin, Gaelen McCormick, David Feldman, Marcel Villaflor, David Goodwin, David Heyes, James Lambert, Kurt Muroki, Paul Cannon, Paul Sanwald, Martin Zuinglio, Peggy Johnston, Nathan May, Sharif Ibrahim, Danielle Meyer, Joshua Henry Endo, Chantal Incandela, Peter Tambroni, and Ayrian Yasar.

We also feature excerpts from past interviews with Paul Cannon, Peter Tambroni, Leon Bosch, and Diana Gannett.

Book recommendations:

• The Art of Practicing by Madeline Bruser
• The Inner Game of Music by Barry Green
• The Musician’s Way by Gerald Glickstein

Contrabass Conversations is sponsored by:

D’Addario Strings

This episode is brought to you by D’Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D’Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets.

Robertson & Sons Violins

For more than four decades, Robertson & Sons has specialized in providing the highest quality stringed instruments and bows to collectors, professional musicians, music educators, and students of all ages. Their modern facility is equipped with three instrument showrooms as well as a beautiful Recital Hall available to our clients to in their search for the perfect instrument and/or bow.

Upton Bass String Instrument Company

Upton’s Karr Model Upton Double Bass represents an evolution of our popular first Karr model, refined and enhanced with further input from Gary Karr. Since its introduction, the Karr Model with its combination of comfort and tone has gained a loyal following with jazz and roots players. The slim, long “Karr neck” has even become a favorite of crossover electric players.

Contrabass Conversations production team:

• Jason Heath, host
• Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing
• Mitch Moehring, audio engineer
• Trevor Jones, publication and promotion