Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

990: Nicole Melrose on double bass strings

Nicole Melrose is an orchestral string clinician for D’Addario and the founder of StringRise, which we covered with Nicole in a 2021 interview.

Today, we dig into the world of double bass strings, how they are made, what makes double bass strings unique, and the various strings offered by D’Addario.

D’Addario is a past sponsor of the podcast, and if you join their Players Circle with the code DCLINIC2023, you can get 50% off of up to five D’Addario products with free shipping.

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Connect with us:

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle.

Check out my Beginner’s Classical Bass course and Intermediate to Advanced Classical Bass course, available exclusively from Discover Double Bass.

989: Alexander Verster on composition and London freelance life

Alexander Verster is a composer and double bassist located in London.  He was born in South Africa, but soon ended up in New Zealand prior to his move to London.

We talk about his deep dive into the double bass, how composing fits into his life, and much more.  Enjoy and be sure to check out Alexander’s scores and recordings, and also give his YouTube Channel a follow!

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

Connect with us:

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle.

Check out my Beginner’s Classical Bass course and Intermediate to Advanced Classical Bass course, available exclusively from Discover Double Bass.

988: Kaelan Decman on his audition path and process

Kaelan Decman joined the Los Angeles Philharmonic as Associate Principal Bass in the spring of 2022.  Before his appointment, he was a member of the San Diego Symphony Orchestra bass section.  He graduated from the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music.

We talk about his audition journey and much more in this wide-ranging conversation.  Enjoy!

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

Connect with us:

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle.

Check out my Beginner’s Classical Bass course and Intermediate to Advanced Classical Bass course, available exclusively from Discover Double Bass.

987: Jonathan Colbert on career possibilities

Jonathan Colbert recently joined the faculty of the University of Memphis, bringing a wealth of experience gathered from playing with ensembles like  Atlanta Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Philadelphia Orchestra.  He spent six years serving as co-principal bass of the Royal Danish Orchestra, and he is in high demand as a performer and private teacher.

We talk about his path through the music world, the highlights and challenges of a career as an orchestral player, his approach to building a varied career, and much more.

Enjoy, and be sure to check out Jonathan’s University of Memphis faculty page and also this cool article on his appointment to this position!

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

Connect with us:

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle.

Check out my Beginner’s Classical Bass course and Intermediate to Advanced Classical Bass course, available exclusively from Discover Double Bass.

986: Lauren Pierce on how to learn a piece

Lauren Pierce is a double bassist and educator who has put together a cool guide titled 6 Steps to Learning A New Piece.  In this episode, we dive into each of these steps and why it’s important in the preparatory process of learning a new piece.  We also catch up on a variety of topics in this fun conversation with a longtime friend and colleague.

Pick up a copy of the guide here, and be sure to give Lauren a follow on Instagram and YouTube.  You can also check out prior podcasts with Lauren here.

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

Connect with us:

Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle.

Check out my Beginner’s Classical Bass course and Intermediate to Advanced Classical Bass course, available exclusively from Discover Double Bass.