Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

309: Ted Botsford on auditioning, teaching, and tone research

Today’s episode features Ted Botsford.  Ted is currently a bassist in the Seattle Symphony and just won a position in the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  Ted played in the Oregon Symphony prior to joining the Seattle Symphony.

Ted studied with George Vance while growing up in the Washington, D.C. area and continued his studies with Paul Ellison in college.

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308: Composed: A Performance Anxiety Documentary

I had the chance to sit down with John Beder and Katie DeRoche to chat about their new documentary Composed, which tackles the topic of performance anxiety.

John and Katie are on a tour screening the movie in various cities.  Check out their tour dates, and if it’s not playing near you then contact them to see if you can help arrange a screening!

Here’s the trailer for the film:

…and here’s the video from the first part of our conversation:

Check out this film, and visit their website to learn how you can help!

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Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Helicore strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos.  Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

306: Kevin Brown on auditioning, solo playing, and living a musical life

I had a wonderful time chatting with Detroit Symphony principal bassist Kevin Brown.  Kevin studied with Peter Lloyd, Paul Ellison, and David Allen Moore prior to his appointment with the Detroit Symphony and also won the 2009 International Society of Bassists Orchestral Competition.

We dig deep into a number of topics:

  • growing up in Minnesota and starting the bass at age 3
  • studying with Peter Lloyd, Paul Ellison, and David Allen Moore
  • listening to excerpts like Ein Heldenleben while doing stretches
  • living a musical life rather than just being a bass player
  • long-term audition preparation
  • making breakthroughs by only choosing to meet his own standards
  • becoming a musical scholar of sorts during audition preparation
  • advice that CSO principal bassist Alex Hanna gave to Kevin as he was getting ready to do a trial for principal bass of the Detroit Symphony
  • advice he’d have for his 23-year-old self

We also talk about playing incidental solos and how much it resembles playing an audition for Kevin, and we feature excerpts of Kevin playing Bach as well as an excerpt of the Vanhal Concerto with the Detroit Symphony.

Kevin’s a great person and was a lot of fun to chat with!

Links to check out:

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

Thanks to our sponsors!

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.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Helicore strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos.  Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.