Contrabass Conversations

Contrabass Conversations

double bass podcast

726: Jason Haahiem on how to actually improve

Jason Haaheim’s path to his current position as principal timpanist of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra is unconventional and inspiring.  He didn’t go to music school, instead working for 10 years as an engineer and researcher for a Chicago-based nanotechnology startup.

Through the principles of deliberate practice, Jason set out on a long journey of continual improvement in his playing, ultimately winning an audition for his current position.

We dig into a ton of topics, like our shared time spent freelancing in Chicago, discovering deliberate practice, the groundbreaking work of Anders Ericsson and his impact on Jason, realities of life in the MET Orchestra, the two fascinating podcasts he did on The Bulletproof Musician, and much more.

Enjoy, and be sure to check out Jason’s website for more great content on deliberate practice and information about his next upcoming Deliberate Practice Bootcamp Online!

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725: Richard Myron on early music

Brooklyn native Richard Myron has spent his professional life in Europe working in the early music world.  Currently residing in Paris, Richard is professor of contrabass and chamber music in the early music department of the CRR de Paris and the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Music de Paris.  

He is also a founding member of the Freiburger Barockorchester and Consort, the Atlantis Ensemble, Il Seminario Musicale, les Basses Réunies and a member of the Ensemble Mosaïques, and he has performed internationally with a great number of other ensembles.

We dig into many topics, including growing up in New York City, memories of his time at Juilliard studying with Homer Mensch, how he found himself being drawn to Europe, discovering early music, parallels between jazz and early music, how the scene for this music has developed over the decades, and much more.

I hope you enjoy this spirited conversation, and I can’t wait to have Richard on the podcast again for a round two!

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724: Jonathan Haskell reflects on new directions

I had a wonderful conversation with Jonathan Haskell a few years ago, and a lot has changed in his life since then.

He recently retired from L’Orchestre De La Suisse Romande in Switzerland, and he has been diving deep into the world of contemporary music.  He also wrote a thoughtful article for the Chicago Tribune about the conflicting emotions surrounding retiring after 40 years on the job.

We talk about a wide range of topics, including diving into contemporary music, how he approaches learning a piece, the bass’ role in contemporary ensembles, how he has been handling the pandemic, and much more.

I hope you enjoy this wide-ranging conversations from one of the most interesting musicians I know!

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723: T. Alan Stewart on his musical journey

T. Alan Stewart wears many musical hats in the Baltimore/Washington DC area.  

In addition to serving as principal bass with the Williamsburg Symphony and Roanoke Symphony, Alan has performed with the Baltimore Opera, National Symphony, Baltimore Symphony, Spoleto Festival, Alexander Schnieder String Orchestra; and many other ensembles in the area.

We cover a lot of ground in this conversation, digging into topics like Alan’s path through the music world, his time in the New World Symphony and subsequently working with Mstislav Rostropovich and the National Symphony, audition preparation, The Artist’s Way, diversity and inclusion in classical music, freelance life, and much more.

I hope you enjoy Alan’s thoughtful insights and perspectives, and I can’t wait to spend some more time with him in the future!

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722: Andrea Beyer on auditions and teaching

Andrea Beyer is a bassist, teacher, and advocate for social growth.  Having recently finished up three years with the New World Symphony, Andrea has relocated to Austin, Texas.  

She recently started blogging for AuditionCafe.com, where she has been focusing on how all kinds of musicians are handling the pandemic and lockdown.  Andrea also recently asked me to write a piece for the blog, which was a pleasure for me to do.

We talk about her background, the teaching and performing that she has done in Mexico, El Salvador, Uruguay, Bolivia, and other countries, the work that she does for the MusAid Organization, how she has been handling the pandemic, and much more.

Enjoy, and be sure to follow Andrea and her great work on AuditionCafe.com and Instagram!

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Contrabass Conversations production team:

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