Useful videos/lessons

Now that we’re approaching the beginning of the MMEA All-State Season and the lull before MCYO/Youth Orchestra audition season, I thought it would a good idea to focus on some fundamental aspects of bass playing by providing a few of my favorite resources regarding the right hand.

• https://youtu.be/f1lC0rKcRxc - L.A. Philharmonic bassist David Allen Moore [French/German] - tone production video regarding both French and German bowing

• https://youtu.be/CvTigqfUR_E - L.A. Philharmonic bassist David Allen Moore [German] - bow direction changes on bass and how they differ from other string instruments (hint: bow direction changes SLOWLY)

• https://youtu.be/GCuBPtdyPvc - Philadelphia Orchestra Assistant Principal bassist Joe Conyers [French] - “scooping” the sound out of the strings

• https://youtu.be/myjdSqqhxpU - National Symphony Orchestra Principal Bassist Robert Oppelt [German] - for advanced players - German bow spiccato masterclass. In this video, Bob Oppelt doesn’t quite go over mechanics as much as he exemplifies the spiccato strokes necessary for various standard orchestral bass excerpts.

Happy practicing!