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Double Bass Does any one know how to write out a practice journal

B

bass4art

Oct 2, 2010
126
5
#1
I have found a great bass teacher, that is going through correcting my bass technique both legit-classical and jazz playing.

But I would like to know does any one have a set plan for creating a practice journal especially using the Simandle Book 1+2 and 30 etudes.

Something, like what I see seen for the Trumpet Arban by a few brass instructors but for the Simandles with upright bass so I can focus on certain aspects of techniquell playing.

Kirk Mason
 
#2
With academic credentials like yours you should be writing one for us!

What do you hope to get from such a journal? Is it a record of what you have done to review later ( a practice diary)? Or is it a plan for how to make the most of your practice of the books mentioned (a companion, explaining what to expect from each page, section or exercise)? Or is it a series of aims and ambitions for the end results of your study? Perhaps all three?

I don't know the Arban mentioned.

The closest I have come to a journal as player is to buy a cheap exercise book in which I record what I have practiced and how far I have got. My practice regime starts with a warm-up routine that encompasses each hand individually, followed by putting them together carefully for timing and coordination, followed by scales and arpeggios. I especially play the scales of etudes and pieces that I am about to work on. I try to be warmed up, both mentally and physically, so that I am ready make progress when I practice.

I will briefly write down the scales worked on, any flashes of inspiration or things I should have remembered during practice, which pieces I had worked on and how far I had got. Occasionally I will take a few pages to do some reviewing and forward planning. There is no grand scheme, for I have noticed that all my most grandiose written mission statements keep being repeated almost word-for-word every New Year.

Another thing I will do is make small margin notes in my Tutors and Etude books, but not in my pieces, as personal reminders.

My students all come with a small exercise book to record what each lesson covers, suggestions for improvements and what they should practice for next time. They also bring a plastic folder with sleeves to receive photocopies of supplementary lesson material. This also reminds me of what happened in the last lesson!!

Regards,

DP
 
#4
well, I could do that,
but why should I reinvent the wheel if someone else already have done the work. When I studied Trumpet years ago out of the arban, I had a jounrel for it that my private trumpet teacher let me use and copy, I used and came a long way on my skills and technique.

I could do it though, but if anyone had it already done let me know, and if not if you want to help create it lets do it together, so not only we can help the student of bass use it with a teacher, or it can be companion for those who are self study, we can also add freddrick Zimmerman Bowing Technique within this studies as well.
 
#5
Personally, I've known ALOT of trumpet players and it really does seem like they all came up with (and still utilize) that Arban book, so it makes sense to me that someone came up with a journal relating to it.

For bass, there are at least a few credible methods, some new, some old, and none I've seen seem anywhere close to "definitive", like that Arban book. If you're gonna work out of those books, I'd create your own journal while not neglecting important things beyond the scope of the method and etudes, such as: solo repertoire, more modern technical exercises with updated, alternate fingerings/bowings, orchestral excerpts, ear training, and everything that comes along with studying jazz, plus whatever you feel deficient in.

Hopefully your teacher will guide you in the right direction!
 
#7
Until I get to check out the Arban Tutor with one of my brass colleagues I am not sure what you mean by Journal.

Kirk, I am getting the feeling that you would like to have a Companion book to accompany,say, the Simandl Tutor Book 1 that would infill the music with all the missing technical advice (the reasons you normally have a teacher) instead of the "pick up zee bass, pick up zee bow and play" simplistic approach, especially for the first 68 pages or so!!

How about a "Students' Companion to the Simandl Double Bass Tutor, Book One". Is this what you might have in mind?

DP
 

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