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Double Bass How is a DB player to behave?

Sep 24, 2011
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For some players, males or females, when playing in a classical setting, it seems necessary to sway with the music, to nod their heads, to accentuate bowing...in other words, they seem to unwillingly "attract" the eye to their performance. Now, what do you think is considered "acceptable" in the context of both a smaller Baroque type orchestra and a full orchestral type? Does it depend on the conductor or is there some code of behaviour that needs to be followed, a bit like good table manners? Or anything (within reason) goes, after all it is about the music, first and foremost?

Thanks for reading!
 
It depends on a few things, but mostly on your own discretion. You should never try to play super stiff, but "too much" movement can be distracting to your colleagues. I've also noticed that my ensemble skills and sense of time get worse when I move more than I need to.

That said, I think you need to do what helps you play your best. If that means being physically invested in the performance, then that's great. Just be sure that your principal and stand partner are fine with it.
 
Having been lucky enough to see a lot of Europe's top orchestras over many years at things like the Proms at the Albert Hall - I can tell you that I have never seen bass sections swaying in time to the music - mostly they are concentrating on being able to : see the music, see the conductor and being able to turn the page at the right moment!

I think I have seen this kind of thing only once - for comic effect, when I saw Andre Rieu and his orchestra doing Viennese Waltzes - when I tuned in to Sky Arts on TV by mistake! :p
 
"Economy of movement" is something I often hear from teachers and professional players alike. With that in mind, take a full body video of yourself playing, even if it is on a phone camera, and ask yourself "what purpose does this movement serve?" A lot of the movements you will be making are necessary. Your bow needs to move back and forth for sound to happen, your fingers need to move up and down the neck, you likely need to adjust in some way to get to the end of the fingerboard etc. With all of that in mind, look at the movements you are making that are not necessary.

Do you lean forward when playing louder or speeding up? Back when playing softer or slowing down? Do you tap your foot or nod your head to keep tempo? Do the fingers of your left hand move more than a couple millimetres off the string when you aren't using them? When shifting in the lower positions, does your arm move, or your entire body? You should be able to get from half position to almost thumb position without significantly changing much. Mute the recording. Does anything look awkward, weird, out of place, excessive?

Most of the best players I have seen have this all figured out. They make it "look easy" by removing the extra movements that aren't necessary. Principal players will often move a little more than the rest of the section, but a LOT of information can be expressed with a small head nod, a slight lean forward or backwards, or a sideways glance.

You definitely want to be relaxed. Playing while tense leads to all sorts of injuries. I had a professor that said when your section is giving all they have and your conductor still wants more, "the best way to play louder is to look louder." Occasionally you will run into this, or find yourself in an ensemble where theatricality seems to be more important than the music. For the most part, less is more.

Find a balance, but chances are extra movement is doing you more harm than good.
 
Orchestral players should be pretty still most of the time. Once you've done a bunch of work with orchestra you become aware of every little distraction around you, and it can become annoying. I try to prepare about a bar before an entrance, and not to move before the principal or my stand partner.
 

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