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Double Bass Looking for best way to teach first position

S

SmashbrothaX

Apr 26, 2008
17
0
#1
Hello fellow bassists:

I have a new student starting soon. She has never played the bass before, so we'll be starting from the beginning. I will have her start in the Vance Progressive Rep book as I think that's probably the best book for beginners (do you agree?)

In addition to going through the Vance book, I'd like to teach her first position as well so that she'll be ready to read music in orchestra when school starts up in the fall. Is the Vance book best for that, or is there something else I should use in addition?

Thank you in advance!

Kevin
 
#3
How old/advanced is she? I am a Simandl guy through and through but sometimes it can be a little intimidating for extreme beginners. I have found the Essential Techniques for Strings series to be pretty good or Invalid Link Removed. Both are based off of Simandl but are more in line with what they'll be covering in a school setting. It is marketed to schools so I bet it is based off of NEMC standards.

*I used to teach strings in school.
 
#4
"F. Simandl is pretty good, albeit pretty boring."

I don't think Simandl's New Method is a good book for young beginning players. I did run into a book called My First Simandl

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which might be more manageable if you did choose to go that route.

You might want to consider using the Suzuki books. I think their main advantage is the students get to play songs very early on. My impression is that these students want to feel a sense of accomplishment, and if they make it through a song that's only four lines long they still can feel like they accomplished something. This fact seems like a strongpoint of the Vance approach.
 
#5
Thank you all for your help. I feel I should mention that she is switching over from violin, which she's played for 3 years, so she is not completely new to music, just to the double bass. Also, fingers, to answer your question, she is going into the 8th grade. Does this help give you an idea of which of these books would be best?

Also, I think a picture of a fingerboard showing the notes and where they lie on the staff would be helpful. Has anyone ever heard of something like this?
 
#6
I would find out what method book the school uses and use that. I'm sure you couls email the strings teacher. I personally like the Samuel Applebaum books - lots of schools use them (I teach strings grades 5-12). Don't make it complicated. I never mention the words "First Position" until they're ready to go to another position.
 

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