Ludwig Streicher's "My Way of Playing the Double Bass"

Yes it's very difficult. Maybe Michael Klinghoffer's method is a better way to start with. Watch his youtube vids! Or try Bradetich.

 

Streicher played great...

 

I've also been using Streicher books from day one and I think that they are hard but worth the effort.
IMO They need an experienced teacher to 'guide' you through them, to tell you what to play and what to leave for a later time or you might get frustrated.

 

You're a talented guy if it's only a few.

 

Thanks for the link. He sure had a sense of humor.

 

are there any samples of Streichers's method? curious if there is something different in the books then other methods....

 

Just had a quick look through his 2nd book. His fingerings are the same as Simandl. So nothing new here. But there are some good exercises for the low positions in it. In holidays I like to go back to the beginning again for a few weeks just to revise my technique and intonation. The 2nd book seems to be a nice book for that purpose.

 

when i started playing (3 years ago) i started immediately with streicher 1.
In Slovenia Streicher is standard method the other one is Bille.
I think the first volume is easy and you can teach even a kid to play it trough (it doesn't have to be perfect).
It took me whole year to finish it. The second year I started with the second volume which gets more and more difficult with every page. I got till 2nd position.
This year I got new teacher who is more of Bille fan so we started Bille from 2nd position and I have to say I am glad I did it. I got till 4th-5th position and I really learned a lot.
I plan to start with Streicher again now that I am more comfortable with playing and fixed my intonation.

 

I think Streicher is very good method but vol 2. - 5. aren't for absolute beginners. The exercises are too advanced.
If you look at it in every position first you have exercises one one string in one position and exercises on every string in one position which are appropriate for a beginner. They are written in every possible enharmonic spelling and very difficult to read but not to play. So first only read them out loud (parlato) like 100 times.
Then you have exercises in all the learned positions. I think you should start with these after you have a very good feeling of the positions and can read very good.

Streicher is good not only because is so advanced and difficult. Every exercise from beginning has lot dynamics which most of method books don't have.
If you play solo or in orchestra you have troubles with dynamics, reading and difficult passages all the time. Streicher teaches you all of that.
So if you want to become a pro player Streicher is an excellent method to do.

 

I was wondering does anyone know where the orch. passages in the Vol 2. book are from.
I know for: pages 33- Figaro, 42- Beethoven 5th, Coriolanus, 47- Verdi Trovatore
48,49 Rigoletto