Double Bass middle school band music with DB?

[stefaniw80401]

One of my 8th grade bass students is transferring to a school that does not have an orchestra program. He has been playing bass for three years, and studying with me for just one year. He's no vituoso, but is pretty good and shows some promise -- his ear (and voice) is really good, his sight reading is surprisingly good, his sense of rhythm is uncommon for his age. We're through the first Vance method book. He draws a huge sound from his 1/2 size bass.

I would like to keep him playing the bass, but his parents cannot afford a private youth orchestra at this time. So I'm looking for 8th grade level wind ensemble music with string bass. I know it's out there at the college level.

Any pointers are greatly appreciated.

 

[Tom Gale]

I would like to keep him playing the bass, but his parents cannot afford a private youth orchestra at this time. So I'm looking for 8th grade level wind ensemble music with string bass. I know it's out there at the college level.

Any pointers are greatly appreciated.

Take your band scores, look over the bass lines and start writing!!! Been there - done that!
Tom Gale
ASODB.com

 

[Bassist4Life]

I know there are many arrangements with a "string bass" part. I direct middle school orchestra and the band director will sometimes borrow a bass player to join them. I would think it's the job of the band director to find suitable music for all of his/her musicians. If there isn't a string bass part, one can be adapted from a tuba part or even a bass clarinet part. You might even come across a bassoon part.

I used to play in a community wind band and they would always give me tuba parts. I would "dot up" an octave because of "ledger line hell". I would often feel a little anonymous in the wind band because my part didn't really stand out. String bass was more of a tone color. Playing a tuba part next to a tuba, well... you get the picture.

Peace & Music,
Joe

 

[Ozmoid]

Talk to the Director at the new school... he may have options that aren't apparent, like a jazz band or other group after school that your bassist could join, if he has difficulty integrating into the wind ensemble.

Given a skilled player, some Directors will *want* to help out and find things for him to do!

 

[Jordan M]

The thing I've found a lot with my school's wind band is that it's not advanced enough, although I have no idea what the scale of difficulty is like in the Vance books (being a Bille guy myself). We play typically B300-B400 pieces. Eighth notes at a tempo of 120 to a quarter note seem to be a rarity, and you never really get anything that falls on ledger lines. Nothing in comparison to symphonic parts. Also, what Bassist4Life said- one double bass is pretty much inaudible next to a wind band. The only concert band bass sections I've played with have either been electric basses (what I do in these situations) or double basses with a pickup.

It seems to me as though when young musicians have to select instruments at school, teachers move the people who can't form the embouchure of the trumpet or horn down to the trombone or tuba, which is a shame- many composers write very simple music for the bass parts but incredibly complex stuff for the higher pitched parts.

I know at my school there are many other things that are more challenging than band music. You mentioned he has a good ear and good voice, why not suggest he join choir? Chances are there are going to be some other strings players there, there may be a small ensemble, or if not, it's possible to convince teachers to start them- that's what I did. Also, jazz band, due to the complexity of the genre, has some challenging material. There are plenty of options.

 

[A440Hz]

One of my 8th grade bass students is transferring to a school that does not have an orchestra program. He has been playing bass for three years, and studying with me for just one year. He's no vituoso, but is pretty good and shows some promise -- his ear (and voice) is really good, his sight reading is surprisingly good, his sense of rhythm is uncommon for his age. We're through the first Vance method book. He draws a huge sound from his 1/2 size bass.

I would like to keep him playing the bass, but his parents cannot afford a private youth orchestra at this time. So I'm looking for 8th grade level wind ensemble music with string bass. I know it's out there at the college level.

Any pointers are greatly appreciated.

Of course, the tuba parts are going to be "ledger line hell" as has been mentioned (I was a serious tuba player for years). Transpose that tuba part up an octave, and it's ready for the typical DB player (sounding down an octave from written). I'm sure you knew that part, but just checking. I'm here to help.

Also, some tuba parts are transcriptions of the orchestra material, and as such, there are parts that are easier on DB than on tuba. I remember in the band transcription of Rimsky-Korsakov's "Capriccio Espagnol", in the 2nd Mvmt., I believe it was, there was a low F (first position, E string on DB) that was a very low note on the tuba. It was marked 'p'. And it was the first thing played by anyone in the band for that movement. Low and soft. That's a nightmare for a tubist. But for DB, it's a simple pizz thing.

I'm just sayin' that there might be situations in which he's not just along for the ride, but that he actually rescues the tubas from some difficult territory. Granted, orchestral transcriptions are more upper high school and college material usually, but it could happen in middle school, too. Who knows.

But to keep the kid playing in an ensemble situation, do whatever you can. I applaud your efforts.

 

[ouija]

Other than reading tuba parts (which can really suck because of the octave thing), I read a lot of trombone parts in high school bands; they usually work pretty well.

 

[bejoyous]

Also, sometimes the euphonium/baritone part is very similar to the tuba part. If so you can just give him that part.

As for giving him the tuba part, make him write out the octave dots or show him how to play from a tuba part. It'll save you a lot of work and he'll learn a real life skill for some unknown future gig.

 

[MonetBass]

Entering my freshman year of high school we moved to a town without an orchestra. So the summer before that I learned the trombone. It was bass clef and pretty intuitive for me since it deals with positions much like the DB.

Aside: Thankfully we moved back the next year and I went back to playing DB.

 

[Simandl Fan]

I've been an orchestral bass player for over 45 years, and a middle school band and orchestra director for over 30 years.

If I had a talented bass player like yours, I would find out exactly what he can play, then I'd do what Tom Gale said; write him a great part from the band scores. I'd look closely at the bassoon and bass clarinet parts, and make up something that would challenge him. I would not bury him by having him double the low brass; he'll only quit in frustration (ask me how I know)

 

[Tom Gale]

I've been an orchestral bass player for over 45 years, and a middle school band and orchestra director for over 30 years.

If I had a talented bass player like yours, I would find out exactly what he can play, then I'd do what Tom Gale said; write him a great part from the band scores. I'd look closely at the bassoon and bass clarinet parts, and make up something that would challenge him. I would not bury him by having him double the low brass; he'll only quit in frustration (ask me how I know)

AMEN, bro....