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Double Bass safety schools with good music programs

O

omunson

Feb 17, 2009
9
0
34
Boston, MA
#1
Hello all,

Beginning the college search process, I'm wondering if anyone has suggestions for schools to apply to? I'm looking for 'safety' schools with strong music (bass) programs, and that aren't too hard to get into. Any suggestions?

Thanks!
 
#6
+1 for Curtis

But on the serious side of things, where are you located? It is sometimes the case that State Universities are overlooked as good options for students in kinda this position.... even though you shouldn't be looking for an easy win... but still. State Schools are usually cheaper than any private universities, have underrated music programs and if your in the right state then you could have a professor that plays in a very respectable orchestra. For example, in my hometown state of Maryland, our UMD College Park has Bob Oppelt, the principle of the National Symphony. But still, I look at the college audition process as a preliminary to the real world. there arent any orchestras the are easy to get into. i think you should have a safety school or two but still challenge yourself to compete with the best in your class for the few bass studio openings at Rice, BU, Julliard or MSM etc.

Andrew
 
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#10
omunson said:
Thanks.
I'm in Massachusetts...
Click to expand...

cool, way way more opportunities than if you lived in Northern Alaska. :)

Boston University is one of the best bass programs in the US right now so be sure to look into them. Ive only heard good things about Ed Barker, but his studio is by no means easy to get into for sure so it wouldnt probably be a safety school. Same with New England Conservatory.

I looked at all the profiles of the Boston Symphony members and if they teach its either at BU or NEC. So its a bummer that none of them teach at smaller schools. But if someone else knows any hidden jewels in the Boston area speak now.

New York is going to be a great place to look. You have the cats in the NY Phil and the Met to try and study with. I know that Timothy Cobb is on the faculty at SUNY Purchase, which would be good to look at. Im not sure how tough the competition is for the studio all I know is that it is'nt one of the "big bass schools" and that most of the kids trying to study with Mr. Cobb would probably go to Manhattan School of Music. Another studio to look into would be Jeremy McCoy's at the Aaron Copland School of Music (part of Queens College) and at Columbia University (also a City college). Mr. McCoy also teaches at MSM so he has three studios spread out in that area. Those are just two /three that i can think of quick in the NY area. But the concept will apply to any area that has a quality orchestra around, the members that teach often have multiple studios, some being overlooked.

here are the links to the studios i ran off above:

http://qcpages.qc.cuny.edu/music/index.php?L=1&M=141

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hope it helps.
all the best
Andrew
 
#12
In Mass Check the Boston Conservatory. Not on a lot of people's radar as they are doing BU and NEC. Lawrence Wolfe teaches there. From what I know they are pretty kind to bassists. Also check out Longy. UMASS Amherst has Sal Macchia who is great but it depends on your goals. Probably not the best if you want to do auditions right after undergrad but if you want to make it into a strong grad program he'll get you ready.
 
#14
BoCo is a good safety. They are VERY generous with scholarships towards bass players, mostly I assume because I don't think the studio is too large. I applied there, and Ben Levy is a nice guy who'll talk with you about the school; it's not impersonal, which is nice.

Another safety I would take into consideration would be California State University at Northridge. Oscar Meza teaches there (assistant principal of the LA Phil). He's a nice guy, and a REALLY good teacher. CSUN is also 20-45 minutes from downtown LA (depending on traffic, of course..), so it's rather easy to get to LA Phil concerts and the like. Another perk of going to CSUN is that you get the opportunity to play in two semi-professional orchestras in LA county, American Youth Symphony and Debut Orchestra. They both pay (as scholarship, not income), and they're great orchestras to play in. CSUN is only 20-30 minutes away from UCLA, which is where they practice.

Keep those in mind.
 
#15
mattgray said:
CSUN is also 20-45 minutes from downtown LA (depending on traffic, of course..)
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20 minutes to downtown? maybe at 3 am....

i'll also throw out UCLA, where chris hanulik teaches (it was my "safety"). the program isn't super strong yet (hence the safeness), but the music school got a big ol endowment back in 2007, and in my opinion chris is one of the great untapped resources in the bass world. i've never worked with oscar meza but hear nothing but great things. if you're planning to audition at the bigger name l.a. schools (USC or colburn), i really dont think you'll regret checking out UCLA or northridge. if you still need convincing, check out the l.a. phil's recent recordings of beethoven 5 and/or 7.
 
#20
¡bassballbill!;6998068 said:
20 minutes to downtown? maybe at 3 am....

i'll also throw out UCLA, where chris hanulik teaches (it was my "safety"). the program isn't super strong yet (hence the safeness), but the music school got a big ol endowment back in 2007, and in my opinion chris is one of the great untapped resources in the bass world. i've never worked with oscar meza but hear nothing but great things. if you're planning to audition at the bigger name l.a. schools (USC or colburn), i really dont think you'll regret checking out UCLA or northridge. if you still need convincing, check out the l.a. phil's recent recordings of beethoven 5 and/or 7.
Click to expand...

That's true. I was trying to remember the time to downtown and said the time that it takes from La Crescenta to downtown (on a good day).


...Traffic's fun.

+1 for Chris. He's the real deal and quite possibly one of the best players out in an orchestra right now.
 

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