It's ok, the more I become an old fart myself, the more defensive I get! (and the less anyone takes me too seriously) And as far as I'm concerned, there are few states as beautiful as West Virginia. I go to a few festivals in WV every year, namely Clifftop which is not too far from Beckley. I've lived in Bryson City and other bordering towns. The music of that region is stunning in it's beauty and complexity. The intricacies of some of that West Virginia bowing can make your head spin. So, don't think for a second you're receiving any stereotyping from me. I have some good friend from North Carolina that helped me to understand what the whole hillbilly stereotyping meant the them, how they hated it, how stereotyping is something they had to fight with their whole lives. I found the same thing with my true Cajun friends down in Louisiana. It's the same in Romania as it is here in the US. I'm put off by arrogance as well and one has to wade through it like an endless river here in NY! (most of it empty boastfulness and insecurity). For me there is nothing as humbling as trying to play the upright bass the way I hear it in my head. I mean, one has to have some arrogance to even think you can do it but that quickly fades as you realize how hard it is to even get a good sound out of the thing. Keep plugging away at your own pace, in your own way. I didn't mean to be so flip. It's kind of a knee-jerk response around here to "get a teacher, nomatter how difficult it is". It's born out of countless posts of little upstarts thinking they can get around the work part of learning the double bass. I guess this is when I realize I'm an old fart... My enlightened response would now be to look around at any bass players you admire in your general day to day and ask them for advice as you find them. Festivals are great for this because there is always going to be some great musicians around. You can pick up some good advice in a relatively short period of time if your fearless about asking for it.
Take Care,
Jason
