Suzuki Method for bass?

George Vance is a great teacher trainer. He's in the DC area. Last I knew he wasn't a certified Suzuki teacher though. Give him a call.

 

Also try Virginia Dixon

She regularly teaches the young'uns at Richard Davis' bass conferences in Madison and is involved in Suzuki, if not a certified teacher.

 

SLAVA Publishing
9100 Louis Avenue
Silver Spring, MD 20910

Telephone / Fax: 301-588-9275

Email: [email protected]

 

George Vance does prescribe to many of the concepts associated with Suzuki. I have his complete method. It is very good. I think many of the concepts make a great deal of sense.

Although as far as playing approach and actual teaching method, it is basically an adaptation of Rabbath, which is quite different from what you may be accustomed to if you are from the Simandl (or adaptation of) school.

 

I'm starting a couple of my students on the Vance method, and they're doing great. One is an adult beginner who had no preconceived idea that thumb position was supposed to be an advanced technique. He was playing "Twinkle" in treble clef by his fourth lesson.

 

I'm planning to attend the Conservatory at Wheaton College next year (if accepted), so Virginia Dixon will be my teacher...I'm looking forward to it, I could tell you guys more about her affiliation with Suzuki at that point. She mentioned it when I talked to her, but I don't know the exact details...I think she is in the process of getting certified.

 

I have no idea where I'll end up, but right now I'm looking at a Composition major with double bass as my primary instrument.

You could e-mail her if you are really curious and don't mind sounding stalkerish.

 

I did Suzuki book one teacher training a little over a year ago at the Suzuki convention in Steven's Point Wisconsin with Virginia Dixon. I know she's a fully certified suzuki teacher as well as a teacher trainer. She actually is in need of more people to attend the teacher training sessions (they're towards the end of the summer at UW Steven's Point) and I had a really good experience with it. I believe the institute requires an audition tape along with the application, but it's easy rep. All I had to play was The Elephant and a Simandl Etude (did no 17 from 30 etudes, apparently it's in the imaginary suzuki bass book 4) Anyway, Virginia is great, she definitely knows her stuff.
Just my two cents.

 

I orginally learned on the Simadl method, but quit playing for 20 years. I just picked it up again about a year ago, & my teacher put me on the George Vance method. I HIGHLY recommend you consider this method- it's intuitive and makes a lot of sense (unlike the Simandl). Also, you learn by playing songs, not just odious (and boring) etudes & nonsense exercises. Good luck!

 

I know she does the camp in colorado, too. I think. Her e-mail (I think) is [email protected] if you need to get ahold of her. just tell her I refered you. I hope I have that address right, I dont have my book in front of me.

 

No problem, I wish you the best of luck. I'm teaching a 5 year old right now (friends of the family, I wouldn't normally feel confident enough to teach that young) and if not for what I learned from Virginia I'd be in way over my head. Tell her I say hi.

 

Does anyone use the 'colour strings' method for bass, which i believe is somewhat similar to suzuki? My teacher here uses and is having amazing results... i'll try to post anything i find on the net about it, but last time i looked i found nada. His beginners start at the age of 5 or 6.... amazing.. and he has 12 year olds playing the koussevitski. not fair.