Hey everyone,
Was wondering if we could crowd-develop a basic list of 'the essentials' needed to have a solid, workingman's command over the instrument (orchestral, not jazz), for the vast majority of rep from the so-called common practice period ca. 1600-1930 or so. In other words, what does everyone here feel the 10-15 technical skills that are absolutely non-negotiable to being a valuable, dependable freelance section bassist. (I'm mainly talking about orchestral work, not necessarily solo or chamber work.)
Here's a start:
1. Completely solid, confident intonation up to the A just above the G harmonic. Like, "bet your car on it" solid intonation. If you're shifting from an F# on the E string to an F# on the G string, no problem. Those cascading F-A shifts in Brahms 2, no problem. And the ability to micro-adjust to match your section's pitch.
2. Having a great command of full dynamic range with good tone from PP to FF.
3. Being able to play sixteenth-note passages, that may or may not require tricky string crossings or leaps, *cleanly*, up to 140bpm.
4. Great rhythm, and the ability/flexibility to adjust to your principal, conductor, soloist if they play ahead or behind the beat accordingly.
5. Great spiccato. Clean at any speed, any dynamic.
6. Great "light" Mozart/Hadyn-style spiccato. Again, any speed, any dynamic.
7. Strong, confident sight reading abilities.
8. Flexibility, adaptability as an ensemble member. You're a good guy, decent sense of humor, able to take direction, able to give thoughtful, considered, helpful input as warranted. A specific example: The technical ability to switch bowing/phrasing on the spot if your principal/conductor requests it. Another: you have been playing it off the string, but the principal asks you to play it on the string. You understand/appreciate why they're asking for it, and can adjust accordingly.
9. For audition purposes, a solid command of the excerpt rep, basic concerti (koussevitsky, dittersdorf, etc.), and some bach solo work.
10. Musicality. Ability to phrase. I realize this is less concrete than the above, and I'm specifically looking to develop a checklist of concrete things here, but being a musical individual is something I feel we can't leave off the list. Especially knowing the difference between how to phrase baroque v. classical v. romantic.
11. Basic knowledge of the instrument, i.e., knowing what might be causing that buzz, knowing what a good set up feels like, knowing the qualities of different kinds of strings, the ability to objectively discuss why you like one bow or one bass over another... etc. (I don't think you need to be a luthier, but I do think you need to have an interest/awareness about how your instrument works if it's your livelihood.)
12-15+. ?
Hoping this opens a good dialogue about the most essential skills requires to be a successful and solid section player. Would especially love to hear from working section players here and abroad on this.
Was wondering if we could crowd-develop a basic list of 'the essentials' needed to have a solid, workingman's command over the instrument (orchestral, not jazz), for the vast majority of rep from the so-called common practice period ca. 1600-1930 or so. In other words, what does everyone here feel the 10-15 technical skills that are absolutely non-negotiable to being a valuable, dependable freelance section bassist. (I'm mainly talking about orchestral work, not necessarily solo or chamber work.)
Here's a start:
1. Completely solid, confident intonation up to the A just above the G harmonic. Like, "bet your car on it" solid intonation. If you're shifting from an F# on the E string to an F# on the G string, no problem. Those cascading F-A shifts in Brahms 2, no problem. And the ability to micro-adjust to match your section's pitch.
2. Having a great command of full dynamic range with good tone from PP to FF.
3. Being able to play sixteenth-note passages, that may or may not require tricky string crossings or leaps, *cleanly*, up to 140bpm.
4. Great rhythm, and the ability/flexibility to adjust to your principal, conductor, soloist if they play ahead or behind the beat accordingly.
5. Great spiccato. Clean at any speed, any dynamic.
6. Great "light" Mozart/Hadyn-style spiccato. Again, any speed, any dynamic.
7. Strong, confident sight reading abilities.
8. Flexibility, adaptability as an ensemble member. You're a good guy, decent sense of humor, able to take direction, able to give thoughtful, considered, helpful input as warranted. A specific example: The technical ability to switch bowing/phrasing on the spot if your principal/conductor requests it. Another: you have been playing it off the string, but the principal asks you to play it on the string. You understand/appreciate why they're asking for it, and can adjust accordingly.
9. For audition purposes, a solid command of the excerpt rep, basic concerti (koussevitsky, dittersdorf, etc.), and some bach solo work.
10. Musicality. Ability to phrase. I realize this is less concrete than the above, and I'm specifically looking to develop a checklist of concrete things here, but being a musical individual is something I feel we can't leave off the list. Especially knowing the difference between how to phrase baroque v. classical v. romantic.
11. Basic knowledge of the instrument, i.e., knowing what might be causing that buzz, knowing what a good set up feels like, knowing the qualities of different kinds of strings, the ability to objectively discuss why you like one bow or one bass over another... etc. (I don't think you need to be a luthier, but I do think you need to have an interest/awareness about how your instrument works if it's your livelihood.)
12-15+. ?
Hoping this opens a good dialogue about the most essential skills requires to be a successful and solid section player. Would especially love to hear from working section players here and abroad on this.
