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Double Bass using duets to teach

T

Tom Gale

May 16, 2009
299
11
#1
When I was an active private teacher, I found that duets are a great tool in teaching. The student tends to hear and copy your vibrato, bowing and style, etc. without long explanations.
Are there still teachers pout there that use duets as a teaching devise??
Tom Gale
 
#3
Are there still teachers out there that use duets as a teaching devise?? Tom Gale[/QUOTE said:
I should add that the duet shouldn't take up the whole lesson time - maybe 5-8 minutes. If you think you might like to try one, go to ASODB.com - download and find the FREE duet. Might be worth a try. I tend to like duets that move independently in the 2 parts rather than just block melody and harmony.
TG :hyper:
Click to expand...
 
#4
I'm not a teacher, but I sometimes work with my kids when they practice for their lessons. When I play along in unison with my son (on cello), it's hard for him to pick out who is playing out of tune. Playing a harmony or duet part, even if improvised, lets him hear his own intonation much better. So I think this might be a useful approach for teaching beginners.
 
#7
I used duets a lot in my teaching. I feel that it really helped beginning students especially because it would further develop their understanding of melody and harmony. Once they hear me play my role and understand theirs, I'd have them switch parts. Then We'd discuss the different parts and how they work together. I personally think it's a great tool.
 
#8
When I studied w/ Dennis Irwin we did a lot of 2 part Bach inventions.. really great for ear training and getting the bass role in your head (as well as for hearing bass lines on your own when playing tunes).. not to mention opening up your ears for ensemble playing.
 
#9
My friend and I, both amateurs, have included Mr. Gale's "Melodic Duets" in our weekly sessions for the past six months.
Each piece may appear deceptively simple at first glance, but we have come to appreciate the need to develop listening skills, intonation and a sense of time.
 
#10
My teacher does. He'll usually play it for me at my lesson a few times so I know how it goes. We'll go over the roughest spots and then he'll have me play along with it. I'll spend the next week working on it then when I come in the next lesson, we play it as a duet. It sounds amazing.
 
#11
Dave Hosking said:
My friend and I, both amateurs, have included Mr. Gale's "Melodic Duets" in our weekly sessions for the past six months.
Each piece may appear deceptively simple at first glance, but we have come to appreciate the need to develop listening skills, intonation and a sense of time.
Click to expand...

Thank you - I appreciate that. As well as bass/bass, I have also heard them used cello/bass, cello/cello and, for a kiddy intro class, I did them with bassoon/bass.
Tom Gale
ASODB.com :bassist:
 
#13
I find that doing duets with my teacher kind of puts me on point for a few minutes after I've been sawing away by myself for a while.

And then all the jazz stuff is done as a duet w/ piano, and that also gets me into a performance mindset, because he's over there with his back turned to me and I can close my eyes or whatever without feeling exposed.

I can't think of why someone wouldn't spend time doing duets with their student. Musicians end up playing with each other and that's a little bit different than playing alone.
 
#14
I can't think of why someone wouldn't spend time doing duets with their student. Musicians end up playing with each other and that's a little bit different than playing alone.[/QUOTE said:
Many times the student has to make the first suggestion as to the use of duets for part of the lesson. Go to ASODB.com and hit the free download button. You have to fill out an address thing but you can download one of the duets from my book. Make two copies and take them in for your next lesson. If it works, get the whole book!
Tom Gale
Click to expand...
 
#15
Just a note, I've been singing in church since I was 5, 50 years this spring, and years ago I noticed after singing with so many people, singing different parts and in everything from duets, trios, quartets, etc, after awhile it becomes automatic to adjust to the person/people you're singing with to harmonize, you don't have to think about it, don't even notice it till you think about it. Wouldn't it be great to be like that on an instrument? Upright lends itself to that well too.
 
#16
My teacher also used duets with me he recommended a book of bass duets. I then used them with my daughter.

I then actually took the bass part from the fourth movement of Beethoven's Ninth, starting with the introduction of the Ode to Joy theme, and wrote it out as a duet.

I started us out doubling the melody line, then the first player held the melody, while the second took the first harmony (with the slurred scales), then the second player held the melody while the first took the second harmony (the syncopated section). Eventually we added in the little turn-around phrase between the iterations.

It was great fun as my daughter had already been introduced to the melody in school, and we both really liked that movement.
 
#17
nicechuck said:
Just a note, I've been singing in church since I was 5, 50 years this spring, and years ago I noticed after singing with so many people, singing different parts and in everything from duets, trios, quartets, etc, after awhile it becomes automatic to adjust to the person/people you're singing with to harmonize, you don't have to think about it, don't even notice it till you think about it. Wouldn't it be great to be like that on an instrument? Upright lends itself to that well too.
Click to expand...

I play simple harmonies when my students are playing their scales. You can even make a little theory lesson out of it.
 
#18
Tom Gale said:
Many times the student has to make the first suggestion as to the use of duets for part of the lesson. Go to ASODB.com and hit the free download button. You have to fill out an address thing but you can download one of the duets from my book. Make two copies and take them in for your next lesson. If it works, get the whole book!
Tom Gale
Click to expand...

WHOOPS! Make that asodb.org. Still a good duet!
TG
 

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