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Double Bass Vance's books

Andy Mopley

Andy Mopley

Sep 24, 2011
1,335
318
#1
Looking for opinions here... do people feel that the books (after the first) do tend to jump rather quickly in the profiencey required to play each piece? In other words, one minute you are playing Twinkle Twinkle in thumb position, at 80bpm, next page the tempo speeds up to 120...:crying: in the same position..Is the intention that they are purposedly designed that way? (as opposed to a rather long list of gradual exercises..)

Thanks for reading!
 
#3
I teach using the Vance books, and I've noticed that as well. I can't think of a specific example without book in hand, but there seems to be a pattern of several progressively difficult pieces followed by a "breather." Might be a psychological incentive for the student -- they sweat their way through the hard stuff and suddenly find they can practically sight-read the next.

I've always enjoyed using the Vance books, the secret being not letting the new student know that thumb position is "supposed" to be harder -- just teach it as a routine lesson.

For those who don't know, Vance starts thumb position by the fourth or fifth exercise in Book 1. I have an adult student who started out "cold" with Vance Book 1 a couple of years ago, and to this day, he plays more confidently in thumb position than he does in some of the lower positions. He just didn't know that most bass players (including me) studied TP as some kind of scary "advanced" technique.
 
#4
I am a beginner and love the book, I work also with Simandl and other exercises that my teacher gave me, I brought the book to my teacher attention...
The only problem with the book is that I cant put it away its so much fun to work with compare to the other book/methods
 
#5
One odd thing is that for repertoire, Vance used folk songs like "Shortnin' Bread" "Reuben, Reuben" etc., I presume because he thought they would familiar to the student and therefore easy to learn. Incredulously, none of my school-age students claim to have ever heard them or learned them in school. Completely blank stares.
 
#6
I love the Vance Progressive Repetoire, but keep in mind I haven't done anything with Simandl, Bille, etc. All of Vance's exercises are fun and the way that the intonation practice, shifts, and pivots progress is really ingenious. I'm currently in the middle of working up the Romance and Rondo from Vol. 3/Book 6, and it's been a wonderful ride over the last 3 years. Looking forward to learning the Dragonetti (Nanny) Concerto and completing the series.

Also for those who don't know, the Progressive Repetoire is intended to be used with a teacher. There's not much explanation or description in the books.
 

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