Contrabass Conversations

309: Ted Botsford on auditioning, teaching, and tone research


Listen Later

Today's episode features Ted Botsford.  Ted is currently a bassist in the Seattle Symphony and just won a position in the Los Angeles Philharmonic.  Ted played in the Oregon Symphony prior to joining the Seattle Symphony.

Ted studied with George Vance while growing up in the Washington, D.C. area and continued his studies with Paul Ellison in college.

We talk about all sorts of topics, including:
  • taking an audition when you’re already holding down a full-time job and how that’s a different approach the when you’re a student
  • struggling in auditions and a book recommendation from Paul Ellison that helped
  • attending BUTI, studying with Rick Barber, and participating in the National Symphony Youth Fellowship program while in high school
  • developing the bow from the beginning, starting with really good habits so you don’t have to do remedial teaching later
  • what Ted does to keep himself in shape and how he varies his warm-ups to keep things fresh
  • working with Chris Hanulik in LA prior to winning the Oregon audiiton and the impact it had on his playing
Links to check out:
  • Performing in the Zone by Jon Gorrie - book recommendation from Paul Ellison
  • other books Ted found helpful: Inner Game of Tennis and Inner Game of Music
  • Ted Botsford on All Classical On-Air (in Portland)
  • Rhapsody by Rabbath - performed by Ted

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to your inbox!

Learn how you can support the show at contrabassconversations.com/support

Thanks to our sponsors!

This episode is brought to you by D’Addario Strings! Check out their Helicore strings, which are are designed, engineered, and crafted at the D’Addario string factory in New York and come in orchestral, hybrid, pizzicato, and solo string sets.

Enter our latest string giveaway for Helicore strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings!

Hosting for Contrabass Conversations is provided by Bass Capos.  Bass Capos are an excellent choice for any bass player using or looking to implement a double bass extension. Easy to install and adjust, cheaper and more reliable than hand-built latches, also lighter and quicker in operation.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Contrabass ConversationsBy Jason Heath

  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9
  • 4.9

4.9

106 ratings


More shows like Contrabass Conversations

View all
Radiolab by WNYC Studios

Radiolab

43,931 Listeners

Freakonomics Radio by Freakonomics Radio + Stitcher

Freakonomics Radio

32,037 Listeners

The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast by The Fretboard Journal

The Fretboard Journal Guitar Podcast

346 Listeners

99% Invisible by Roman Mars

99% Invisible

26,149 Listeners

Hidden Brain by Hidden Brain, Shankar Vedantam

Hidden Brain

43,439 Listeners

The SBL Podcast by Scott's Bass Lessons

The SBL Podcast

408 Listeners

Revisionist History by Pushkin Industries

Revisionist History

59,405 Listeners

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast by Joshua Weilerstein

Sticky Notes: The Classical Music Podcast

2,079 Listeners

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond by Pushkin Industries

Broken Record with Rick Rubin, Malcolm Gladwell, Bruce Headlam and Justin Richmond

4,140 Listeners

You'll Hear It by Peter Martin & Adam Maness

You'll Hear It

446 Listeners

Throughline by NPR

Throughline

15,953 Listeners

Classical Breakdown by WETA Classical

Classical Breakdown

200 Listeners

Everything Everywhere Daily by Gary Arndt | Glassbox Media

Everything Everywhere Daily

1,937 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

15,325 Listeners

Upright Citizens by Reuben Rogers & Bob DeBoo

Upright Citizens

36 Listeners