Contrabass Conversations

Today's episode features Brazilian bassist and educator Alexandre Piazza. Alexandre was a bass teacher Saarbrücken, Germany and has a YouTube Channel with lessons on how to play acoustic and electric bass, equipment reviews, and videos about his life as a musician and music teacher in Germany and Brazil.

We dig into his experiences studying and teaching in Germany, the inspiration for his YouTube Channel, the "three different worlds" of electric bass, jazz, and classical, and how he approaches teaching young people.

Enjoy, and be sure to give Alexandre a follow on Instagram!

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Upton Bass - From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

In today's episode, Yuka Tadano shares her musical journey. Starting with her current gigs, including a new Broadway show, "Swept Away," and preparing for a cast album of "Suffs," she reflects on her extensive experience in musical theater.

Yuka discusses her involvement in several productions, including the Neil Diamond show "Beautiful Noise." She also touches on her passion for jazz, her educational background at the University of North Texas, and her transition to New York's vibrant scene.

We also discuss the blend of stability and uncertainty in a musician's life, her experiences with both electric and acoustic bass, and the importance of creativity and attention to detail. Don't miss this conversation with one of Broadway's first-call bassists.

Enjoy, and check out Yuka's CASE-4-BASS interview to learn more about her electric bass and great and playing.

photo credit: Erika Kapin

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Thank you to our sponsor!

Upton Bass - From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

This episode is an in-depth and inspiring conversation with 2022 Sphinx Competition winner Kebra-Seyoun Charles (they/them), a classical bassist and composer renowned for overcoming barriers and diversifying the landscape of classical music.

As a modern virtuoso and composer of concerti, ballets, and pop ballads, Kebra's music has been praised for its "buoyancy and verve — pushing the far reaches of tonality while savoring hummable grooves" (ICareIfYouListen). A rising star and advocate for a more inclusive classical music community, The Strad confirms that "Versatility defines Charles's approach."

We cover their musical journey, the importance of inclusive music education, experiences with stage fright and imposter syndrome, and the critical role of classical music in today's world. Kebra-Seyoun also shares insights into their creative process, the impact of mentorship, and the goal of merging classical music with mainstream culture.

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Thank you to our sponsor!

Upton Bass - From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

We take a look back at 2024 and discuss plans for 2025 in today's episode.

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Thank you to our sponsor!

Upton Bass - From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah's website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

In this episode, acclaimed double bassist, composer, and arranger Sidney King discusses his busy fall filled with outreach events, master classes, and student recitals at the University of Louisville.

Sidney highlights his collaborations, notably with flamenco guitarist Gareth Jones, and shares insights into his compositions for orchestras, educational groups, and church services.

He emphasizes the importance of community and education in his work, and the success he's found in making his compositions accessible through his new website.

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Connect with us:

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Thank you to our sponsor!

Upton Bass - From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah's website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

In this episode, Roberto Cassani shares his journey into the world of improvised music and his latest project Music for the purpose of Joy, which provides group music sessions to children, young people and adults based on his improvisational approach.

Initially focused on mastering his instrument and securing gigs, Roberto discovered a profound sense of joy and connection through improvisation. He discusses his academic research into the emotional and social benefits of music improvisation, highlighting the positive impacts on community building and personal interaction.

Roberto also details his methods for engaging different groups, from children to university students, in creative music-making sessions. Additionally, he talks about his recent musical projects and the importance of fostering joy and connection through music.

Enjoy, and check out Roberto's past podcast appearances here.

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Connect with us:

• all things double bass
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Thank you to our sponsors!

Upton Bass - From Grammy Award winners and Philharmonic players like ME Max Zeugner of the New York Philharmonic, each Upton Bass is crafted with precision in Connecticut, USA, and built to last for generations. Discover your perfect bass with Upton Bass today!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah's website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

In this episode, New York Philharmonic principal bassist Tim Cobb discusses his journey from growing up in Albany with a musically gifted family to his renowned career in the New York Philharmonic.

Tim shares personal anecdotes about his father's influence, his early experiences in Albany's vibrant music scene, and his tenure at the Metropolitan Opera. He reflects on his time studying with Roger Scott at Curtis, his involvement with the Marlboro Music Festival, and the transition from the Met Orchestra to the Philharmonic.

Tim also delves into his teaching philosophy, the importance of enthusiasm and work ethic in students, and the evolving world of double bass craftsmanship.

Enjoy, and check out the video version here.

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Connect with us:

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Thank you to our sponsor!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah's website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

In this episode, I chat with Szymon Marciniak about his newly released album 'Lost Beauty: Music for Double-Bass by František Hertl and Contemporaries.' Szymon shares the recording process, the repertoire's significance, and his experience using gut strings.

We discuss the challenges and inspirations behind the project, including the role of early 20th-century performance practices. The episode delves into the technical and emotional aspects of music-making and sheds light on how historical sound aesthetics shaped the album.

Check out this great new release from Szymon and Jongsuk Kim on the Solaire Records website, Apple Music, Spotify, or wherever you listen to music!

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Connect with us:

• all things double bass
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• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsor!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah's website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

In this conversation, Petru Iuga, a renowned Romanian double bassist, discusses his experiences during the pandemic, his contributions to the ToneBase platform, and the development of the ErgoBass, a product designed to enhance bass playing ergonomics.

He reflects on his musical journey, incorporating elements of martial arts into his musical practice, and the impact of physics and mindfulness in bass playing.

Petru also shares insights about his recently released album, which features a mix of familiar and less-known compositions, including works by Weinberg, Hindemith, and Schubert, emphasizing the music's emotional and artistic depth.

Enjoy, and check out this video covering Petru's innovative invention ErgoBass!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsors!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah's website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

• theme music by Eric Hochberg

In this episode, Emilse Rios recounts her journey from studying music at the José Luis Paz Music Conservatory in Venezuela to balancing her academic pursuits in sociology at La Universidad del Zulia.

Emilse talks about the challenges and cultural richness of moving to Buenos Aires, her experiences as one of the few female double bass players, and the influence of her sociology background on teaching music. Through Venezuela's national orchestra system, El Sistema, she has managed to blend her dual interests seamlessly.

She also delves into her strategies for maintaining an online presence on platforms like Instagram and YouTube, especially during the pandemic, and discusses the importance of efficient time management to balance her professional life and content creation.

Emilse shares valuable insights on finances, sustaining creativity, the myth of perfectionism in classical music, and the importance of building a supportive community through newsletters and independent platforms.

Enjoy, and connect with Emilse on her website and on Instagram!

Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Connect with us:

• all things double bass
• double bass merch
• double bass sheet music

Thank you to our sponsors!

Carnegie Mellon University Double Bass Studio is a valued part of an innovative fine arts community in a top research university. Students receive weekly private lessons and solo classes with Micah Howard, and Peter Guild teaches weekly Orchestral Literature and Repertoire. They encourage students to seek lessons and guidance from local bassists. Members of the Symphony, the Opera, and the Ballet provide annual classes and individual attention. Visit Micah's website to sign up for a free online trial lesson here.

• theme music by Eric Hochberg