Hal Robinson's audition preparation video

Dear Bass Family

I stumbled across this "old" video of Hal Robinson, now the principal bass of the Philadelphia Orchestra, giving a lecture/demo of THREE HOURS of audition excerpts and preparation advice on YouTube today.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j1D30AgYAk4

I'm blogging here so that we can all find it again in the future.  I saw this video, and yes it was recorded on videoTAPE years ago before everyone had a digital camera in their phone with better quality than tape.  But the advice he gives and the playing he demonstrates is so outstanding I want to recommend this to you and any of your students who are interested in pursuing orchestra or college auditions.

Scroll through the comments to find someone who has exhaustively listed the excerpts and the timings on the video for those who wish to jump in and examine only the pieces they are studying now.  (so much easier than fast-forwarding videotape, if you recall)

I'm not going to summarize or adapt anything from this video because I think it's worth your time to watch at least some of it and to hear his playing.

Happy practicing!

Gaelen

So who's coming to Bass Retreat?

I'm at my desk looking over the registrations so far for the Rochester Bass Retreat, which is just over a week away!!!, and smiling widely at the number and variety of people who are going to get together and talk/play/listen/learn/share BASS!  I bet you're curious, so here's the skinny:

about 1/3 of the group are middle and high school teachers who want to brush up on their pedagogy skills, ask questions on posture, and get the nitty gritty on using our oversized bows in a healthy, ergonomic way.

Of the other 2/3, who are primarily players, we have several local professional players coming.  Almost all of the Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra and the Hochstein Youth Orchestra bass section players will be here.  Quite a few upstate college bass students are joining us - some from Buffalo!  And a few students from community orchestras and the New Horizons program at Eastman will be with us too.

I absolutely love the diversity of this group!  One of the pro's who is joining us said, "I just love the vibe at these bass events!"  I know what he means - we're not a competitive group, people love hanging out and talking shop with each other, and given the nice spread of ages and experiences, the conversations will be quite interesting and varied as well.

For those of you who haven't been to a bass workshop, or the bass convention when it was here last year, this isn't about doing things one way.  It's about sharing our experience, and everyone involved knows that becoming a better musician means a lifetime of learning and refining. We're all after something slightly different when we play, and we have a lot to learn from each other.

Which brings me to the guest faculty for this year - all people I've known a long time, all good spirits and great players and teachers.  These are people who lift up their students and help them become their own kind of player.  They build confidence in their students, and equip them with great technique so they can go out and create their own sound.  I've know Jeff Campbell since we were both at Eastman together a gazillion years ago, and even shared a practice room with him.  He's an incredible musician, and always looking at how music fits together (theory, ensemble, sound, rhythm) and thinking and experimenting with how he wants to sound, what he wants to write.  He's also been a member of the RPO for a long time now and brings so much to our bass section.

Nicholas Walker has been bowling me over with his compositions for years now.  I feel like I"ve known him so long, I can't even remember when we first met.  He asked me and Colin Corner to come work with his students at Ithaca College a few years ago, and I was so impressed at how they all have their own musical voice and style.  All of that backed up with solid technique.  He's growing a garden not of one kind of plant, but a big variety of beautiful flowers, with their own personalities.  He brings lots of background in composition, contemporary performance, Baroque performance, and the standard repertoire too.  Nicholas thinks a lot about ergonomics and developed the angled end pin that helps keep the bass more balanced when you stand.  He'll also share his insights about practicing and how to develop a plan that makes it not a "chore" to do every day.

Last but no where near the least is our Alexander Technique teacher, Katie Fittipaldi.  I met Katie through her husband, Mike, who is a bass player here in Rochester.  Mike subs with the RPO and is a great guy to sit with on stage.  Calm and competent.  I started studying with Katie a few years ago after I had developed tendonitis in both elbows and was sidelined from playing for several months.  It seemed to me it was a golden opportunity to examine everything about my playing and rethink what I had been doing.  I had taken a few lessons during my undergrad days, and was familiar in a very general way with Alexander Technique, but Katie helped to demystify so much of it, and showed me how to use it in everyday life.  We spent a full school year working together and I discovered many ways in which I could use my body more efficiently, and more naturally.  She's also a cellist, so translating her work to ours was a breeze.

If you're not signed up yet to join us, it's not too late!  The flyer is posted at the Nazareth website here, or you can do the simple online form at www.bassretreat.com

Bass Retreat- what's in it for students?

Good morning from the Rocky Mountains!  Scales at 8,000 feet of elevation never sounded so good :D

** Reminder: early registration discount ends August 1! **

Register online at www.bassretreat.com or print your form and mail with check to Nazareth College. The form is here.

I've bee getting some requests for a more detailed schedule of events for our Bass Retreat and today I'd like to share a sample schedule with you. I'm reserving the right to change the order of events based on how many players sign up, and what ability levels we have attending. I want to be sure our Retreat gives everyone something they can work with. Some important things: there will be plenty of group playing opportunities, you will get to work with all of our faculty at least once and the there is built in social time at lunch - we'll be eating together family style- so that you can ask questions and get to know our faculty more personally. Trust me- I only invited the nicest people who are also GREAT players and teachers. There will also be a separate schedule for teachers who are attending, and if you are a college student, you are welcome to mix and match between the two tracks as you like. 

2014 Rochester Bass Retreat -- Players Schedule

9 am - Alexander Technique and posture with Katie Fittipaldi, basic bow work

10 am - fundamental skills workshop (group) with Gaelen McCormick

11 am - caring for your instrument, why strings, rosin, and setup change the sound of the instrument with Justin Rister from Stringed Insrument Services

12pm -LUNCH! Faculty and students together, food provided

1 pm - Improvisation class with Jeff Campbell, no experience needed

2 pm - masterclass with Nicholas Walker, some group exercises 

3 pm - faculty recital in Wilmot Hall

Teachers Schedule

9 am - Alexander Technique and posture with Katie Fittipaldi, basic bow work (both bows available to try)

10 am - how to handle simple repairs in school with Justin Rister from Stringed Instrument Services

11 am - bow fundamentals and ergonomic playing with Nicholas Walker

12 pm - LUNCH! Faculty and attendees together, food provided

1 pm - using Progressive Repertoire alongside standard methods in your orchestra with Gaelen McCormick

2 pm - using Improvisation in your teaching with Jeff Campbell

3 pm - faculty recital in Wilmot Recital hall 

Bass retreat - what's in it for teachers?

I'm getting very excited for our Bass Rereat on August 19!!  Seem of the emails I've gotten ask for more details about what is available for teachers at the retreat. Here is a sampling:

Posture and ergonomics of sitting and standing, led by a wonderful Alexander technique teacher. I've worked with Katie Fitipaldi for almost two years, and she is the most down to earth teacher I've met. You don't need to know Alexander technique to get a lot out of this part. As we all know, the way you hold the instrument is the first step to being comfortable playing.

Pedagogy break out sessions that are hands-on, working on the basics of starting players on the instrument, and moving into the fundamental techniques. We'll look at the ways different methods start students - Essential Elements, All for Strings, and Progressive Repertoire - and talk about strategies for using those books. I feel that doing this by playing and talking is more beneficial than just listening to a lecture. Even if bass isn't your primary instrument (especially if it isn't!),  play along during these sessions. We'll be working as a group and helping each other. If you don't already own these books, I've invited Music and Arts to set up a table and they will have those titles and more available. Also, one day rental bass rentals are available, just let us know on the registration form.

Masterclasses at beginning and intermediate levels.  Observe the guest teachers as they work with our students. During the lunch break, all the teachers will be available for questions and networking.

I hope that begins to answer some of the questions! Feel fee to contact me directly if there are more specific topics you would like to see covered. Email me at gmccormick@esm.rochester.edu

Registration information and details are available at :
naz.edu/music/documents

And online registration is also available at www.bassretreat.com

See you in August!
Gaelen
Bass Retreat

Bass Retreat 2014 - registration now open!

Bass Retreat 2014!

I am so pleased to announce that everything is in place for our first workshop which is now titled "Bass Retreat"!  (turns out Bass Boot Camp was already taken)

What is it?  A one-day event filled with group classes where we'll focus on using our bodies efficiently, stretching, posture, playing together and covering the basic elements of technique, masterclasses with inspiring teachers, a session on caring for your instrument in all seasons, and a chance to try improvisation - especially if you have never tried that before!  Lunch is included in the cost of the event, and we'll all eat together and have more time to network, chat, and really go to town on all things BASS!

Here's the flyer that's going out to all the local teachers and players.  You can print your registration from here, or go to bassretreat.com to sign up online.  There will be bass rentals available for the day if you are travelling in from out of town.  Just let us know on the form.

Hope to see you all in August!  Feel free to contact me directly with any questions at gmccormick@esm.rochester.edu

Gaelen

Next Level Journal for bass and cello - a free online resource

Happy Fourth of July to all my bass friends!

I'm trying to conserve a little energy here in the middle of the day, post-taking daughter to the pool to swim, and pre-playing a late night show for the city of Rochester.  You know, noodling on the computer when....

BAM - there it is - Next Level Journals has their latest issue out and I want very much to call your attention to this great resource.  First - it's free!  Yes, you have to register with the site, but I have been using this for about two years now, ever since it launched, and they have not sold my email address or hit me with even one spam-ish email or advert.

So, what is it?  Well, they feature two magazines, in magazine format when you read it online, which is a little strange for an old fart like me, to have to click a page turn rather than scroll down the page.  But, whatever.  One is for cello, one is for bass.  Because we all know (say it with me) that a bass is NOT a cello (or a violin for that matter).  They interview great players, in all genres, and have deep conversations about practicing, or performing, or what making music means to them.  There is a bit of advertising within the magazine, but it's sustaining them and keeping it free for the rest of us to use.

Jordan Morton is featured this time, along with her most recent teacher, Nicholas Walker.  I met Jordan about two years ago when I was lucky enough to give a masterclass at Ithaca College for Nick Walker's students.  Jordan was one of the four students Colin Corner (our principal bass here in the Rochester Philharmonic) and I worked with that afternoon, and she left a really big impression on me.  I could easily see that she was a dedicated artist and a lifelong student - qualities that I so admire in great musicians.

Head on over to Ranaan Meyer's magazines - Next Level Journals at:
https://2caec3.campgn3.com/View-Next-Level-Bassists-Left-Hand-Issue

I think it will fill you with plenty of practical practice advice for our great instrument.

Gaelen

KC Bass Workshop - day 1

Today began the KC Bass Workshop, presented and led by Johnny Hamil, with a bass ensemble of about 70 people reding our way through three of Johnny's arrangements - William Tell overture, Iron Man, and Summertime. You can tell just by that section that this will NOT be your grandfather's type of conference!!

I had the privilege of working with two groups of students today - a college group and a mixed pre-college group. My students were lovely and engaged and presented a lot of different repertoire which yielded good discussions about vibrato, Romanticism, and they also did some now exercises with me from Mastering the Bow. What fun!

For me the highlight as a lifelong student was getting a teachers class with François Rabbath and also playing with our students in a group class with him. 

My notes from the teachers class: 

- one of the problems of slowing your practicing down very much,  that you use the body differently, like slowing down walking, you are no longer doing things naturally and will engage different muscles. 

- teachers must not be the star. Lift your students up, don't punish the mistakes. He gave an example of watching a baby learn to walk. You don't hit the child when they fall. 

- when you see someone playing well, there is no need to be competitive. Adapt what you want from that playing/person. Overall, his attitude is one of non-judgment and tremendous love and support for each other. Who wouldn't flourish in that environment?!

- the problem of aiming for perfection : when you miss even one note, the whole thing is ruined for you. Rather, set the intention on sharing love with your listeners. 

- spent a good deal of time talking and showing us why having thumb position technique in positions lower that typical thumb position (octave harmonic) helps with virtuosity. Less hand to move around. This was shown to me in a practical way as we did some of his book  1 etudes and scales in group class. 

Today had several incredible recitals in it: Lloyd Goldstein, Ted Botsford (awesome transcription of some Frank Bridge violin short pieces), Brian Roessler, and our fearless leader Johnny Hamil! Lots of great and varied repertoire, lots of different ways to play the bass (slap, jazz, classical, electro funky)

The students here are wonderful and so happy to share what they know and to ask for what they want to know. Bring on the sleep 'cuz I'm headed into advanced scales clas at 8 AM!!

Happy practicing!

Gaelen