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Double Bass Teacher profiles: who they are and why should or shouldn't I listen to their advice?
- Thread starter Chris Fitzgerald
- Start date
Hi everyone,
My name is Steve Lowndes. I studied bass with Tony Morgan at Birmingham Conservatoire 1986-89 gaining BA with double bass specialism and ABSM in both teaching and performing the double bass. I began my studies at Leeds College of Music studying jazz bass, but moved to Birmingham. I've been lucky enough to have had some awesome teachers and bassists who have given me great advice. Two that stand out are Duncan McTier and Thomas Martin. Whilst I trained in the classical genre I have mostly performed in big bands and quartets both on upright and electric bass. More recently I have playing in various function bands (electric bass).
I have spent most of my career as head of music at high schools in lincolnshire, which has really put my double bass performance and teaching on the back burner. Three years ago I decided to take the leap and teach one to one on a variety of instruments, including double bass, electric bass, electric guitar, piano, and voice. I have more recently learnt how to play the tuba and sousaphone (can't get enough of those bass tones) having played in Bierkellers and with Trad bands.
So, even though I'm quite well qualified and reasonably experienced in many stylesof bass playing, I'm not pretending to be the font of all knowledge. BAss teaching has changed so much since my Simandl and Botessini days.
If anyone is interested, I originally learned to bow in the French (overhand) style (Bottesini), but following a wrist injury playing piano I have recently switched to the German style, which has been a real learning curve but reduces pain in my wrist to virtually zero. Obviously the jazz playing I've done means I often play pizzicato.
My website doesn't currently have much double bass stuff on, but I plan to add some over the coming weeks.
www.slmsmusic.com
Steve Lowndes - Musician
Here's a little video I put together. I arranged and recorded a double bass quartet in the space of 4 hours. It was a lot fun. Sorry about the intonation slips.
My name is Steve Lowndes. I studied bass with Tony Morgan at Birmingham Conservatoire 1986-89 gaining BA with double bass specialism and ABSM in both teaching and performing the double bass. I began my studies at Leeds College of Music studying jazz bass, but moved to Birmingham. I've been lucky enough to have had some awesome teachers and bassists who have given me great advice. Two that stand out are Duncan McTier and Thomas Martin. Whilst I trained in the classical genre I have mostly performed in big bands and quartets both on upright and electric bass. More recently I have playing in various function bands (electric bass).
I have spent most of my career as head of music at high schools in lincolnshire, which has really put my double bass performance and teaching on the back burner. Three years ago I decided to take the leap and teach one to one on a variety of instruments, including double bass, electric bass, electric guitar, piano, and voice. I have more recently learnt how to play the tuba and sousaphone (can't get enough of those bass tones) having played in Bierkellers and with Trad bands.
So, even though I'm quite well qualified and reasonably experienced in many stylesof bass playing, I'm not pretending to be the font of all knowledge. BAss teaching has changed so much since my Simandl and Botessini days.
If anyone is interested, I originally learned to bow in the French (overhand) style (Bottesini), but following a wrist injury playing piano I have recently switched to the German style, which has been a real learning curve but reduces pain in my wrist to virtually zero. Obviously the jazz playing I've done means I often play pizzicato.
My website doesn't currently have much double bass stuff on, but I plan to add some over the coming weeks.
www.slmsmusic.com
Steve Lowndes - Musician
Here's a little video I put together. I arranged and recorded a double bass quartet in the space of 4 hours. It was a lot fun. Sorry about the intonation slips.
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