Double Bass Opportunity, Will it spoil violin skills Options

[jellywobble]

Hi, I didn't want to hijack the current topic on double-basses, but it has got me thinking.

Daughter has the chance to try out a double-bass next week at school, with a view to perhaps playing next term. She is really excited, but before I join in her enthusiasm, I have a couple of questions:

1.Size: Do DB come in different sizes? She's 13 and around 5'3 (& a swimmer, so strong armed). What sort of size would it be?

2. Fingers: More worrying than Q1 is whether the strength needed to play thick strings will have a detrimental affect on her violin playing. She about Gr7, and will still be studying violin next term.


It will be hard enough to ensure that violin practice is kept up when there's a new toy to play with, so I wouldn't want it to cause a backward step as well.


Any thoughts?

[jojo]

Hi, fantastic opportunity!!!

she 'may be' a 1/2 size double bass (from the 5'3'' information) but don't take that as the 'gold answer'.
Where are you based?
if you are in/around London I can suggest where she can go to be 'measured up' for the bass, no need to buy from them.

No, it will not affect her violin playing and her violin experience will very likely help her to progress FAST on the double bass!
The only good advice I can give is that in the first few months (maybe longer, maybe forever) to practice the violin FIRST then practice the double bass.
I started double bass last year when I was around grade 4 on violin and I found that if I practiced bass first then picked up the violin I'd be out of tune and hitting strings etc as my hand was customised to the big bass, also the double bass at first is VERY physically demanding so after playing bass I'd be physically tired and my body needed to rest.
So yes, practice violin first or if bass is first then I'd have a good couple of hours or longer rest before I pick up the violin. I still do it that way round now after a year!