Hello..
I have a son (and maybe should be posting in 'parents' forum?? but thought I'd post in here as it is a 'string' realted query) who is 11 yrs, will be 12 in sept 2007.
He is thinking of learning double bass when he starts in the seniors next year (he will be 12 then).
He has no knowledge of any instruments or music theory. I wanted to start teaching him some basics to music theory myself in preparation for when he starts the double bass.
Is he too young to start such a big instrument?
I saw some 3/4 sizes in a shop and they look almost bigger than him!!! He is of 'average' height for his age. It might be because I'm used to look at violins that the double bass looks so 'gigantic', will his little fingers find the strenght to press on those ropes? (the strings look almost like ropes LOL)
I am very excited he is keen to learn it also because I like it myself and who knows, one day he might be able to teach me a few things on it! Also because I am learning piano and soon violin then we could in future play things together, can't wait!
Is the double bass the easiest of the string instruments to learn? (mind you I will not think you can just pick it up and learn at the speed of light).
Thanks for any opinions and info you will share with me.
Jo

A 3/4 is probably still too large. Several years ago, Rodney Slatford organised the design and manufacture (somewhere in Eastern Europe) of small basses for beginners (Minibasses). Your county music organiser probably has some for hire. Before you buy an instrument, you should look for a teacher who can advise you what is suitable for your son and who knows about the availability of loan or hire instruments. Rather few people stay with the first instrument they buy. I am on my third bass and my fifth horn of six that I have bought over the years.

Inherently, it's probably the most difficult of the orchestral strings, unless you find the contorted way you hold the upper strings an insuperable problem (as I do). I don't find depressing the thick strings any great problem, but bowing them is rather hard work, and my right thumb complains about long loud passages. Mostly, bass parts are easier than violin parts, because the instrument is somewhat less facile. The great advantage of playing the bass is that there is less competition than on most other instruments, and you are invited to play with other musicians who are much more capable on their instruments than you are on yours.

I did think it looked a bit 'big' :-)
So it is not really a matter of age as I should be able to find a smaller one for him...thats reassuring...I am quite happy that he is showing an interest in an instrument last thing I wanted was to tell him he had to wait another 3 years to play it!
Thanks for your input
Jo

Many years ago I used to play in a band in Surrey, the conductor was Caroline Emery she was the mini bass tutor at RCM. Mini basses are design for the younger beginner. I know a few 10 year olds who have successfully mastered the bass!!
http://www.stentor-music.com/catalogue/htm...ings/pdf/23.pdf


Here is a link to a shop that sells 1/2 size basses, I bought a cello from them.
http://www.gear4music.com/String_Instrumen...plus_Case3.html

Hope that helps.

I did bump into this website today while I was researching the bass thing for my son. I've never heard of them or read about them in this forum until you have now mentioned it, they make their own instruments right? are you happy with your cello? was it made by them.
thank you
Jo

Jo before you buy a double bass check with your music service to see if they operate an Endangered Instrument scheme as along with Oboe and some others they will loan them and give free tuition until your son is 16. I haven't really heard of any other Music Service doing this but you won't know until you ask.

My daughter is 11 and last Easter time the head of our Music Service spoke to me as she was asking about double bass lessons. They were quite happy for her to do them but I stopped it as I thought she was playing too many instruments already. Anyway this means there will be no problem with his age.

wow, an endangered instrument scheme? sounds really good, because yes, you always hear how they are short of double bass players etc that would be a really good incentive to up the numbers, I will definetely enquire about this, many thanks!

I seem to remember our music service offering the Endanger species scheme - lessons plus instrument but that was a couple of years ago now I think!! Don't think the lessons/instruments are free anymore? Let me know if you find they are.... my son has just started Euphonium in Sept 06 and didn't get free lesson.

As for Gear4music, I have had no trouble with them or the cello. We bought the deluxe cello upgraded the strings on arrival and after a few months the bridge was setup again by my local luthier to help his playing. I didn't want to splash out on an expensive instrument but chose to upgrade parts on a cheaper model for less. My son got 138 in his grade 5 after 18 months of tuition on it.

Not sure if they make the cello themselves? I think it is a chinese cello imported and branded their.


Hope this helps.

Thank you frumpy :-)
I am searching on the net regarding the 'endangered instruments' and so far not much luck, but I will enquire through the school as well.
If I will have to buy a double bass in future I will see if I can go for rental first and also keep in mind gear4music.
Jo

Try Surrey Arts Council as well. There is an article on the internet about their committment to 'endangered species' - oboes and bassoons in this case, where they provide the instrument and offer reduced tuition fees, etc. The only proviso seems to be that the child has to become a member of one of their wind ensembles.

I couldn't find anything about strings but I'm sure the Arts Council will be able to point you in the right direction.

oooooohhhh thank you, more pointers!
will contact them

I wouldn't recommend gear4music instruments. They are normally cheap inports and aren't very good quality. You'd be better off hiring an instrument from a county music service or something. I dunno so much about string instruments from them, but my first flute came from them and lasted a rather pathetic 3 months before I had to upgrade.

Jo don't enquire through school, my daughter got the chance to play Oboe through her recorder teacher, who is a peri, her school didn't know she was doing it. My elder daughter does Orchestral Percussion on a similar scheme again the lessons were not offered via school.

Our music service don't advertise it on their website, the lesson is not delivered in school but at the Arts Centre (a local High School requisitioned a couple of nights a week). Phone the Music Service at their base.

Frumpybabes I'm not sure that Euphonium is on the list, although I know French Horn is.

I have sent them an e-mail this afternoon, thank you!
Jo

Euphonium is offered as it is a baby Tuba which is on the list. Our music service offered similar in 2004/05 but don't remember it being current.

My daughter started Oboe in Feb 2005, I am fairly certain that some people only started last year. I expect it depends on how committed the Music Service is and if there are specialist teachers available.