spencer.b

Hi I did a 3 year degree at basstech which to be honest wasn't a great course mainly because the standard of the majority of players was pretty poor and the most of the tutors approach was more about technique rather than harmony theory reading etc.There was about 20 bass players in my year and the classes were fretboard skills, sight reading,live performance workshop and aural . Even though I didn't get much from the classes it gave me the opportunity to move to london and more importantly play practice gig and become totally immersed in music. After graduating I had got into jazz and playing upright so I did the masters course at Guildhall which was fantastic, really high standard ,great tutors. I was relatively new to jazz at that point so to be in at the deep end was exactly what I needed Since then I've made a living from playing bass doing all sorts of music including jazz , big band, touring with a rock band, weddings, functions,sessions for TV and ads etc. Virtually all my contacts in some way trace back to the courses I did so I would definately recommend it if your serious about it Based on my experience I'm a bit sceptical of the whole rockschool approach as I found my sound like most people from listening to and transcribing my favourite players and I felt the course was trying to take me down a stylisticaly specific route. I personally got more from the more formal music college approach hope thats of some help mate

yes mate great shout, I transribed the head of shake n blake from the big band record the other day, like most Mc Bride harder than it sounds and what's with Db ,sadist.

My advice would be go for it but be prepared for hard work, I got an upright 10 years ago after a few years on fretless . physically its really different but musically it's very similar. I'd say try and learn the classical left hand technique at least to start with ie. fingers 1 2 and 4 for semitones. The simandl method is a very good book that nearly all classical players start with. get stuck in mate

Dave Pegg on Fairport's Full House Dave Peacock from Chas n Dave no idea who's on bass but The Waitresses Christmas Wrapping caught my ear in the supermarket this christmas