The Low End Studio

Bass-ics & Beyond

Welcome to the first edition of Bass-ics & Beyond! Unlike traditional summer camps which take place in a short time span, this one takes place over the course of 8 weeks, meeting twice a week, during the summer time! This will enable the player, your child, to have a more flexible schedule for other activities while meeting their artistic goals.

What is the Goal of this Camp?

The goal of this camp is to be able to play the All-State Etudes at 50% speed in a relaxed and controlled manner while reinforcing the fundamentals and expanding their technique into the advanced register of the Double Bass. We will be covering and reinforcing proper practice techniques, how to methodically break down music into manageable chunks, Thumb Position Hand Shapes and how to shift in the Upper Register as well as have master classes and a mock audition at the end of the camp.

Every day’s schedule will be listed in advance so that students will know what will be covered. If a student has to miss a session, they will know what they missed and can work on it on their own.

Every student will also receive a copy of the all-state etudes carefully edited by Mr. John Hunter and a copy of his Scale & Arpeggio book on the first day of class as well as a practice graph.

Where will it be located?

We will be located in Addison, at the Alpha Midway Dance Studio (13740 Midway Rd #714, Dallas, TX 75244). We appreciate the cooperation of Alpha Midway Dance Studio for allowing us to use their facilities for our first edition of Bass-ics & Beyond. There will be restrooms available for students to use as well as a lobby for parents to wait.

What is the age level?

This camp will be tailored for any entering 9th graders who want to get a head start on the all-state music all the way to graduating seniors going to college who need a refresher on developing their technique.

If there are any other students who want to attend, please email me directly at TheLowEnd42hz@gmail.com to discuss options.

When will this camp take place?

Bass-ics & Beyond will take place over the course of 8 weeks, 2 days a week, over the course of the summer. Here are the dates where the class will take place. NOTE: All classes will take place between 1PM-4PM.

June 8th & June 12th

June 15th & June 18th

June 25th

June 29th & July 2nd

July 6th & July 9th

July 13th & July 16th

July 20th & July 23rd

July 27th & July 30th

What are the requirements?

Able To Perform 2 Octave F Major & G Major Scale & Arpeggios

Basic Bow Mechanics

Understanding The Difference Between Major & Minor Scales

Able to play 1 Octave Scales & Arpeggios Up to 4 Sharps & 3 Flats

Basic Thumb Position Technique (Hand Shape, Elbow Position, Hand Shapes)

What will my child/student need to bring to the camp?

Since this camp is taking place at a dance studio, we need to be respectful of their hardwood flooring. Every student is REQUIRED to bring a Cello Strap or Anchor Strap. Your child/student will NOT be able to participate if they do not have a something to create a barrier between their End Pin and the floor.

Besides that, their usual equipment which includes the following: Double Bass, Bow, Rosin, Cleaning Cloth, Binder (For Materials) and pencils.

What will be the schedule be like?

Each class will take place twice a week from the hours of 1PM – 4PM. There will be a 15 Minute Set Up Period and a 15 Minute Tear Down Period and each session will be 2.5 Hours in Length. During days with Guest Artists, the agenda will be extremely similar except the 90 minutes will be spent with three 30 minute Master Classes featuring students enrolled in Bass-ics & Beyond.

Who are the Guest Artists?

This camp will host 4 guest artists for 4 different sessions. They are from a variety of professional organizations in the North Texas area such as…Fort Worth Symphony, Dallas Opera, Dallas Symphony, University of North Texas, Southern Methodist University, University of Texas at Arlington and Texas Christian University, to name a few. More Guest Artists TBA…

Paul Unger

Paul Unger is the Assistant Principal Bass of the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra and an accomplished bassist, composer, and educator. He has appeared as a soloist at major festivals and organizations and has performed with orchestras including the Minnesota Orchestra, Louisiana Philharmonic, and Oregon Symphony. A highly sought-after jazz and session musician, he has collaborated with artists such as Elle King, Kevin Eubanks, The Who, The Eagles, Leon Bridges, and Andrea Bocelli, and has performed on numerous Broadway touring productions. Unger leads the acclaimed jazz group Flipside and was voted “Best Bassist” by Fort Worth Weekly in 2016. In addition to performing and teaching at institutions such as Texas Christian University and the University of North Texas, he is also an award-winning filmmaker and composer for film.

Will Gowen

Will Gowen is the Principal Bass of the Dallas Opera Orchestra and is an accomplished Performer across many mediums. He has appeared with various orchestras such as Fort Worth Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Music in the Mountains in Durango, Colorado and has collaborated with many artists such as Andrea Bocelli. He attended Texas Christian University.

Chelsea Strayer

Chelsea Strayer is a dynamic double bassist dedicated to expanding the repertoire for her instrument through performances of new works and collaborations with contemporary composers. A passionate educator, she maintains a studio of over 30 students and has taught in a wide variety of educational settings for more than eight years, working to inspire and guide the next generation of bassists. Chelsea earned her Master of Music from the Yale School of Music and holds degrees in Music and Music Education from the Peabody Conservatory. She currently serves as the head teaching fellow at the University of North Texas while pursuing an Artist Diploma, and she teaches and coaches students at several schools across Texas. An active performer, Chelsea has appeared in chamber projects across the country, premiered new works at Carnegie Hall, and is a member of the Los Colinas Symphony Orchestra.

What are the Payment & Enrollment Options?

Click HERE to register your child or student. Once you submit a registration form, I will send an invoice to your email along with payment options. A $100 non-refundable deposit will be due a week from when the invoice is sent and total tuition will be due by May 15th.

Will there be Scholarships?

Unfortunately, since this is our first year and we are completely independent, we will not be offering scholarships right now. We are hopeful that this will change for future editions.

Will my child be chosen to play in a masterclass?

Students enrolled in Option #1 or Option #2 will have the opportunity to play in a masterclass. Those enrolled in Option #3 & Option #4 will be spectators only unless there are more opportunities.

I’m a Teacher. Can I enroll my student through the school?

Yes. You can enroll your interested student as part of your school program. Email me directly at TheLowEnd42Hz@gmail.com and we can communicate options.

I’m sold! How do I register my child?!