<p>I am a high school senior currently knee deep in applications and supplements and essays.</p>
<p>I started playing the double bass since I was 12, basically tricked into it by the conductor of the string orchestra. About 6 months later, I had to bring my instrument along for a performance- that's when I found out why most people DON'T learn the double bass. But I love it now.</p>
<p>I started off in an orchestra, but about 2 years in I started taking private lessons, and
entered a few national music competitions performing solo. My repertoire includes some baroque pieces(Eccles, Vivaldi, Bach, Fryba), classical concertos (Vanhal), romantic pieces (Koussevitzky, Bottesini)
and recently started studying Hindemith's wonderful(ly difficult) sonata.</p>
<p>I was wondering if there are universities particularly renowned for their double bass faculty or program? Obviously the top conservatories would be best for pursuing a performance major, but my parents won't support me to do so. How about some joint university/conservatory programs, or music departments of colleges? Somewhere I could continue to possibly pursue a performance minor, take private lessons, and participate in orchestra. I'm applying early to Stanford, but I'm still open towards any option for regular decision. I would imagine double bass players pretty scarce to come by, would this stand out in admissions? </p>
<p>Lastly, does anyone have suggestions for summer programs of either orchestra or double bass? The ones I've hear of are Asian Youth Orchestra, Aspen, and Karr Kamp.</p>
<p>Thanks!</p>
<p>Look at Oberlin. You can apply for the Conservatory only, the college only, or the five year dual degree program. The college has a musical studies major that is jointly run with the conservatory and it is a top rated LAC which should help with parents. The Arts and Sciences Orchestra is encouraging more bass players to audition although you can audition for other groups as well. Auditions are held for three levels of secondary lessons in the fall if you are not a performance major in the conservatory. Music lives and breathes at Oberlin with performances and master classes and too many groups to mention both in and out of the conservatory.</p>
<p>I know a bass player who went to Stanford and was happy there. And Cosmos, a poster on this board is a top level bass player who studied physics at University of Chicago and took private lessons across town. You could PM her. BassDad on this board is also a wealth of information about Bass studies - his daughter went to Oberlin.</p>
<p>For a summer program, check out Domaine Forget. It is a competitive admit for Bass but in the past they’ve had teachers from Rice, Cleveland Orchestra, Francois Rabbath, etc.</p>
<p>Look at the thread entitled “doability”. It has posts about double majoring at Peabody/John Hopkins, Tufts/Nec, etc. You’ll find great double bass teachers at Peabody, NEC, etc. Many of the young bassists who have made it into major orchestras are coming out of Rice University having studied with Ellison.</p>
<p>Have you considered Yale, Princeton, Swarthmore, Williams, and Columbia? At any of them you’d have a chance to study bass at a high level, in addition to academic studies, without having to be a music major.</p>
<p>Thank you all so much for the replies!
Bartokrules: Oberlin sounds like an awesome example of a school that offers both academics and music, I’m definitely looking at some of the LACs also</p>
<p>Momofbassist: I was just looking at Domaine Forget, but they haven’t posted information on auditions yet, I suppose I’ll wait til they do. Thanks for the tip!</p>
<p>SpiritManager: About the bass player who went to Stanford, did he do orchestra only, or also took private lessons? I’m definitely seriously considering Yale, Swarthmore, and Columbia; all great colleges.</p>