What advice do you have for any young double bassists out there?
There are many ways to make a career as a double bassist. If you want to play in an orchestra, know that auditioning is a process. It can be very hard at times. In the end, it’s not only about how you play technically; it’s about how you approach it mentally. Auditioning taught me how to fail, and I think this is a good thing to learn as a musician. Don’t beat yourself up when you don’t win; there will always be other opportunities. Also, you will see the same people over and over again, and that can be nice, knowing that there are others out there trying to do the same thing you are doing.
Keep your head up and practice hard. Don’t get too uptight; the music will come when you are relaxed. We can control how we play the double bass, but we can’t control the results of auditions. For me, I do my best for the part I can control, and the rest is out of my hands. You will feel better if you come from that angle.
You can also use auditions to see what other cultures are like. You might want to audition in a different city or country. You can try to take the risk and not only stay in a comfortable place. Give yourself more opportunities so you can understand yourself better and know what you would really like to do. Sometimes, God will open a door for you that you didn’t expect.
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