Double Bass

string INSTRUMENT

INSTRUMENT INFORMATION

The double bass, sometimes called bass or upright bass, is part of the string family of orchestral instruments, which includes the violin, viola, and cello. The double is made of wood and has four strings, and can be played either with or without a bow. The bow is made of wood and horse hair; the horse hair grabs the string when the bow is pulled across the string, causing the string to vibrate. When played without the bow, the instrument makes a plucking sound, called pizzicato. The double bass is primarily played while standing up.

MEET THE INSTRUMENT

In the following video (3:44), Rob Jost presents the double bass, and details how this instrument makes sound. This video can be enjoyed along with your children in class:

After watching this video, you can engage the children in discussion about what they remembered or noticed about the double bass. Children may share ideas about other instruments that it reminds them of, or other music or sounds that they have heard before. Some questions that may initiate a discussion:

• Do you remember some of the names of the parts of the double bass?

• What did Rob do to make sound on the instrument?

• What is the double bass made of?

• Does this remind you of any other instruments that you have seen before?

MUSIC

In the following videos, Rob performs two different pieces on the double bass. You may choose to play these videos together in the same class session, or play them over several days to create multiple music experiences for the children.

With each experience, you can watch and listen along with the children. While listening, you may notice that the children move their bodies along with the music, and naturally show what they hear through bouncing, clapping, dancing, patting their legs, or almost any other movement that you can imagine! This is part of their music learning, and you can encourage them to move while they listen.

After you watch and listen to each video, depending on the age of the children, you may initiate a discussion about what they heard and saw. Children often feel more comfortable contributing if the questions are specific; abstract questions (such as “how did it make you feel?”) may be difficult for the young child to answer. Some questions that you may consider are:

• Was the music fast or slow? Loud or soft? Smooth or choppy? (etc.)

• Did this music remind you of other music or sounds that you’ve heard before?

• What kinds of movements did you make when you were listening?

And, after you have listened to all of the pieces, the children may be able to make comparisons:

• What was the same about these pieces of music? What was different?

Listening Experience #1 (1:42)

Rob plays and sings I’ve Been Working on the Railroad, an American folksong.

ABOUT THE MUSICIAN