Week 27 of year 2008 on the double bass

29 Jun 2008, Sun: I started with playing the first movement from Dittersdorf's Second Double Bass Concerto. The focus was on playing short yet clearly articulated strokes.

Afterwhich, I worked on just a couple of bars from the cadenza of the second movement from Dittersdorf's Second Double Bass Concerto. There was a G-major arpeggio in this couple of bars and I had to spend more than 20 minutes just practising the arpeggio that consists of 14 notes. The aim was to achieve a warm tone with accurate intonation. I got a bit closer to aim by the end of the practice but I reckon I would need more practice.

30 Jun 2008, Mon: I played Faure's Sicilienne and the first and second movements from Dittersdorf's Second Double Bass Concerto. My concentration level did not seem to be optimal perhaps due to a sense of tiredness from the work day. I wish I had better intonation.

3 Jul 2008, Thu: During double bass lesson, MJ demonstrated Osborne's Gargoyles. He gave me advice on the fingerings to some of the more difficult parts. This would helped me get started faster on this work. I was impressed how he knows every note on the double bass at the back of his fingertips. It was inspiring for me.

After a pretty long time working on Osborne's Gargoyles, I played the cadenza from the second movement of Dittersdorf's Second Double Bass Concerto. I still need more work to get a fine legato line.

MJ said that I could sit for Diploma exams in double bass (music performance) by November 2008, though I was not sure if I could master the works to an appropriate standard by then. Was I being critical? I just wanted to play confidently, with musicality.

5 Jul 2008, Sat: On 4 Jul 2008, I had intentionally excuse myself early from the gathering for Friends of Yesterday.sg to practise. However, by the time that I reached home and settled down, it was close to 11 p.m. and I was too tired to practise. Anyway, on 5 Jul 2008, I practised the second movement of Dittersdorf's Second Double Bass Concerto. I badly needed a more fuller tone on my double bass.

I did not have the energy to work on Osborne's Gargoyles. Hopefully, I could work on it soon.

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It had been a rather vexing practising week. I am feeling uncertain if I would be competent enough to register to take a diploma exams in music performance in double bass. I wanted a sound that I am still trying to figure how to achieve on my double bass. What kept me going was the faith that somehow the time spent practising would help me somehow improve my playing even though I don't know how.