Your opinion on doubling?
-
jonesbrass
- 4 valves
- Posts: 923
- Joined: Wed Dec 20, 2006 11:29 am
- Location: Sanford, NC
I say if you can play well, go ahead and double. It certainly can't HURT you get gigs . . . and isn't that what it's all about when you're trying to make your living as a musician?!
As for me, I've doubled on electric bass, guitar, trombone and euph.
As for me, I've doubled on electric bass, guitar, trombone and euph.
Willson 3050S CC, Willson 3200S F, B&S PT-10, BMB 6/4 CC, 1922 Conn 86I
Gone but not forgotten:
Cerveny 681, Musica-Steyr F, Miraphone 188, Melton 45, Conn 2J, B&M 5520S CC, Shires Bass Trombone, Cerveny CFB-653-5IMX, St. Petersburg 202N
Gone but not forgotten:
Cerveny 681, Musica-Steyr F, Miraphone 188, Melton 45, Conn 2J, B&M 5520S CC, Shires Bass Trombone, Cerveny CFB-653-5IMX, St. Petersburg 202N
-
Dennis K.
- bugler
- Posts: 158
- Joined: Thu Jul 06, 2006 2:59 pm
- Location: Dallas
"Doubling" is a huge misnomer in the professional world. Either you play the instrument or you don't. To say "Oh that's my double" is like preparing someone for your excuse that you are about to perform less than adequately.
If you wish to learn additional instruments, great - it will broaden your musical perspective. If you wish to perform publicly or professionally, learn additional instruments to the level of your primary instrument.
Band directors are the obvious exception - they frequently play all the instruments in their band with some degree of proficiency - but one does generally not find a trumpet player band director playing the 1st woodwind book (Alto/tenor sax, fl, clr) in a pro pit gig, or a sax player on the lead trumpet book.
If you wish to learn additional instruments, great - it will broaden your musical perspective. If you wish to perform publicly or professionally, learn additional instruments to the level of your primary instrument.
Band directors are the obvious exception - they frequently play all the instruments in their band with some degree of proficiency - but one does generally not find a trumpet player band director playing the 1st woodwind book (Alto/tenor sax, fl, clr) in a pro pit gig, or a sax player on the lead trumpet book.
-
lgb&dtuba
- 4 valves
- Posts: 886
- Joined: Wed Oct 19, 2005 7:55 am
Well, actually doubling gets used loosely to describe the ability to play more than one instrument and is not particularly what that term means.
In practice, what it really means is getting hired to play more than one instrument. For example, if you play both euphonium and trombone at a single gig then you're doubling. The fact that you can also play tuba (or any other instruments) doesn't enter into it. Union members can explain what that means to your pay better than I can, assuming it's a union gig.
Likewise, if you've been hired to play a single instrument the fact that you have the ability to play other instruments doesn't enter into it at all, except that getting hired in the first place requires that you play the instrument in question.
The more instruments you play well, then the better your chances are of finding gigs. If you can double then that too can lead to more work and often a little more money.
In practice, what it really means is getting hired to play more than one instrument. For example, if you play both euphonium and trombone at a single gig then you're doubling. The fact that you can also play tuba (or any other instruments) doesn't enter into it. Union members can explain what that means to your pay better than I can, assuming it's a union gig.
Likewise, if you've been hired to play a single instrument the fact that you have the ability to play other instruments doesn't enter into it at all, except that getting hired in the first place requires that you play the instrument in question.
The more instruments you play well, then the better your chances are of finding gigs. If you can double then that too can lead to more work and often a little more money.
-
a2ba4u
- bugler
- Posts: 108
- Joined: Mon Oct 04, 2004 10:39 am
- Location: Macon, GA
For me, there are no absolute rules that one needs to meet in order to attain "doubling enlightenment," however, I have had some success adhering to the principles outlined below.
I've found doubling to be a pretty useful tool to have in one's bag, but, like most tools, you have to know when to use it, and you have to know the tool's limitations.
To put that a little more directly, having a double has made my phone ring more often than if I simply played one instrument. However, I have had to turn down several of these phone calls because my skills simply did not match up with the requirements of the gig.
I am bass trombonist when not playing tuba, but my skills on the instrument are fairly limited when compared to other "primary" players. This said, my t-bone skills have proven more than adequate for the occasional church gig, community band concert, and junior high trombone lesson that I am asked to teach. Being judicious (and realistic) about the gigs you accept on your double will insure that your phone continues to ring and that your double doesn't become a liability to your success at bringing in $$$.
Kyle
I've found doubling to be a pretty useful tool to have in one's bag, but, like most tools, you have to know when to use it, and you have to know the tool's limitations.
To put that a little more directly, having a double has made my phone ring more often than if I simply played one instrument. However, I have had to turn down several of these phone calls because my skills simply did not match up with the requirements of the gig.
I am bass trombonist when not playing tuba, but my skills on the instrument are fairly limited when compared to other "primary" players. This said, my t-bone skills have proven more than adequate for the occasional church gig, community band concert, and junior high trombone lesson that I am asked to teach. Being judicious (and realistic) about the gigs you accept on your double will insure that your phone continues to ring and that your double doesn't become a liability to your success at bringing in $$$.
Kyle
-
Tubadork
- pro musician
- Posts: 1312
- Joined: Mon Mar 29, 2004 7:06 pm
- Location: Atlanta, Georgia