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Introduction

Trinity Laban has a thriving double bass department. We aim to prepare students for as wide a range of styles as possible so that they are in a position to take advantage of any playing opportunity that comes their way. Today’s modern ‘portfolio’ musician is required to adapt his or her playing for a number of different situations, and the Trinity Laban double bass course ensures that graduates have the skills and the contacts to meet those needs.

Teaching

Our exceptional roster of professiorial staff includes Leon Bosch, Christopher West, Valentina Ciardelli, Neil Tarlton.

All Double Bass students, both postgraduate and undergraduate, receive Individual Tuition in their principal study instruments. All Prinicipal Study Professors also offer group tuition sessions, in which all their students study together in groups of no more than seven.

Every undergraduate student is additionally entitled to eight hours of Principal Study Enhancement (PSE) sessions throughout the year. You can choose:

  • Technical development with your Principal Study teacher
  • Lessons with another professor within the department to gain an alternate viewpoint
  • Period instrument lessons
  • Associated or complementary instrument instruction. This can also include lessons on an instrument useful to your career such as piano
  • Classical bassists can take second study jazz lessons and vice versa

Once a week all the bass students gather together for a two hour departmental class, taken by a resident professor or by a visitor from outside. One of the main purposes of the classes is to work together on orchestral repertoire. Double Bass Professors Chris West, Neil Tarlton and Leon Bosch share the knowledge they have gained from their wide and varied orchestral experience to prepare students for the orchestral world, and an exchange of opinions is encouraged between professors and students. Chi-chi Nwanoku gives her specialist knowledge about period instruments and baroque playing in general. Other visitors from outside have included principal players from many of London’s orchestras, and specialists in contemporary music, session music and even West End shows.

Performance

Side by Side

At Trinity Laban we offer many outstanding performance opportunities. Chief among those is our Side by Side scheme.

This unique programme sees principal players from some of the UK’s leading orchestras come to perform alongside and mentor our students. In the last 12 months our collaborations included:

  • Respighi Fountains of Rome and Debussy Nocturnes with the BBC Symphony Orchestra
  • Nielsen Symphony no 5 with the Philharmonia Orchestra
  • Korngold film music with the BBC Concert Orchestra
  • Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra
  • Elgar Symphony no 1 with the Welsh National Opera Orchestra

In September 2017, Trinity Laban students will also perform alongside Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra (BSO) musicians in one of the operatic events of the year: the world premiere at Grange Festival Opera of a newly orchestrated version of Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park. This is part of an ongoing partnership with BSO that will see our orchestral students gain benefit from a number of new mentorship initiatives.

The Side by Side scheme also extends to chamber music. Our students gain the invaluable experience of performing alongside professors in the magnificent Old Royal Naval College, in repertoire such as the Brahms String Sextet and Mendelssohn Octet.

And our many other performance projects include performances from our Symphony Orchestra and String Ensemble at prestigious venues across London and beyond.

Chamber Music

All TL students perform in chamber music groups, and can receive unlimited coaching from our professorial team and resident and visiting artists.

There are also frequent performance opportunities at amazing venues including the Old Royal Naval College Chapel.

Competitions

Every other year the Vernon Elliott Double Bass Prize is awarded to the winner of the college’s Solo Double Bass competition, and double bass students have also reached the finals of the Bach and Classical Concerto competitions.

Masterclasses

Trinity Laban benefits from regular visits from some of the world’s leading double bass players who give their invaluable expertise on works from solo, recital and concerto repertoire. Recent visiting artists include:

Location and Facilities

Our truly magnificent location – the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich – is the envy of the world.

We are just a short journey from the centre of London, one of the leading musical centres of the world, yet situated within the “village” atmosphere of Greenwich, allowing for an escape from the busy city.

Our exceptional facilities include numerous well-equipped practice rooms, a suite of recital spaces, a recording studio, award-winning library and extensive IT.

Crucially, our on-site luthier is also on hand to rehair bows and repair instruments.

And perhaps the most important thing of all is the atmosphere here at Trinity Laban. Time and time again, our students. You’ll find yourself surrounded by colleagues – both students and staff – who are extremely dedicated, and hard-working but also friendly and supportive.

Many students who come to Trinity Laban after studying at other conservatoires around the world tell us that there is nowhere better to help you unlock potential, and complete your journey into the professional world.