Help Gavin Hardy Get a Double Bass
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I am trying to get Gavin Hardy, middle school bassist and basketball player, a bass. You probably saw a video of him playing the Star-Spangled Banner before his school's basketball game.
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/features/8th-grade-basketball-star-has-many-talents/83-2fdd76d6-2808-4697-83ee-cd331c8e798d
He is a ridiculously talented and driven young man and is poised to grow unbelievably as a bassist – like no student I’ve seen in my career. Yet his family has no means to afford to rent a bass, much less purchase one – and believe me, I’ve explored every avenue.
Many, many bassists and community members were touched by the local news piece – it was shared many times on Facebook. Gavin articulates his passion both for the bass and basketball eloquently. You also heard his coach and orchestra teacher talk about what a model person, student, athlete, and musician he is. I had been trying for a couple years to get him to study with me, as virtually every orchestra teacher in the Winston-Salem school district had spoken to me about him. I'd connected with his mother a year or so ago, and we were going to start lessons, but I think money was tight and she asked to wait a bit, which was fine and it was summer and I travel a lot…and then we never followed up.
As a result of that local news spot, I again reached out. I had many Facebook friends ask me if I knew him; wanting me to get in touch with him. So, I tried again. Indeed, it was money that was the issue - they'd been reluctant to talk to me about lessons solely for that reason. I immediately cut my fee by over half, and asked if that was possible for them. Yes, they thought it was. I told them to tell me if it ever became an issue just to let me know and I wouldn't charge anything, or I could get Gavin to help me around the house or yard in exchange for lessons.
(FYI - My rates are very reasonable - completely in range of normal private lessons in the area. I totally understand the financial difficulty - the reason my daughters play the violin and double bass is because we didn't think we could afford to pay anyone else to teach themI)
I have now taught Gavin four lessons. Due to Covid-19 we have had only one in-person lesson - the rest have been online. I've taught many very fine young bassists who have gone on to nice careers in performance and teaching. But, Gavin is a phenomenon. He has never had private lessons - just a few visits from a former graduate student of mine to his school orchestra (Gavin has a fantastic orchestra teacher named Barbara Bell who has been incredibly supportive and has given him great guidance). Beyond Mrs. Bell’s help, he has basically learned how to play the bass from YouTube – and YouTube has done an excellent job.(!)
His athletic work-ethic is obvious by how he carries himself physically and mentally. Yet, when he talks about music he is all in. Mention the Bach cello suites, and he'll talk about which movements of which suites he likes the most, playing many bars from each. He has loved classical music since he was very little, in fact I have never met another student his age so sincerely in love with classical music.
At the first lesson I gave him four two-octave scale fingerings and said, "try and memorize these, but if it's difficult, two would be fine." He returned the next week with all 12 scale fingerings memorized. I had given him five George Vance tunes to learn (trying to suss out his level) and he returned having learned the whole book. I have finally hit a point where he is challenged. He learned both the Lorenzitti Gavotte and Keyper Romance and Rondo in one week, and I only had to tweak a few things. I pointed out that he missed a few bowings and told him, “A professional bassist does not view the bowings as suggestions or options – we play what is set in front of us. I think I can ask the same of you, right?” His response, “Yes, sir. I wouldn’t want you to ask any less.” I would be surprised if I ever have to mention bowings again in a lesson.
The problem is that he has hit the limit with his double bass. His current bass is typical of a school instrument - a terrible set-up with painted fingerboard, so not much adjustment can be done. At the end of the fingerboard you can stick your whole hand under the strings. With a set-up like that, it is ridiculous to have him learn the repertoire that he is really excited and ready to learn - Dragonetti, Dittersdorf, Koussevitzsky, and Bach. In terms of his development as a bassist, the situation is rather desperate. Bob Beerman's Bass Violin Shop, knowing his situation, has offered him a very good deal in terms of renting a hybrid instrument. Yet, that deposit and the monthly expense is too daunting for the family, particularly in these uncertain Covid-19 times.
I have explored every other option – it is hard for me to ask for charity even for someone else, I think. Yet, here I am! I am asking the bass community and our local community to see if we can get Gavin a bass. And, of course, he needs a real bow, too! Any bass teacher knows the scenario here! I'm asking for $4000 to get him an instrument, and free his family of the burden of rental costs. For a typical bass student (and he talent and work-ethic are far from typical!) at this level of development I'd be recommending the family spend $3500-$4500 on an instrument and $1000 on a bow, if they have the means. And, if the family had even greater means, I’d be suggesting $8000, plus $4000 for a bow - because his talent merits it. If the bass community and local community help out, but we don’t reach the full goal, I assure you that I will make sure the money is spent to have the greatest effect to further Gavin’s bass playing. Here are the targets which we could reach, and what Gavin could afford if so:
$208 - would cover the deposit needed to rent a bass from Bob Beerman, but not cover the $65 rental fee each month.
$834 - would cover the deposit and a year's rent on a hybrid double bass from Bob Beerman
$2900 - would buy the hybrid rental bass outright
$3450 - a higher quality hybrid, Eastman VB95 Hybrid Bass
$5400 - Sam Shen Mirecourt model bass
$8000 - Calin Wultur Elite model bass
Of course, I’d be recommending the family purchase a bow, and $1000 would get either a decent wood bow or good carbon-fiber bow. If there is extra...if we reach $5000, I'd suggest $4000 for the bass, and $1000 for the bow.
https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/features/8th-grade-basketball-star-has-many-talents/83-2fdd76d6-2808-4697-83ee-cd331c8e798d
He is a ridiculously talented and driven young man and is poised to grow unbelievably as a bassist – like no student I’ve seen in my career. Yet his family has no means to afford to rent a bass, much less purchase one – and believe me, I’ve explored every avenue.
Many, many bassists and community members were touched by the local news piece – it was shared many times on Facebook. Gavin articulates his passion both for the bass and basketball eloquently. You also heard his coach and orchestra teacher talk about what a model person, student, athlete, and musician he is. I had been trying for a couple years to get him to study with me, as virtually every orchestra teacher in the Winston-Salem school district had spoken to me about him. I'd connected with his mother a year or so ago, and we were going to start lessons, but I think money was tight and she asked to wait a bit, which was fine and it was summer and I travel a lot…and then we never followed up.
As a result of that local news spot, I again reached out. I had many Facebook friends ask me if I knew him; wanting me to get in touch with him. So, I tried again. Indeed, it was money that was the issue - they'd been reluctant to talk to me about lessons solely for that reason. I immediately cut my fee by over half, and asked if that was possible for them. Yes, they thought it was. I told them to tell me if it ever became an issue just to let me know and I wouldn't charge anything, or I could get Gavin to help me around the house or yard in exchange for lessons.
(FYI - My rates are very reasonable - completely in range of normal private lessons in the area. I totally understand the financial difficulty - the reason my daughters play the violin and double bass is because we didn't think we could afford to pay anyone else to teach themI)
I have now taught Gavin four lessons. Due to Covid-19 we have had only one in-person lesson - the rest have been online. I've taught many very fine young bassists who have gone on to nice careers in performance and teaching. But, Gavin is a phenomenon. He has never had private lessons - just a few visits from a former graduate student of mine to his school orchestra (Gavin has a fantastic orchestra teacher named Barbara Bell who has been incredibly supportive and has given him great guidance). Beyond Mrs. Bell’s help, he has basically learned how to play the bass from YouTube – and YouTube has done an excellent job.(!)
His athletic work-ethic is obvious by how he carries himself physically and mentally. Yet, when he talks about music he is all in. Mention the Bach cello suites, and he'll talk about which movements of which suites he likes the most, playing many bars from each. He has loved classical music since he was very little, in fact I have never met another student his age so sincerely in love with classical music.
At the first lesson I gave him four two-octave scale fingerings and said, "try and memorize these, but if it's difficult, two would be fine." He returned the next week with all 12 scale fingerings memorized. I had given him five George Vance tunes to learn (trying to suss out his level) and he returned having learned the whole book. I have finally hit a point where he is challenged. He learned both the Lorenzitti Gavotte and Keyper Romance and Rondo in one week, and I only had to tweak a few things. I pointed out that he missed a few bowings and told him, “A professional bassist does not view the bowings as suggestions or options – we play what is set in front of us. I think I can ask the same of you, right?” His response, “Yes, sir. I wouldn’t want you to ask any less.” I would be surprised if I ever have to mention bowings again in a lesson.
The problem is that he has hit the limit with his double bass. His current bass is typical of a school instrument - a terrible set-up with painted fingerboard, so not much adjustment can be done. At the end of the fingerboard you can stick your whole hand under the strings. With a set-up like that, it is ridiculous to have him learn the repertoire that he is really excited and ready to learn - Dragonetti, Dittersdorf, Koussevitzsky, and Bach. In terms of his development as a bassist, the situation is rather desperate. Bob Beerman's Bass Violin Shop, knowing his situation, has offered him a very good deal in terms of renting a hybrid instrument. Yet, that deposit and the monthly expense is too daunting for the family, particularly in these uncertain Covid-19 times.
I have explored every other option – it is hard for me to ask for charity even for someone else, I think. Yet, here I am! I am asking the bass community and our local community to see if we can get Gavin a bass. And, of course, he needs a real bow, too! Any bass teacher knows the scenario here! I'm asking for $4000 to get him an instrument, and free his family of the burden of rental costs. For a typical bass student (and he talent and work-ethic are far from typical!) at this level of development I'd be recommending the family spend $3500-$4500 on an instrument and $1000 on a bow, if they have the means. And, if the family had even greater means, I’d be suggesting $8000, plus $4000 for a bow - because his talent merits it. If the bass community and local community help out, but we don’t reach the full goal, I assure you that I will make sure the money is spent to have the greatest effect to further Gavin’s bass playing. Here are the targets which we could reach, and what Gavin could afford if so:
$208 - would cover the deposit needed to rent a bass from Bob Beerman, but not cover the $65 rental fee each month.
$834 - would cover the deposit and a year's rent on a hybrid double bass from Bob Beerman
$2900 - would buy the hybrid rental bass outright
$3450 - a higher quality hybrid, Eastman VB95 Hybrid Bass
$5400 - Sam Shen Mirecourt model bass
$8000 - Calin Wultur Elite model bass
Of course, I’d be recommending the family purchase a bow, and $1000 would get either a decent wood bow or good carbon-fiber bow. If there is extra...if we reach $5000, I'd suggest $4000 for the bass, and $1000 for the bow.
Organizer
Paul Sharpe
Organizer
Winston-Salem, NC