Fifteen bass students in grades 6-12 attended BassFest – West 2019. The event was held on Saturday, October 19 at East Rockford Middle School and was organized by Allison Holden, orchestra director at North Rockford Middle School. John Kennedy, Farmington Public Schools orchestra director, and Larry Hutchinson, former bassist in the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, were the event’s clinicians. The workshop was a great success and the attendees were students from Rockford, Caledonia, Hudsonville, Lowell, Grandville, Grand Rapids, Alto, and St. Joseph.
The students spent portions of the day playing in a large “bass orchestra” ensemble, and ability-based break-out groups under John and Larry’s direction. At lunch, students had the chance to spend time and ask questions of the clinicians. At this time of the day, students learned lots about instrument maintenance; including how often to change strings and bow hair, and how to correctly carry the bass and transport it safely in a vehicle.
Thanks to the MASTA members who encouraged students to attend!
