32: Peter Tambroni Interview

This week on Contrabass Conversations we bring you an interview with string teacher and double bassist Peter Tambroni. Peter has written a book titled An Introduction to Double Bass Playing, and he has many valuable ideas regarding double bass pedagogy. Arizona bassist Robert Matheson is also featured on this episode. Enjoy! About Peter Peter began playing the double bass at the age of 16 (after playing the clarinet since elementary school) when the director of his high school jazz ensemble asked if anyone would be interested in playing bass. After playing electric bass it was suggested that he learn the string bass and soon after he began orchestral studies. Within a year, he knew he wanted to go into the field of music, and becoming a music teacher was the perfect choice for him. He received his Bachelor's of Music in Music Education from the Crane School of Music in 1996. After that he taught strings in the public schools for grades 4 - 12 in Northern New York and was adjunct faculty for 'cello and double bass at the State University of New York at Plattsburgh. In 2000 he graduated from the University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign with a Master's in Double Bass Performance, studying with Michael Cameron. He is currently a string teacher in suburban Chicago where he teaches string lessons in grades 3 - 8 and conducts the middle school concert and chamber orchestras. He also leads an Irish ensemble and a bass quartet. He performs around the greater Chicago area with many orchestra and rock bands around the city. In 2000, he appeared on the Bozo Super Sunday Show to give a presentation and performance on the double bass. In the spring of 2003 he was the guest soloist for District 212 (playing the Vanhal concerto) and in spring of 2004 he performed at Symphony Center's Orchestra Hall with the Polish American Symphony Orchestra of Chicago. He has attended classes with Michael Hovnanian of the Chicago Symphony, John Chiego, Hal Robinson of the Philadelphia Orchestra, Scott Haigh of the Cleveland Symphony, Stewart Arfman, and Erik Harris. Peter has been published several in American String Teacher as well as websites around the world.