Jon McCullough-Benner's guest appearances

Jon McCullough-Benner

Contrabass Conversations

David Allen

Paul Simon

Brian Johnson

Willie Nelson

Henry Chen

William Parker

Steve Metcalf

Scott Dixon

John Davis

Chris West

Leonard Bernstein

Paul Johnson

Miles Brown

Kevin Brown

Rick Jones

OwlTail

Jon McCullough-Benner recently released a great new book called An Auditioning Double Bassist's Tool Kit: Bowings, Fingerings, and Useful Tips for Standard Audition Repertoire.  In this book, he shares his wealth of knowledge learned over his years in a detailed and compelling fashion.   Jon joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra as its Principal Bass in 2017 after serving as Principal Bass for the Oregon Symphony.  He also serves as the Assistant Principal Bass for the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra and is an  Artist-Faculty member of Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts.   Check out my YouTube review of this book here, and  check out my 2017 conversation with Jon for more details about his background.  Enjoy!   Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!   Check out our Online Sheet Music Store with 80+ wide-ranging titles for bassists.   Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle. Check out my  Beginner's Classical Bass course, available exclusively from Discover Double Bass.   Thank you to our sponsors!   Dorico - Dorico helps you to write music notation, automatically producing printed results of exceptional quality — and plays it back with breathtaking realism. It is easy enough for anyone to learn, yet has hundreds of advanced notations, features, options and sounds to satisfy even the most demanding professionals.  With its streamlined, natural user interface, students and those with less experience in scoring can compose and arrange straight into Dorico, making learning the language of music notation much faster and more intuitive. Editing and making changes — such as instrument, time signature or key — are straightforward, with the notation instantly and correctly adapting to include them, reinforcing the learning outcome.   Ear Trumpet Labs - They make hand-built mics out of Portland, OR and they have an excellent mic for upright bass called Nadine. The Nadine is a condenser mic with a clear natural sound and incredible feedback rejection. This mic is a completely new design -- the head mounts in between the strings above the tailpiece with a rubber grommet, and the body securely straps to the tailpiece with velcro elastic. A 14-inch Mogami cable connects the two parts making it easy to place on any bass. It’s durable and holds up to the demanding needs of the instrument while offering excellent sound quality. Ear Trumpet Labs is offering a free t-shirt just for Contrabass listeners with the purchase of a mic, just visit EarTrumpetLabs.com/contrabass to claim yours and check out the Nadine!   Practizma - The Practizma practice journal is packed with research based strategies to turn your ho-hum practice into extraordinary practice.  Develop your curiosity, discipline, creativity, daring, tenacity and zen.  Take a journey with four elements each week: goal setting, reflection prompt, action challenge, and journal pages to track your practice.  Curious?  Download the introductory chapter of the journal for free - this gives you an idea of what it's all about.   Modacity - Are you a practice-savvy musician? Get Modacity – the music practice app that organizes, focuses, and tracks your progress.  Recorder… metronome… tone generator… timer… note taking… Do away with the random assortment of music practice apps in your arsenal. Modacity™ combines all the tools you need into one easy to use, music practice tool.  Organize, focus, and reflect on your practice – motivating you to increase retention in less time.  Modacity has a special offer for Contrabass Conversations listeners that includes lifetime access to the app.   Contrabass Conversations production team:  Jason Heath, host Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing Mitch Moehring, audio engineer  Trevor Jones, publication and promotion Krista Kopper, archival and cataloging theme music by Eric Hochberg 

<a href="https://mcculloughbennerbass.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jon McCullough-Benner</a> recently released a great new book called <a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08MW7L1BX" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">An Auditioning Double Bassist's Tool Kit: Bowings, Fingerings, and Useful Tips for Standard Audition Repertoire</a>.  In this book, he shares his wealth of knowledge learned over his years in a detailed and compelling fashion. Jon joined the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra as its Principal Bass in 2017 after serving as Principal Bass for the Oregon Symphony.  He also serves as the Assistant Principal Bass for the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra and is an <a href="https://www.roosevelt.edu/academics/faculty/profile?ID=jmcculloughbenner" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Artist-Faculty member of Roosevelt University’s Chicago College of Performing Arts</a>. Check out my <a href="https://youtu.be/A-8QrNJ77rQ" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">YouTube review of this book here</a>, and <a href="https://contrabassconversations.com/2017/05/15/346-jon-mccullough-benner-milwaukee-symphony-principal-bass/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> check out my 2017 conversation with Jon</a> for more details about his background.  Enjoy! <a href="http://smarturl.it/cbcpodcast?ck_subscriber_id=90309136" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe to the podcast</a> to get these interviews delivered to you automatically! Check out our <a href="https://gumroad.com/dbbpublications?sort=newest" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Online Sheet Music Store</a> with 80+ wide-ranging titles for bassists. <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/app" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Listen to Contrabass Conversations with our free app for iOS, Android, and Kindle</a>. Check out my <a href="https://courses.discoverdoublebass.com/p/beginners-classical-bass" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Beginner's Classical Bass course</a>, available exclusively from <a href="https://discoverdoublebass.com/jasonheath" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Discover Double Bass</a>. Thank you to our sponsors! <a href="https://new.steinberg.net/dorico/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Dorico</a> - Dorico helps you to write music notation, automatically producing printed results of exceptional quality — and plays it back with breathtaking realism. It is easy enough for anyone to learn, yet has hundreds of advanced notations, features, options and sounds to satisfy even the most demanding professionals.  With its streamlined, natural user interface, students and those with less experience in scoring can compose and arrange straight into Dorico, making learning the language of music notation much faster and more intuitive. Editing and making changes — such as instrument, time signature or key — are straightforward, with the notation instantly and correctly adapting to include them, reinforcing the learning outcome. <a href="https://EarTrumpetLabs.com/contrabass" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ear Trumpet Labs</a> - They make hand-built mics out of Portland, OR and they have an excellent mic for upright bass called Nadine. The Nadine is a condenser mic with a clear natural sound and incredible feedback rejection. This mic is a completely new design -- the head mounts in between the strings above the tailpiece with a rubber grommet, and the body securely straps to the tailpiece with velcro elastic. A 14-inch Mogami cable connects the two parts making it easy to place on any bass. It’s durable and holds up to the demanding needs of the instrument while offering excellent sound quality. Ear Trumpet Labs is offering a free t-shirt just for Contrabass listeners with the purchase of a mic, just visit <a href="https://EarTrumpetLabs.com/contrabass" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">EarTrumpetLabs.com/contrabass</a> to claim yours and check out the Nadine! <a href="https://www.practizma.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Practizma</a> - The <a href="https://practizma.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Practizma</a> practice journal is packed with research based strategies to turn your ho-hum practice into extraordinary practice.  Develop your curiosity, discipline, creativity, daring, tenacity and zen.  Take a journey with four elements each week: goal setting, reflection prompt, action challenge, and journal pages to track your practice.  Curious? <a href="https://susannaklein.us7.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=e5231b6b6554b6ec05c29b177&amp;id=95761809ee" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Download the introductory chapter of the journal for free</a> - this gives you an idea of what it's all about. <a href="https://www.modacity.co/music/contrabassconversations/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modacity</a> - Are you a practice-savvy musician? Get <a href="https://www.modacity.co/music/contrabassconversations/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Modacity</a> – the music practice app that organizes, focuses, and tracks your progress.  Recorder… metronome… tone generator… timer… note taking… Do away with the random assortment of music practice apps in your arsenal. Modacity™ combines all the tools you need into one easy to use, music practice tool.  Organize, focus, and reflect on your practice – motivating you to increase retention in less time.  Modacity has a <a href="https://www.modacity.co/music/contrabassconversations/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">special offer for Contrabass Conversations listeners</a> that includes lifetime access to the app. Contrabass Conversations production team: <ul> <li><a href="http://doublebassblog.org/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jason Heath</a>, host</li> <li>Michael Cooper and Steve Hinchey, audio editing</li> <li><a href="http://mitchmoehring.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Mitch Moehring</a>, audio engineer</li> <li><a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/2016/04/20/cbc-205-trevor-jones-on-musical-pit-work-scheduling-creativity-and-finding-balance/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"> Trevor Jones</a>, publication and promotion</li> <li><a href="http://thebackstagecreative.libsyn.com/2019/03" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Krista Kopper</a>, archival and cataloging</li> <li>theme music by <a href="https://erichochberg.com" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Eric Hochberg</a></li> </ul>

762: Jon McCullough-Benner on The Auditioning Bassist's Tool Kit 

Milwaukee Symphony

Jon McCullough-Benner serves as principal bass of the Milwaukee Symphony, assistant principal bass of the Grant Park Symphony, and is on faculty at Roosevelt University.  Jon joins the Milwaukee Symphony after serving as principal bass with the Oregon Symphony. We dig into:  studying with Owen Lee, Albert Laszlo, and Bruce Bransby the dangers of getting too tied up in rhythm and pitch fundamentals Jon's "early bird gets the worm" philosophy why practicing at quarter note = 60 works so well  ...and much more! Follow along with all of our audition-related content at contrabassconversations.com/auditioning Links to check out:  double bass study at Roosevelt University see Jon teach and perform at the Chicago Bass Festival in 2017  Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is brought to you by D’Addario Strings! Check out their Kaplan strings, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at contrabassconversations.com/strings! Thank you also to the Bass Violin Shop, which  offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! This episode is also brought to you by Rosin Saver, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made. Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others. Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from rosinsaver.com. Subscribe to the podcast to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

Jon McCullough-Benner serves as principal bass of the Milwaukee Symphony, assistant principal bass of the Grant Park Symphony, and is on faculty at <a href="https://www.roosevelt.edu/colleges/ccpa" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Roosevelt University</a>.  Jon joins the Milwaukee Symphony after serving as principal bass with the Oregon Symphony. We dig into: <ul> <li>studying with Owen Lee, Albert Laszlo, and Bruce Bransby</li> <li>the dangers of getting too tied up in rhythm and pitch fundamentals</li> <li>Jon's "early bird gets the worm" philosophy</li> <li>why practicing at quarter note = 60 works so well</li> </ul> ...and much more! Follow along with all of our audition-related content at <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/auditioning" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">contrabassconversations.com/auditioning</a> Links to check out: <ul> <li><a href="https://www.roosevelt.edu/colleges/ccpa" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">double bass study at Roosevelt University</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCJJgttDjBo&amp;t=34s" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">see Jon teach and perform at the Chicago Bass Festival in 2017</a></li> </ul> Thanks to our sponsors! This episode is brought to you by <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/daddario1" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">D’Addario Strings</a>! Check out their <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/daddario4" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Kaplan strings</a>, which have versatility and control throughout the dynamic spectrum, rich tonal color palette, superb bow response, and beautiful balance. Enter our latest string giveaway for Kaplan strings at <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/strings" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">contrabassconversations.com/strings</a>! Thank you also to the <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/bassviolinshop" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Bass Violin Shop</a>, which  offers the Southeast's largest inventory of laminate, hybrid and carved double basses. Whether you are in search of the best entry-level laminate, or a fine pedigree instrument, there is always a unique selection ready for you to try. Trade-ins and consignments welcome! This episode is also brought to you by <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/rosinsaver" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">Rosin Saver</a>, a revolutionary storage device that keeps bass rosin feeling as fresh as the day it was made. Rosin Saver is used by members of the New York Philharmonic, the MET orchestra, the Los Angles Philharmonic, the Cleveland Orchestra, the Seattle Symphony, and many others. Use the promo code 'HEATH' at checkout for 10% off any and all orders from <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/rosinsaver" rel="noopener nofollow" target="_blank">rosinsaver.com</a>. <a href="http://contrabassconversations.com/subscribe" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Subscribe to the podcast</a> to get these interviews delivered to you automatically!

346: Jon McCullough-Benner - Milwaukee Symphony principal bass