How to Play the Unplayable

Orchestra Chops Vol. 2 by Joseph Conyers Out Now!

7 essential orchestral excerpts and inspiring lessons to transform your technique.

Orchestra Chops: The Complete Collection

Save $30 when you enrol in the complete collection.

INTERVIEW WITH JOSEPH CONYERS

In this interview, Geoff Chalmers and Joseph Conyers discuss playing seemingly impossible orchestral passages on the double bass (or any instrument)! So, how do you play the unplayable? Find out Joseph’s surprising tips that will help you play difficult passages in orchestral music, such as the storm scene in Beethoven's Symphony No. 6, mvt. IV. Thanks to Ray for sending in this great question for us.

MORE FROM JOSEPH

INTERVIEWS

Featured
How Double Bassists Can Nail the Audition!
How Double Bassists Can Nail the Audition!

Joe shares his advice on how to nail the orchestral audition, with experience from both sides of the audition panel.

Do you need an extension on your double bass for orchestral excerpts?
Do you need an extension on your double bass for orchestral excerpts?

Joseph Conyers chats about double bass extensions and orchestral excerpts.

Joseph Conyers' Gear: Strings, Bass & Bow
Joseph Conyers' Gear: Strings, Bass & Bow

Joseph Conyers tells us about his double bass gear, including his bass, strings, and bow.

Choosing the Tempi of Orchestral Excerpts
Choosing the Tempi of Orchestral Excerpts

Joseph Conyers answers a quick question: How do you choose the tempi of orchestral excerpts for auditions?

Joseph Conyers' Bow Hold
Joseph Conyers' Bow Hold

Joseph Conyers shows us his bow hold up close and explains how it evolved.

Letters for Articulations
Letters for Articulations

Joseph tells us about his very useful method of assigning letters to double bass articulations.

Excerpts, Auditions & Overcoming Nerves
Excerpts, Auditions & Overcoming Nerves

Joseph Conyers chats audition experiences, how to overcome audition anxiety, and when to start practicing, plus a Wagner ‘Meistersinger’ excerpt performance.

Contradicting Advice for Double Bassists
Contradicting Advice for Double Bassists

Joseph Conyers (Philadelphia Orchestra) shares why you might receive contradicting advice as a bassist, and how this could actually be used to your advantage.

Warm Up Exercise
Warm Up Exercise

Orchestral bassist Joseph Conyers shares a double bass exercise which he comes back to time and time again.

Seated Posture
Seated Posture

In this interview with orchestral bassist Joseph Conyers, he reveals how and why he sits with his double bass.