Mittenwald International Masterclass

Andreas Bennetzen (Andy Benz), double bass player & composer

13th Mittenwald International Double Bass Masterclass with prof Jeff Bradetich, Dominik Wagner, Andreas Bennetzen, Alex Bayer, Alexis Scharff & physiotherapist Angela Gebler.

Our Guest lecturer this year is the amazing talent

DOMINIK WAGNER. Check him out! LINK

August 6-11, 2017

 

 

Jeff Bradetich, prof. University of North Texas

 

 

Double bass professor Jeff Bradetich teaches a master class every summer in Mittenwald together with Andreas Bennetzen.

Jeff Bradetich is prof. at the University of North Texas and a world famous classical music performer.

 

---Highlights include---

 

-Solo lessons

-Intense technical training

-Orchestral training

-Double Basses that you can borrow for FREE

-A nice friendly learning environment

-Highly experienced faculty

-Guest teachers

-Concerts, workshops and tour of world famous double bass maker family Pöllmanns workshop.

 

Mittenwald is a historic town situated in the Bavarian Alps 938 meters up the Karwendelspitz- this area has always had excellent wood for building instruments and is the home of the Pöllmann double basses.

 

The town is also a popular tourist attraction so it´s full of cosy restaurants, hotels and bavarian good spirits.

 

Fee for the course is 480€

 

Please contact me for more information and registration.

 

ONLINE REGISTRATION

 

Our beloved sponsors who supports us for the love of music.

 

Selected letters from participants

 

Dear Jeff,

How are you? I'm very happy here in Germany. It is a beautiful country with great people that are trying to help me very much.

About your Bass Camp in Mittenwald, I was/am so happy! I'm practicing your method every day and I am improving so much an so fast that I'm incredibly amazed! I have a much bigger sound, I have a better control of both hands and of course of the vibrato, more precission, it has helped me use my head almost all the time... although I have so much information!! My double bass seems to be someone else's instrument, it has a longer (from sul tasto to the bridge) range of sound... and I think I could continue for ages telling you!! I can play some of your exercices at a very fast speed and in many different tones!

It was just what I was looking for as double bass technique. It is so similar to what I have discovered on cello playing and teaching that it makes me play double bass nearly at the same level as 25 years playing cello and 18 years teaching (since I was only 15)!!

After the summer break I'm trying to look for a good teacher in this area. During the course you recommended me to write you and ask you. I live in Thüringen; near Weimar, Leipzig and Dresden. Do you know any double bassist in this area? I'm a little bit lost. What dou you think? Could you please help me?

Well Jeff, THANK YOU VERY MUCH for all of your help. I hope you had a great time in Europe and that 2012/2013 is a fantastic school year at your University.

Hoping to hear from you.

All the best,

Sara Moneo

 

 

This is what a participant from Germany had to say about the masterclass.

 

”I just wanted to tell you that I really liked your masterclass week in Mittenwald.

As I came home and started practising again, I am doing your material, mostly in the thumb position and the shifting drills. And now I feel much better while playing the bass.

I also was trying different sitting positions and now finally I am more or less with the one you do. For me and for the german bow I think its best with the bass quite vertical. And I really notice a big big change in my sound, more clear, more focused and more solistic. Also my collegues in our chamber orchestra noticed the difference or I think it more that is the first time they listened really to my playing because of this new sound.

For this I want to thank you for sharing your method, your ideas and your musicality with us.

Maybe you remember Jan from Sweden. Well, he liked my playing and I am going to Umea, North Sweden, to play with the orchestra as a sub for a week. He is principal there.

Maybe when your book will be released you can let me know shortly, because there are many things I learned which I am working now with my students. And it is not only technical stuff, but also in how to teach, how to talk. I think I didn´t hear from you in this week the word "NO"

Thats all for now, but I hope we stay in contact.

Greetings from Spain / Michael and Sole

 

 

 

This is a review from the local paper. In German. Click to view

 

 

 

 

 

Below you will find links to information about trains and Musiksommer festival

 

 

 

 

 

A short article from The

Strad Magazine

 

A review of our concert in Augsburg 2015

Copyright: Andreas Bennetzen/Arbolis Music 2017

All photos on this site are taken by Mathias Vejerslev unless otherwise noted