The IIB Monthly Newsletter
Volume 7, Number 9

Hello fellow bassists and friends!

Welcome to the latest issue of The International Institute of Bassists newsletter and the web site of the International Institute of Bassists!

Originally from Calabria in southern Italy, Antonella Mazza studied classical and jazz bass under the direction of Ezio Pederzani at the Giuseppe Verdi Conservatory of Music in Milan. In addition to her bass studies at the conservatory, Mazza received training in sound design and earned a master's degree in ethnomusicology from D.A.M.S. Mazza has also completed instruction with John Patitucci as well as clinics with Bruce Gertz and David Clark from Berklee College of Music. Today, Mazza is recognized as one of Italy's acclaimed bassists, and her playing has been featured on international tours, recordings, and numerous television appearances alongside some of Italy's most notable pop and jazz musicians. ... Read More!

Atlanta's premier bass-centric festival, BassUp!, will be held on October 22nd at the Atlanta Institute of Music. In its third year, BassUp! is a yearly celebration that attracts bassists from across the United States and allows them to gather, exchange information, listen to performances, and play music within a bass-focused environment. Included with this year's event is the addition of the Solo Bass Open Mic that will take place on October 20th and provide up-and-coming bassists the opportunity to perform unaccompanied bass in front of other bass enthusiasts. ... Read More.

For the 15th consecutive year, Bozeman, Montana will host the world's longest-running, bass-related event from October 3 - 7. The Bozeman Bass Bash is an annual, non-profit educational workshop where bassists of all playing levels and musical backgrounds can gather to take part in clinics lead by bass greats, gain insightful tips to utilizing equipment through tech-based seminars, and witness live performances with world-class bassists. In addition to these presentations, attendees can discuss the latest innovations in bass gear with product representatives from major music corporations, and registered participants also have the opportunity to take home thousands of dollars worth of giveaway prizes. ... Read More.

Jazz Improvisation - "Tertial Cells"
The most basic chord structure in Western-based harmony is the triad. A triad is a three-note chord constructed utilizing a root note and two consecutive thirds located the intervals of a third and fifth, respectively, above the root note. In the broadest sense, any chord or cell consisting of three notes could be classified as a triad. However, musicians most often speak in terms of chords which are built through a series of thirds. These chords are called tertian chords, and music based on tertian chords is referred to as tertian harmony. In this lesson, we will analyze a diatonic-based improvisation technique that involves the utilization of tertial cells. A tertial cell will be defined as a melodic unit or figure that is comprised of three notes spaced an interval of a third from each other. ... Read More!

Ear Training - "Relative Pitch"
Since music is a hearing art, it is extremely important to possess a well-trained ear as a musician. With a finely-tuned relative pitch, you will be able to instantly recognize the quality of different chords, and by attaining a high-degree of relative pitch, you'll enhance your ability to improvise, transcribe, transpose, tune your instrument with greater precision, memorize music more easily, and perform with greater confidence. ... Read More.

Be sure to check out the latest books, DVD's, CD's, and gear. ... Read More.

Chuck Bianchi - Exposed: Solo Music For Unaccompanied Electric Bass
McGill/Manring/Stevens - What We Do
Billy Sheehan - Prime Cuts
Brian Bromberg - Downright Upright
Steve Lawson - Behind Every Word
Bernhard Lackner - Those Days
BassQuake

Each month, the IIB gives its viewers the opportunity to participate in various monthly giveaways and win amps, effects, strings, instrument cables, straps, DVD's, lessons, apparel, and much more. The total value of our monthly giveaways is over $5,000!

ENTER TO WIN TODAY! ... Read More.

The IIB MP3 Bass Sampler - Volume I is comprised of selected tracks that have been recorded by many of today's premier bass artists including Marcus Miller, Michael Manring, Adam Nitti, Gary Willis, Norm Stockton, Gerald Veasley, and many more.

OVER 1 HOUR OF MUSIC! ... Read More.

The IIB Monthly Giveaways - Each month, your name will be entered in all of our various monthly giveaways providing you with the opportunity to win amps, effects, strings, instrument cables, straps, DVD's, lessons, apparel, and much more. The total value of our monthly giveaways is over $5,000! ... Read More.

The IIB MP3 Bass Samplers - You'll receive access to every IIB MP3 Bass Sampler released within your subscription year. Each MP3 sampler will contain selected tracks that have been recorded by many of today's premier bass artists including Marcus Miller, Michael Manring, Adam Nitti, Gary Willis, Norm Stockton, Gerald Veasley, and many more. OVER 1 HOUR OF MUSIC! ... Read More.

Bass Tips Of The Week - You will have access to a huge database of lesson material that has been written on subjects such as Classical & Jazz Music Theory, Sight Reading, Ear Training, Bass Line Construction, Right & Left Hand Technique, Soloing, Jazz Improvisation, Slapping, Tapping, Chordal Techniques, Harmonics, Fingerstyle Funk, Altered Tunings, and Concepts For Solo Bass Playing. All of the lessons are available as downloadable PDF files.

By becoming a subscriber, you will help keep this resource online for you and others to enjoy in the future. Plus, you'll receive "IIB Subscriber" status within the IIB Forums so people will know that you have directly contributed to our efforts.

If you are looking to increase your online presence and promote your product in front of a serious bass-targeted audience, check out the brand new Advertising Opportunities available on this web site. Through the utilization of the latest banner rotation software technology, the IIB is offering advertisement space in 5 different zones placed strategically throughout the template of the IIB web site and priced well below industry standard. Advertising packages are available at a reduced rate to those interested in securing an advertising contract of 6 months or longer. Purchase a 6-month advertising contract on the IIB web site and receive 1 month of advertising for FREE!. As an advertiser on the IIB web site, you have the opportunity to submit an advertising banner(s), pictures of your product(s), and a text-based ad of any length outlining product specifications, company history, contact information, and links to be posted on a page specifically designed to promote your merchandise within our Advertiser's Index at no additional cost to you. If you'd like to rotate information on your storefront, we can update that information for you on a monthly basis. There are virtually limitless possibilities available with your storefront.

If you have any comments, suggestions, news-related items such as press releases, or products that you would like to submit for review on the IIB, please feel free to e-mail me at: Editor@InstituteOfBass.com.

Thanks so much for your continued support, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!


Editor: The IIB
September 2006

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