Upright Bass Method and Study Books by Billè

Isaia Bille was a special and devoted bass player and teacher.  He lived in Italy (1874-1961) and wrote many etudes (study books) which also included excerpts of the standard orchestra  and solo repertoire.  They're nice books to have especially if you are a teacher and want to find specific issues or problems to pinpoint to include in your student lessons.  As a young player and intermediate level, it's a great book to go through and site read.  (Hey, some of it is hard too!)  See the last 2 or 3 books if you want challenge.  The books here start from easy and slightly go up in difficulty with each book.

Book Description Price BB-024 Billè New Method for Double Bass, Part 1, Pratical Course 1, E.R. 261 (The first book, easy open strings, half notes, mostly lower positions on the bass) $19.25 Quantity: BB-025 Billè New Method for Double Bass, Part 1, Pratical Course 2, E.R. 262 (His 2nd book includes more complex (sharps and flats) keys, and some additional bowing exercises. $18.50 Quantity :   BB-026  Billè New Method for Double Bass, Part 1, Pratical Course 3 E.R. 263 (Includes more complex variations with the bow and keys, still all staying below the G harmonic.) $16.50 Quantity: BB-027  Billè New Method for Double Bass, Part 1, Pratical Course 4, E.R. 264 The fourth book, more complexities.  Some thumb positioning (past G harmonic) with lots of nice opera and some symphony excerpts in the 2nd half of the book (He was Italian after all!!) $23.75 Quantity: BB-028  Billè New Method for Double Bass, Part 2, Pratical Course 4, E.R. 303  This book includes more thumb positioning practice and lots of music written in tenor cleff.  More of the same complex bowing and fingering combinations. No orchestra excerpts in this one, though he wrote a "Madrigal" with piano part in the back.  This book starts to head more into solo technique. $23.50 Quantity: BB-029 Billè New Method for Double Bass, Part 2, Pratical Course 5, E.R. 304 (Concerto Study) is a continuation of the 4th book (just above) and just gets harder.  Some decent solos with piano part included in the back of the book. $26.75 Quantity: BB-030 Billè New Method for Double Bass, Part 2, Pratical Course 6, E.R. 305 A continuation of the 5th part book, with more complex higher position work: double stops and playing across all four strings (one note per string).  This guy must have been a monster in his time!  His books are not that easy.... $19.75 Quantity:           Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5