Name: Madeline Sanders

Grade: 11th

Instrument: double bass

Years of experience: 5 years

Wingspan: When and why did you start playing the bass?

Sanders: “Originally I was playing cello and I played trombone, but I never pursued it. I kind of quit trombone for the bass. I just discovered the instrument in sixth grade and I really wanted to play it. It’s unique because it’s low and not many people play it.”

Wingspan: What’s your favorite part about the bass? 

Sanders: “I think being able to be part of a group and contribute something important. Because it’s the foundation of a lot of things, like most music needs a bassline and when I’m playing whatever genre, it needs that bass. It’s not the same without it and it’s kind of unnoticed. In a concerto or anything like that, it’s not just the soloist that’s important. The less noticed instruments are also important.”

Wingspan: What’s the most challenging part of playing the bass? 

Sanders: “Its size. It’s a very big instrument and it’s not just a problem for me. Just in general, the tuning and the intonation: with a big instrument like that, you have to adjust a lot and you have to climb around it. Carrying it around is also kind of hard, so I have wheels for mine.”

Wingspan: Is there a specific bassist that inspires you?

Sanders: “Esperanza Spalding. Because in 8th grade, when I first started playing bass in a group, the middle school jazz band, in the first week, my teacher told me we need a jazz hero. For me, he was like ‘John Clayton, Paul Chambers, or if you want a girl jazz hero that also sings, Esperanza Spalding.’ Because basses, it’s a male dominated instrument. So she’s kind of like keeping jazz alive.”

Wingspan: Is there any advice you would give to prospective orchestra students? 

Sanders: “Playing bass specifically, you always need a bassist and there’s a lack of them. So I would say don’t let it be an easy instrument. Play more complicated stuff, stand out. The bass is an instrument where it’s easy to be average at. But you should join the orchestra and play bass while striving to be better.”