Reader Spotlight: Brittany Frompovich
Meet Brittany Frompovich, our player in the spotlight for May 11, 2010.
Bio:
I picked up guitar at age 14, and then started playing double bass at age 18. I have a B.A. in Bass from Bloomsburg University. I currently teach 50 – 70 students per week, teach group classes and workshops, and perform in Northern Virginia. I am the founder of the Virginia Bass Forum, a series of clinics and workshops dedicated to advancing the art of bass playing and to building bass community. I also manage Kids Jamming For Kids, a series of benefit concerts where students gig to raise money for various charities.
Location:
Fredericksburg, VA USA
Day gig:
Full time musician/music educator.
Years experience:
20 years
Bands & Gigs:
Currently, I do a lot of freelance and subbing work for various groups. I also give workshops as a clinician for the Virginia Bass Forum. I am also gigging with a looper, performing chord melody bass material.
Gear:
Basses:
- LightWave Saber VL5
- Syme/LightWave fretless 5 string bass
- Spector Euro LX 6
- Skjold Designs Pro Series 6 string
- NS-CR5 electric upright
- Eastman 605 double bass
Amp:
- Ampeg PR210 cabinet
- Ampeg B2R head
Effects:
- Zoom B2.1u
- Boss TU-2
- Boss RC-50
- Dunlop Crybaby
- Ebow
- Lexicon MX200
- DOD 866 Series 2 gated compressor/limiter
Why I play the bass:
I arrived at the university with several years of guitar and some electric bass experience. The orchestra conductor offered to teach me upright bass if I joined the orchestra. Once I got going with a bow, I was hooked on upright.
I returned to electric bass due to some hand injuries that limited my ability to play on upright. I then discovered chord melody bass. I realized it was possible to integrate my experiences as a guitarist, singer and bassist through chord melody bass. That event really hooked me on electric bass.
My bass superpower/claim to fame
My bass superpower is the ability to perform chord melody bass parts while singing.
My influences
Shakti, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, Led Zeppelin, Jaco Pastorius, Stanley Clarke, The Bad Plus, Galactic, Jimi Hendrix, Billy Sheehan, Jeff Berlin, Hot Tuna, Edgar Meyer, James Jamerson, Bach, Jeffrey Gaines, Jethro Tull, Tim Bogert, Great Big Sea, Silly Wizard, Steeleye Span, Eva Cassidy, Mountain, Felix Pappalardi, Queen, David Wilcox, Mike Dimin, Bryan Beller, Esperanza Spalding… just too many to list!
More on the web:
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Brittany is an amazing person, she has been teaching my son Jacob for a little over a year now he loves her and so do we. Congratulations Brittany were so lucky to have you as Jakes teacher.