Downtime Drills: 5 Exercises for Orchestra Rehearsal Downtime

Make the most of your orchestra rehearsal downtime.

Downtime Drills is a practical mini-course for double bassists featuring five quiet exercises you can use during genuine rehearsal downtime—when the conductor is working with another section and you aren’t actively involved.

Through Silent Vibrato, Silent Shifting, Arco ↔ Pizzicato, Hand Resets, and a Full-Body Scan, you’ll reinforce familiar techniques, improve efficiency, and identify unnecessary tension—all while remaining attentive and respectful of the rehearsal around you.

These exercises are designed for bassists who already have some familiarity with the techniques covered. This course does not teach vibrato, shifting, or other fundamental techniques from scratch.

Rehearsal always comes first. These drills are simply tools for making productive use of the moments when you genuinely have time to spare.