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Article: Musician Made A Double Bass For Kids' Hands
- Article from:
- The Washington Post
- Article date:
- September 1, 2009
CopyrightCopyright 2009 The Washington Post. This material is published under license from the Washington Post. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Washington Post. (Hide copyright information)
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George L. Vance, 60, a musician who developed an innovative way
of teaching the double bass to children, died of pancreatic cancer
Aug. 16 at his home in Silver Spring.
Mr. Vance was influenced by the work of the Japanese music
educator Shinichi Suzuki, whose technique for teaching the violin to
preschoolers became popular in the United States in the 1960s.
Although the double bass was usually reserved for older students
because of its size, Suzuki's success inspired Mr. Vance to adapt
the method to the larger instrument. He traveled to Japan to work
with the renowned teacher and became one of the few in the United
States who taught the instrument to preschool students.
In 1984, Mr. Vance ...