External Resources

The following is a list of (mostly) websites that I either very much enjoy visiting, or have some kind of personal or professional connection to. They’re included here because I believe that they can be of great benefit to anyone that is already interested in my own site.

Center stage with the international society of bassists 

If there has been one silver lining from the COVID pandemic, for me it has been creating and become the executive producer of the ISB’s Center Stage series. In the first year, I have organised 40 of these online events, all free and open to anyone who wants to participate in them. I’ve invited guests such as Gary Karr, Dave Holland, Christian McBride, and Uxia Martinez-Botana, and have no intention of slowing down with this series post-pandemic! Check out the ISB’s website for access to archival videos, and to learn about future events.

Canadian school of double bass 

As of May 2021, I have been named a co-author for the Canadian School of Double Bass books! We have refreshed Book 1: Daily Studies, and created an entire new volume with Book 2: Intervals Chords Arpeggios Scales. Due to some unfortunate Apple updates, the book will no longer be updated through the iBooks store, but these new versions still include links to instructional videos in a much more accessible PDF format, with both QR codes and hyperlinks for use either digitally or printed.

These books, as well as upcoming musical edition releases, are available in both fourths and fifths tuning editions from Joel’s store.

Studying bass with travis

If you’re interested in pursuing double bass lessons with me, I’m happy to discuss it! I’ve been teaching since 2004, and currently maintain a private studio, working mostly with post-graduate bassists as well as early-career professionals. I welcome any serious student at any age, and have experience teaching all levels and in all styles of classical music. I am totally equipped for remote teaching as well, and proudly have an excellent online teaching setup that I have been using since 2017.

As of Fall 2021, I will be joining the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Music as their Professor of Double Bass. Please contact me about possibilities of undergraduate or graduate studies there.

THE WINNIPEG SYMPHONY

If you read my bio, you’ll see that my first tenured position was with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. The WSO also performs as the house orchestra for the Manitoba Opera, and for most of the ballets presented by the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. I left the orchestra at the end of their 2018-2019 season, after six years of service, and as of August 2019 am overjoyed to be based out of my home town of Toronto.

International Society of Bassists

The ISB is  an organization for those who teach, study, play, repair, build and enjoy the double bass. Our website is a enormous library of information and resources for the bassist, and an excellent central place to learn more about the current state of the instrument. It has a lot of link worth following as well, such as to ISB Connect or Jason Heath's Contrabass Conversations podcast site.

Atalay Harrison

To be clear, this has nothing to do with bass playing. I feel I would be irresponsible of me if I did not mention one of my greatest inspirations in art, my dear brother Atalay Harrison, who works as an architect and artist. He also has a beautiful website, and I am a huge fan of his work.