Susan P. Hagen: BASSics of Bass: 8 Warm Ups for Players of All Ages

About the Exercises

Everyone talks about warming up — how to do it, when to do it, and, most often, what to play. The Bassics of Bass will take you through a logical set of Left Hand and Right-Hand warm-ups that will build your technique, improve your intonation, and increase your endurance.

This book is something I have wanted to write for many years — it’s a compilation of many of the WarmUps that I have written for myself and for students over many years.

Warming up is a helpful and important way to prevent injuries. The ones featured in this book will help you work to build a healthy physical approach to the instrument. Over time you will build strength and endurance. I find these to be a fun way to achieve that. I hope you enjoy them as much as I have.

Please note you are purchasing the updated 2nd Edition as of June 2023.

About the Composer

For the past 15 seasons, Susan has spent most of her time performing as an extra player with the Boston Symphony Orchestra. She also spends much time performing with the Boston Pops Orchestra and is on many recordings for both groups. Susan recently became the principal double bassist of the Boston Pops Esplanade Orchestra, the first female ever to do so, and has been a featured soloist with them! 

Susan is on faculty at Berklee College of Music and has been a clinician at the Rochester Bass Retreat, Boston University Tanglewood Institute, the International Online Bass Summit, Oberlin Conservatory, and Appalachian State, among others. 

Susan often performs chamber music and has performed at the International Society of Bassists Convention in 2015 with world-renowned electric bassist Steve Bailey, continues to collaborate with him, and is featured on his latest album entitled “Carolina.” 

She loves to perform new music; since March 2020, Susan has recorded more than 50 pieces (all written after 2010) and has given premieres of over 20 pieces in virtual recitals. She gave a solo recital at the International Society of Bassists’ 2021 virtual Convention. In recent seasons Susan has been a soloist with many orchestras and in the autumn of 2022, she will be giving the US premiere of Simón García’s Bass Concerto.

Susan is a founding member and Board Member of the League of Women Bassists, which will be holding their inaugural virtual conference in June 2022, where Susan will be a Keynote Speaker and Recitalists. 

Connect with Susan

Find Susan on her website and YouTube Channel, Facebook, and Instagram. Or, send her an email.