Strings Studies
The string program prepares students to be well-rounded musicians, creative teachers and accomplished performers. Music Majors, Music minors and non-major participants are all welcome in the studios. The studio atmosphere is warm and nurturing, yet each student is challenged by the repertoire and technique work that they are given in the lessons. Students are encouraged to listen to each other and offer constructive criticism in studio classes and master class settings.
String students at UM perform in the University of Montana Symphony Orchestra (UMSO), in standard Chamber ensembles, and in solo performance settings. We encourage students to form chamber ensembles with mixed instrumentation so that they experience a wide variety of repertoire and learn how to work with other kinds of instrumentalists. Our students are also very actively working with UM student composers, often premiering new works several times a year.
Some students audition for and perform with the Missoula Symphony, a community orchestra comprised of professional musicians, community members and students. Select students are awarded MSO scholarships. The MSO string scholarships are awarded to deserving students after their scholarship auditions as prospective freshman. Many of the other Montana community orchestras hire our students to be members of their orchestras.
Our students also have the opportunity to be counselors at our UM Summer Strings Camp and some qualify for Nash Pedagogy scholarships to teach students from the Missoula public schools.
Often, students from the studio are selected to perform for the Guest Artists that come to perform with the String Orchestra of the Rockies and the Missoula Symphony. Some of the more recent guests include: Andreas Cardenas; Rachel Barton Pine, Robert McDuffie, Adele Anthony, Maria Larionoff, Brett Deubner, and Phillip Ying.
Come to visit us at The University of Montana. Have a free lesson and see how The University of Montana can fit into your college plans.
Personal Summary
Thomas Sciple is Associate Professor of Double Bass at the University of Montana
teaching both the Jazz and Classical idioms of Double Bass pedagogy. He is currently
a member of the Missoula Symphony Orchestra, Missoula Jazz Collective, along with
occasional performances with the String Orchestra of the Rockies and the Jeff Troxel
Duo.
Thomas holds a B.A. in Music from the University of South Alabama and an M.M. in
Jazz Studies from the University of New Orleans under the direction of Ellis Marsalis
where he studied with Jazz Bassist Bill Huntington.
Thomas spent much of his career in New Orleans as a valued jazz journeyman
musician performing and recording with many notable artists and groups including
Rick Margitza, Ed Peterson, Steve Masakowski, Clint Strong, David Mooney, Don
Vappie, Leon Brown, Tony Dagradi, Mike Esnault, Wendel Brunious, Shelly Berg,
Jason Marsalis, Jeremy Davenport, Brian Seeger, Troy Davis, Brent Rose, Lumark
Gully, Ricky Sebastion, Johnny Vidacovich, Betty Shirley, Chuck Chaplin, Eric
Robinson, Miss Sophie Lee, Todd Duke, Matt Johnson, Victor Atkins, Irvin Mayfield,
Leah Chase, Wes Anderson, Herman Ernest, Michael Pellera, Bobby Previte, Loren
Pickford, Eric Traub, Cindy Scott, Delfeayo Marsalis, Vadim Neslovskyi, Simon Lott,
Charlie Fardella, Carlos Malta, Brent Rose, Julian Garcia, Eric Robinson, Jeff Albert,
Chris Alford, Mike Clarke, Will Thompson, Mark Diflorio, Brian Prunka,
Paulette Wright Davis, Leigh “Lil Queenie” Harris, Rick Trolsen, Al Belletto, Ray Moore,
Los Calientes del Son, Charlie Dennard, Dave Ellington and Chevere, Wayne Mareau,
Chegadao, Jovino Santos Neto, Marcio Bahia, Andy Bourgeois, Brian Coogan, Rex
Gregory, Oscar Rosignolli, Jamison Ross, Chuck Brackman and Vic Shepperd as well
as symphonic work in regional Orchestras including the Gulf Coast Symphony,
Mobile Symphony, Pensacola Symphony and the Rapides Symphony Orchestra.