‘I had this nagging feeling that I belonged at the Berlin Philharmonic’ - Matthew McDonald’s life lessons

One of my most influential teachers, Max McBride, was the first professional bassist I ever heard when growing up in Australia. I thought the dancing physicality of his playing was just what one did on the double bass, and I totally copied his moves. As well as his wonderful teaching, I remember playing in Strauss’s Elektra alongside him when I was a student. He had a one-note solo that expressed such a depth of emotion that I still think about it when I have solos of my own. Another important teacher was Esko Laine, who taught me in Berlin and with whom I still share a stand today. In lessons with him, I kept asking questions. I remember him eventually saying, ‘Don’t think technically. Just keep trying.’ I realised it was up to me to observe which movement corresponded to which sound…