My Giant Violin
A lot of people learn the violin at school. of course, I had to be different! When I was eight I decided I’d learn the double bass, is the biggest and lowest instrument in the string family. When I told my mum, she said, ‘How are you going to play that? It’s taller than you are!’ people don’t realise is that the bigger string instruments, the cello and double bass, come in smaller sizes children. The instruments make the same sounds they’re easier to handle.

The thing I love the double bass is its flexibility. You can play it sitting down or standing up; you can use a bow or pick the strings your fingers. I guess that’s why it’s such a popular instrument in jazz music. But the real disadvantage of playing the double bass carrying it around – maybe my mum was right after all! Usually I cycle everywhere, but if I’m playing in a concert I have to drive. There’s a trick to getting a double bass into a small car. It looks something from a comedy show.