Xavier Foley
The Exercise Book (Intermediate)
The Exercise Book (Intermediate)
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Product description
The Exercise Book is a digital collection of 18 carefully written exercises designed to build real technique while keeping practice enjoyable. Available for double bass, cello, viola, and violin, each edition is thoughtfully adapted to suit the unique range and demands of the instrument. Instead of repetitive, lifeless drills, every exercise feels like a short piece of music, keeping you engaged as you develop essential skills. Musicians often find themselves practicing more and improving both their technique and musicality, simply because the exercises are fun and genuinely addictive to play.
This book is ideal for intermediate and returning players who want to strengthen fundamentals without feeling overwhelmed or bored. Every exercise is practical, musical, and immediately playable.
What you’ll work on
- Stronger left hand coordination and finger strength
- Improved rhythm, intonation, and note clarity
- Better control across lower position to thumb position.
- Building endurance for longer, more confident playing sessions
Why players love it
- Exercises sound like music, not mechanical drills
- Clear and easy to read notation
- Designed to fit into short, focused practice sessions
- Helps rebuild technique while keeping motivation high
Choose Your Instrument:

Select the edition that matches your instrument to get the most out of every exercise. Each version is carefully adapted for double bass, cello, viola, or violin, ensuring the material fits your range, technique, and musical voice. Simply refer to the guide below and choose your instrument before adding the book to your cart.
If you play a brass or wind instrument, you can still use the book by selecting an edition that matches your clef. The exercises are easily adaptable, making them a flexible tool across a wide range of instruments.
For Teachers:

The 5-user option is perfect for teachers with a teaching studio. It allows you to use the book with multiple students, making it easy to share the material across your lessons while saving money compared to purchasing individual copies.
Instant access
The Exercise Book is delivered as a digital PDF. Download it instantly, read it on your tablet, or print it out and start playing right away.

Whether you are returning to your instrument or building your foundation from the ground up, The Exercise Book helps you practice smarter, stay consistent, and enjoy the process.
Other pieces included (click for video)
- Exercise No. 1 "Large Intervals"
- Exercise No. 2 "Steps"
- Exercise No. 3 "Resonance"
- Exercise No. 4 "Progress"
- Exercise No. 5 "Flamenco"
- Exercise No. 6 "Expansion"
- Exercise No. 7 "Diva"
- Exercise No. 8 "Off Beats"
- Exercise No. 9 "Dominant 7th"
- Exercise No. 10 "Groove"
- Exercise No. 11 "2 Voices"
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Exercise No. 12 "Swing"
- Exercise No. 13 "Soul"
- Exercise No. 14 "Bass Section"
- Exercise No. 15 "Vibez"
- Exercise No. 16 "Smoke"
- Exercise No. 17 "Argentina"
- Exercise No. 18 "Bounce"
Specifications
- File format: PDF
- 18 pieces to practice
- page count: 24
- download link will be sent to email used to purchase this product
- Instant access.
- Compatible devices: Windows, MAC, iPhone, Android, Tablet, iPad.
Get featured!
Submit a video of yourself playing music from the Exercise Book for a chance to be featured on my social media accounts. Featured videos gain exposure within the bass community and beyond, helping you reach potential gig opportunities while growing your social media presence.
Meet the composer

Xavier Dubois Foley
Xavier Foley, the owner of xavierfoley.com, is an award-winning international double bass soloist and composer. An Avery Fisher Career Grant recipient, he was accepted into the Curtis Institute of Music at age 16 and graduated in 2016, where he studied with Edgar Meyer and Hal Robinson. He won First Prize at the 2014 Sphinx Competition Senior Division and was first place winner of the Young Concert Artists auditions in 2016. His works have been commissioned by many organizations, including Carnegie Hall, the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and the New World Symphony. Drawing on his performance and teaching experience, Xavier creates exercises that focus on building solid fundamentals through clear, musical material.
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I am enjoying the challenging sight reading and technical pieces. The QR codes are great and a lot of support!
I love the content. Huge fan, and it fills a huge void. We need more of these melodic, approachable etudes for bass. However... There are countless incorrect fingerings. There are so many, I try to not look at them at all. I'm talking about 2s on open strings, whole steps marked 2-4. 4-4 shifts everywhere. I watched the videos, and the printed fingerings are not what Xavier uses, soooo...? I love his playing and I'm interested in his approach to shifting. Correcting these fingerings would be of great value.
Thank you for the thoughtful feedback, Jesse! We're glad you're enjoying the content. We appreciate you pointing out the fingering inconsistencies and will pass your comments along to Xavier for review. Feedback like this is incredibly valuable and helps us improve future editions.
- Lyra, Shop Assistant
I was hoping to use these studies for my tuba and bass trombone students, but alas! All the bass specific “stuff” in there really precludes using them as published for this purpose. It would be very cool if these melodies were available for other instruments without the double stops, fingerings, etc. specific to the bass and cello.
Hi Timothy, Thank you for the feedback! We appreciate the suggestion. We'll definitely keep it in mind for future editions, having versions adapted for other instruments like tuba and bass trombone could be a great resource for more musicians. 😊
I love playing this and they sound awesome
Thank you so much!
I started studying double bass two years ago. Some exercises are still difficult for my level. It's a challenge for me. I thought I'd do some new exercises, different from the ones in the book I study. I'll try to do all of Xavier's exercises.
I think they'll really help me improve my technique.
Hi Marco,
That's such a great mindset, keep at it! Two years in and already pushing yourself with new exercises is exactly the right approach.
Based on your level, I'd recommend starting with Double Bass BASSics (Beginner) or The Basics (Beginner) to build a strong foundation. Once you're feeling more confident, The Exercise Book (Intermediate) would be a natural next step to keep challenging yourself.
Xavier's exercises are really well-structured for exactly this kind of growth, you're going to love them!
Feel free to reach out if you need help or any other questions. 😊
- Lyra, Shop Assistant
