Berkley tape

butterfingers9 · #1 09-07-2006, 11:29 AM

My teacher wants to make an audition tape of me playing bass to send to Berkley. He wants to see if I'll get accepted there. I want to showcase my finger style and two handed tapping techniques, but I'm having trouble deciding what I should do. (1) I could do a written piece such as Victor Wooten's “the vision”, or even tap a Bach keyboard style piece if I can just find one that fits over 4 strings. (2) I could string a few of my favorite medleys together and play that as my piece. (3) Or I could compose a piece just for the occasion as my teacher has suggested. Any suggestions or feedback on what I should play would be greatly appreciated.

MikeD1687 · #2 09-07-2006, 11:31 AM

If I'm not mistaken, Berklee requires a band with you on your tape.

You have to play one uptempo jazz, a ballad, and a latin or something along those lines.

I don't really think they want to hear solo bass, they want to hear you with a band and how you interact and perform as a leader in that band.

I could be wrong though...

Dbassmon · #3 09-07-2006, 11:33 AM

Call Berkley and ask to speak to someone in admissions. They will be happy to tell you what they require. You are gambling if you don't make that call and guess. IMO

**Freddels** · #4 09-07-2006, 01:48 PM

If you want to go to the school that is located in Boston then you should contact "BerkLEE". If it's not then continue with your current spell checker

Inizzep · #5 09-07-2006, 03:02 PM

I graduated from Berklee 3 years ago. I know they might have specific requirements now. I would give them a call just to make sure.

I would consider playing a classical piece (maybe one of Bach's cello suites), walk a standard (either with a play along or a piano player) and play the head in the first chorus, and then play a groove to show them you can "play time" (maybe only you and a drummer), maybe this is where you can showcase what you were talking about (make sure you establish a strong groove before you start taking liberties).

hope this helps, good luck!!

MikeD1687 · #6 09-07-2006, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

If you want to go to the school that is located in Boston then you should contact "BerkLEE". If it's not then continue with your current spell checker

Haha. Thank you...I thought maybe I'd get that across when I said Berklee in my post, but it kept going. Oh well.

cord · #7 09-13-2006, 01:11 PM

yo ask this question in the ''ask janek gwizdala'' section.

i know he went to berklee

Snarf · #8 09-13-2006, 08:32 PM

Play jazz. Something up, something ballady, and a latin. Absolute best way to go. The last thing they ever want to hear is Victor Wooten or Jaco Pastorius. It doesn't display any real world skills, only weak parlour tricks.

(disclaimer: I know that Victor and Jaco have done extraordinary things with the instrument, and when THEY play it's not a lame trick, but they are rare exceptions, and to imitate them means you're showing that you've dedicated a lot of time to learning something no one will EVER pay you to play.)

Lokire · #9 09-13-2006, 08:48 PM

You play solos in college as well, both with a band as well as by yourself.

I played Jaco's continuum as one of my 3 audition pieces for Cornish college in Seattle. Along with the bassline from Erykah Badu's "Boogie Nights", and the head/sax solo from a Charlie Parker song "Bloomdido".

Apparently they liked it, since I got in. Along with 3 other bassists