College Audition Piece? Advice needed

Mr. Moustache · #1 10-25-2008, 01:43 PM

I have college auditions coming up in December.... I've already mastered all the jazz, latin, and funk charts they sent for me to learn and my compositions are almost done.

One last problem.

I have no idea what to use as my chosen piece. It doesn't have to be an entire solo, persay, but I want something that I can show the peak of my abilities in, since none of the other songs really do that.

I'm looking for a song with a funk, swing jazz, and/or rock feel, though really I'd settle for anything. I'd love a piece with a strong funky slap breakdown or rhythm (don't worry about speed much, I can slap at 200 bpm in 4/4 triplets pretty consistently). I'm fairly strong in fingerstyle as well, but my limit is 112 bpm 4/4 sixteenth notes. OBviously I'm not looking for an entire song in sixteenths and triplets, but this is supposed to contain a solo, and 5 minutes of quater notes will get boring without a band to play with.

I'm desperate for a good piece to impress these guys, so far my top two school are NYU and Berklee in Boston, so the competition is extremely high. I've toyed with the idea of using a piece from "Thunder" by SMV, though I'm not about anything as of yet

NOTE :

I'm more than well aware that slapping and speed are irrelevant when compared to musicality, I figured this would be a no brainer, but apparently not. I'm simply listing my limitations as a musician to help somebody better provide me with a recommendation. Believe it or not, I've been asked to play 16ths at 150 for a funk piece so I thought it would help to list my limitations as a bassist.

onlyclave · #2 10-25-2008, 02:06 PM

I would suggest picking something easy enough that you can play it blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back. If you pick something that's too tough and you throw a brick in your audition, then you prove to the adjudicators that you can't play.

Colleges aren't interested in slapping, tapping and other Guitar Center techniques. I don't care if you're auditioning for Berklee. They are more interested in your ability to play music, not wank.

You should find a book with Bach Cello Suites and pick one of those to play. They aren't too difficult for cello and moderately challenging on electric bass but if you can pull them off _musically_ then it says more to your audience than slapping at 200 bpm. If you get in, you'll find out that skill isn't useful in the real world anyway.

Sib · #3 10-25-2008, 02:25 PM

Definitely look into some piece made for upright bass, slapping isn't a skill that is going to help you get into college.

The same goes for speed, they won't care if your doing sixteenths at 300 bpm if you can't make it musical.

EADG mx · #4 10-25-2008, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onlyclave

I would suggest picking something easy enough that you can play it blindfolded with one hand tied behind your back. If you pick something that's too tough and you throw a brick in your audition, then you prove to the adjudicators that you can't play.

Colleges aren't interested in slapping, tapping and other Guitar Center techniques. I don't care if you're auditioning for Berklee. They are more interested in your ability to play music, not wank.

You should find a book with Bach Cello Suites and pick one of those to play. They aren't too difficult for cello and moderately challenging on electric bass but if you can pull them off _musically_ then it says more to your audience than slapping at 200 bpm. If you get in, you'll find out that skill isn't useful in the real world anyway.

Bach suites are ok but overdone. I'd try a DB etude or a different cello piece. I did Simandl for my audition (no. 17).

Mr. Moustache · #5 10-25-2008, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADG mx

Bach suites are ok but overdone. I'd try a DB etude or a different cello piece. I did Simandl for my audition (no. 17).

I do love Simandl's etudes, but I'm not entirely sure if classical would be appropriate for this audition. I'll definitely consider your recommendation though, thank you!

HaVIC5 · #6 10-25-2008, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EADG mx

Bach suites are ok but overdone. I'd try a DB etude or a different cello piece. I did Simandl for my audition (no. 17).

Not really. Only the prelude to the first suite could be considered overdone, but I very rarely hear other bassists play the other suites convincingly. Number 2 is my favorite. Number 4 in Eb is also good, but man is that prelude demanding.

Mr. Moustache · #7 10-25-2008, 03:54 PM

onlyclave: You are obviously unfamiliar with Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, or Marcus Miller. Do yourself a favor and look up "Thunder", it just might change your mind about slapping. All three of them do it very well and very musically, in addition to playing beautiful legato style pieces. Stanley also happens to be an outstanding Double Bass player.

I'm sorry if all of the beginners beating their bass with their hands have ruined your opinion of slap, but I wouldn't recommend venting your frustrations unless you know what you're talking about.

HaVIC5: I've looked into some sheet music for Suite 1, 2, 5, & 6. Is there any specific one you might recommend or could you direct me to a recording of them possibly?

onlyclave · #8 10-25-2008, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Moustache

onlyclave: You are obviously unfamiliar with Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, or Marcus Miller. Do yourself a favor and look up "Thunder", it just might change your mind about slapping. All three of them do it very well and very musically, in addition to playing beautiful legato style pieces. Stanley also happens to be an outstanding Double Bass player.

Whatever dude. You are obviously unfamiliar with what music study at the college level is. I have two more college degrees than you in music to back it up because I have been there. I've watched more than one young punk such as yourself crash and burn. Keep your options open at whatever community college you end up going to. Geography is a popular associates degree.

Let me drop some names right back at you: Gary Karr, Jeff Bradetich, Edgar Meyer.

Next time you ask for help don't bite that hand that feeds you.

HaVIC5 · #9 10-25-2008, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr. Moustache

onlyclave: You are obviously unfamiliar with Stanley Clarke, Victor Wooten, or Marcus Miller. Do yourself a favor and look up "Thunder", it just might change your mind about slapping. All three of them do it very well and very musically, in addition to playing beautiful legato style pieces. Stanley also happens to be an outstanding Double Bass player.

I'm sorry if all of the beginners beating their bass with their hands have ruined your opinion of slap, but I wouldn't recommend venting your frustrations unless you know what you're talking about.

HaVIC5: I've looked into some sheet music for Suite 1, 2, 5, & 6. Is there any specific one you might recommend or could you direct me to a recording of them possibly?

I like Suite 2, especially the prelude, so go for that. Every cellist worth his mettle has recorded the suites at one point, so really, choose any. Yo-yo Ma, Rostropovich, Janos Starker, etc, etc.

Listen to OnlyClave. You won't find many people who are slap happy at collegiate level play. Do you think Victor Wooten got to where he was today because of his mad slap skills? Of course not, that's BS. You'll never survive at a professional level with slap as your workhorse. Only after you get to a certain point and pay your dues to the groove and to the ensemble can you develop outwards with that stuff. DEFINITELY not before college if you want to make it in the university level.

Mr. Moustache · #10 10-25-2008, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

Listen to OnlyClave. You won't find many people who are slap happy at collegiate level play. Do you think Victor Wooten got to where he was today because of his mad slap skills? Of course not, that's BS. You'll never survive at a professional level with slap as your workhorse. Only after you get to a certain point and pay your dues to the groove and to the ensemble can you develop outwards with that stuff. DEFINITELY not before college if you want to make it in the university level.

Very understandable, my apologies to both of you, I just thought it may be appropriate for some part of the solo piece to show versatility in playing styles.

EADG mx · #11 10-25-2008, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HaVIC5

Not really. Only the prelude to the first suite could be considered overdone, but I very rarely hear other bassists play the other suites convincingly. Number 2 is my favorite. Number 4 in Eb is also good, but man is that prelude demanding.

Still though, I see them thrown out a lot and I'm just saying that there's plenty of other music to consider.

A standard or an upright/cello etude is usually a safe bet.