Colleges for an Electric Bassist in Michigan

BassNoob1 · #1 02-03-2011, 05:45 PM

Are there any good colleges where I could take courses on the electric bass? I also play upright, but I'm enjoying it less and less. I just don't like the sound as much and it doesn't feel as good in my hands. I want to focus on electric bass solely and am looking for a contemporary program in Michigan, preferably in southwestern Michigan. Are there any? I haven't had any luck finding one.

One Bad Monkey · #2 02-06-2011, 07:21 PM

Unfortunately, I don't know of any strictly electric programs in a college in the southwest Michigan area. You could play electric as well as upright at Western Michigan, but I believe they focus more on the upright there than the electric (from going there as well as current friends and colleagues that attend).

I thought Wayne State might have an electric bass program; it's not in the SW Mi area, but it still is in Michigan and might be worth a look.

BassNoob1 · #3 02-06-2011, 07:24 PM

I actually know a person who's a freshman at Western, he plays both types of basses. All the classes are on upright, you can play electric in some of the ensembles, but that's it. Thank you for your post. I was starting to think nobody was going to respond, ha ha.

Chrisk-K · #4 02-06-2011, 07:32 PM

Get a business degree at Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor, make money and hire someone like Jeff Berlin as an instructor.

BassNoob1 · #5 02-06-2011, 08:12 PM

Or just go to college for electric bass...

Ric5 · #6 02-06-2011, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chrisk-K

Get a business degree at Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor, make money and hire someone like Jeff Berlin as an instructor.

+1

BassNoob1 · #7 02-07-2011, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Bad Monkey

Unfortunately, I don't know of any strictly electric programs in a college in the southwest Michigan area. You could play electric as well as upright at Western Michigan, but I believe they focus more on the upright there than the electric (from going there as well as current friends and colleagues that attend).

I thought Wayne State might have an electric bass program; it's not in the SW Mi area, but it still is in Michigan and might be worth a look.

Is Wayne State located in Detroit?

The Birdman · #8 02-07-2011, 08:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassNoob1

Is Wayne State located in Detroit?

Yes.

Roger

jbalou02 · #9 02-07-2011, 08:47 PM

I graduated from Wayne State University with a bachelor of music in '91. I minored in punk rock and pot (off campus program). Even though I didn't take full advantage of it, I know it has a fantastic and comprehensive music department. I'd bet it would accomodate your educational needs entirely.

Just don't wander too far off campus.

With that said, if I could do it over, didn't take part in any of the extracurricular activites I did, got straight A's...I'd much rather have studied business and got lessons from Jeff Berlin.

bassist4dalord · #10 02-07-2011, 08:55 PM

I go to Cornerstone University in Grand Rapids, MI. I'm not a music major, but they do have a bass major available.

MikeBass · #11 02-07-2011, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Bad Monkey

Unfortunately, I don't know of any strictly electric programs in a college in the southwest Michigan area. You could play electric as well as upright at Western Michigan, but I believe they focus more on the upright there than the electric (from going there as well as current friends and colleagues that attend).

I thought Wayne State might have an electric bass program; it's not in the SW Mi area, but it still is in Michigan and might be worth a look.

Wayne State doesn't have an "electric bass" program, but they are VERY highly regarded for their music program in general.

Take MUSIC and bass is just your instrument of choice.

One Bad Monkey · #12 02-08-2011, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

Wayne State doesn't have an "electric bass" program, but they are VERY highly regarded for their music program in general.

Take MUSIC and bass is just your instrument of choice.

Thanks for the clarification; I did know that their music program has been getting large acclaims, just wasn't sure if it involved a dedicated electric bass program.

Yeah, you won't find a lot of places that will let you just play electric bass as a major, compared to the ones that will make you study upright but allow you to play electric as well (and really, many of those upright teachers that also play electric wouldn't be people I'd want electric bass lessons from).

fdeck · #13 02-08-2011, 04:51 PM

From what I can tell by looking online, Wayne State will take electric bass students in their jazz studies major program. The way to check out a school for what instruments they offer is by looking up the audition requirements.

I'd say that if you're interested in studying music in college, you must have a teacher to coach you through the audition process, preferably a teacher with a music degree has already had other students get into college music programs. Getting accepted into a college, and getting accepted into their music program, are two different things.

BassNoob1 · #14 02-08-2011, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by One Bad Monkey

Thanks for the clarification; I did know that their music program has been getting large acclaims, just wasn't sure if it involved a dedicated electric bass program.

Yeah, you won't find a lot of places that will let you just play electric bass as a major, compared to the ones that will make you study upright but allow you to play electric as well (and really, many of those upright teachers that also play electric wouldn't be people I'd want electric bass lessons from).

I actually sent an email to their bass instructor. Basically you can take your private lessons on either the upright bass or electric bass, and you play what you know how to play in the ensembles. So if you're an upright player, you play upright and take upright lessons. If you're an electric player, you play electric and take lessons on electric. If you play both, you play both and take lessons on whichever you choose.

I will also look into Cornerstone University, thank you,
bassist4dalord.

One Bad Monkey · #15 02-08-2011, 06:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassNoob1

I actually sent an email to their bass instructor. Basically you can take your private lessons on either the upright bass or electric bass, and you play what you know how to play in the ensembles. So if you're an upright player, you play upright and take upright lessons. If you're an electric player, you play electric and take lessons on electric. If you play both, you play both and take lessons on whichever you choose.

Where, Wayne State? Or at WMU?

BassNoob1 · #16 02-10-2011, 02:32 PM

Wayne State

One Bad Monkey · #17 02-10-2011, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BassNoob1

Wayne State

Cool, sounds like a good place to go, just from that part alone.

Daede · #18 02-10-2011, 06:59 PM

If you don't mind moving a state south, OSU has a great music school

Johnboch · #19 02-11-2011, 04:34 PM

^^^ummmm....i don't know how true that is. now, let's get serious. I'm in the jazz program at michigan. I tried out on electric bass, I still play mostly electric bass, and I think they're looking to add more of us who can specialize on the instrument. I take lessons with Bob Hurst, and even though he's known for being one of the best jazz double bassists in the WORLD (who even teaches at OSU?), the dude can groove. He'll teach you whatever you need to know to develop style and musicianship. Another thing about Michigan's jazz program that sets it apart is its emphasis on creativity. If you want to compose jazz or do something unconventional like play electric bass, they welcome it. In my experience, most high profile jazz programs don't think that way.

Having gone through this process already, I can't recommend U of M enough. There's strong but healthy competition, a ton of creativity, and an incredible faculty. A few years ago I'd say this program was up-and-coming, but it's really starting to establish itself now. Come visit and start to correspond with the faculty and admissions. You won't be disappointed, that's for sure. If you've got any questions about looking for schools, playing bass guitar in a jazz program, or Michigan's program specifically, feel free to PM me.

Johnboch · #20 02-11-2011, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeBass

Wayne State doesn't have an "electric bass" program, but they are VERY highly regarded for their music program in general.

Take MUSIC and bass is just your instrument of choice.

That's very true, especially in vocal jazz. I've talked to people who don't like being in a rhythm section there, though. If you want to be someone who's killin', I see the most talent in Ann Arbor and East Lansing. I've always heard that if U of M's studios were all as good as the piano and bass studios (taught by the incomparable Geri Allen and Bob Hurst, respectively) we'd be as good as anyone out on the East Coast. The scary thing is that this year, I feel like they already are. We're underrated and underhyped, but it's beautiful how much talent and enthusiasm are in this program right now.