Making my audition the best I can! Advice!!!

[RyRob813]

Getting ready to audition for McNally Smith College of Music...I'll get a phone call to schedule the audition when they get my app which should be in about a week, so I'm not sure when it'll be as of right now, a few months approx.?

Anyway, I'm pretty sure I want to play Bach's Cello Suite I, I've been working on it for about a year, and it sounds pretty good.

HOWEVER: I don't have to second page down completely perfect, so I'm afraid I mess it up. My private teacher told me to just play the first half if I don't feel comfortable with it, because they will probably stop me somewhere through it anyway.

Also, the school told me in the audition the style of the piece doesn't matter, as long as it demonstrates my talent and groove. I'm not so sure it's such a groove song, but then again it could be? It definetely shows my skill though

So opinions? Should I just play the first half? Does it have enough groove?

Thanks!

[BassChuck]

Perhaps your teacher knows something about the school where you are auditioning, but frankly I think to go into an audition with only half a piece learned is not too very wise. Yes, they may stop you after a phrase or two from the begining if you are doing well, but it's totally possible that they'll ask you to play the ending, or a difficult section (remember they WILL know that piece very, very well).

And your suspition that Bach Suite #1 is not a groove piece is right on the mark. To show groove (and that is an allusive concept at best) do something simple and direct... a nice easy line through some Blues progression should do the trick. The Bach Suite will show technique, so there's no need to deal with that on the blues line.

Be prepared to sight read, and have a clear and concise answers to "Why do you want to study bass at this school?" and "Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?" and "If you don't get into music school what will you do with your life? (in other words, what's Plan B).

[hunta]

What are you auditioning on? Bass Guitar or Double Bass? I don't know a ton about that school, but looking at their website it looks like a more modern music school and definitely geared towards BG rather than DB.

Assuming you're auditioning on BG, the Bach Cellos Suites are definitely not normal audition material for BG. If you were auditioning on DB at a classical school, I'd say that's great material. When the school is talking about "style not mattering" and "groove", those should be red flags that they are not looking for classical material. If you have any jaw dropping BG solo material like Donna Lee (at or near Jaco tempo) then go for that. If you don't, something like "What is Hip?" might be a good choice for groove.

What program are you auditioning for? Generally unless you're auditioning for the Performance program, they are probably more concerned with your general reading ability, sense of time, and general musical knowledge more than your raw playing ability. I would be prepared to sight read something of moderate difficulty regardless. You can most likely get in touch with the bass faculty at the school and they can tell you some examples of audition material that other bassists choose.

Good luck! You can never prepare enough for an audition, but you can prepare for the wrong audition! Even if the Bach is not the right choice, your ability to play them (even if not flawless) means you'll most likely be fine.

[RyRob813]

Hey thanks guys, that helps alot!

To answer a few of your questions: Yes I am auditioning for the BG Performance program.

I'm prepared to sight read, as I've had a few conversations with the head of the bass department.

I also have answers for the questions in the first post.

So I'm thinking ditch the Bach? Any suggestions for a better choice?

thanks again!

[SLaPiNFuNK]

From my experience... but its been like 10 years since I auditioned for college...

standard audition for a jazz audtion would be...

standard up tempo be-bop tune... (classics are, anthropology, or some kind of charlie parker tune) play the heads of the tunes, it will show off some chops as well as showing you may have knowledge of some be-bop... also, during your solo, if over rhythem changes, then quote some other rhythem changes tunes...

a ballad - stella by starlight, something like that... play the head, solo, walk...

then a latin tune, or a tune that you can play half latin half swing... green dolphin street.. etc...