Is this a stupid audition piece?

[jsingles]

hey guys, I am auditioning in a month or so for a performance major.

I have to play a jazz related piece. Initially I was going to audition in several months, but I recently discovered it would have to be next month! I am still working on things such as my reading (which I am not too good at, so I need to put most of my time into that)

The only jazzy song which I already know is portrait of tracy. Would this be a completely stupid idea to play for an audition piece? I can play it pretty well cuz ive been obsessed with learning it in the past, and I wouldnt have to cram learning a totally new piece into the few weeks I have left to prepare.

It does technically qualify I suppose but I just feel like perhaps its an awkward choice for a bass piece, (but then again, unaccompanied "pieces" for bass is already kind of awkward unless you're into the bass solo thing....)

thoughts??

should I play portrait of tracy or try to learn a totally new jazz piece within the month, and if so, what kind of thing would I play?!! I am not just going to sit there and play a bass line for the person... that kind of thing is already covered in other areas of the audition!

[PocketGroove82]

Forget Portrait of Tracy for any other solo bass piece. Why, you ask?

1. The board will have heard 1,000 terrible versions of it, each wonderfully and uniquely hacked to pieces. It will probably instantly put a sour taste in their mouths the second you announce that you are playing it.

2. It's a solo piece, and there is not a single bassist in the world who makes a living, is great or famous because he can play by himself, all alone.

3. Since you are a performance major, the board is going to rate your playing and put you in an ENSEMBLE based on how you play. You need to show them that you can really play with an ensemble.



So, if I were you I would trash the solo stuff and show them you know your role as a bass player and can competently perform that role in a group setting. They are going to expect your reading to suck, but if your reading sucks AND you can't show them that you can play with a group...then you've got nothing.

If I were you, I'd pick real jazz standard or jazz blues. Sure you can get by with Autumn Leaves or All of Me, but you would make you look a lot cooler if you picked a jazz standard that has not been run into the ground. Sometimes, in auditions, your tune selection speaks as much about your musical maturity as your playing does. Since you don't want to play alone, you can try a Jamey Aebersold Accompaniment CD, Music Minus One Accompaniment CD, play along with the recording, or (even better) have a drummer and piano/guitar player play with you.

Also, it's better to really nail something simple, than muck your way through something hard. Try to show them what you CAN do, not what you are TRYING to do. Most bassists who head off to music school like Jaco, teachers know this. There is no need to cover his tune, they can hear in your playing if you are really influenced by the man.

Hope that helps a little!

Matt

[onlyclave]

You know, I'm seeing lots of posts right now from people who have an audition coming up very soon and they aren't prepared for it, their reading and ear training is poor, and they want to be a music major.

I have 2 college music degrees. I could read, write and sing what what asked of me when I entered the school. I had an audition piece nailed because I had played it for years.

Once classes kicked off, there was very little instruction on "How to play bass". I had 2 different private lessons a week and most of that was so that the entire bass section was on the same page in orchestra rehearsals. Don't get me wrong, I got _really_ good at bass, but that was only because the other classes I was taking gave me the insight I needed to improve my musicianship and playing on my own. The University of Oregon School of Music had me study music and I applied that to my own instrument.

If you think you want to study music in college, you need to have a much better grasp of such basic fundamentals as reading bass and treble clef. How many English majors enter college that can't read or write? You might fake your way through an audition and they school will let you in, but it won't be long before you're on your way out.

[EADG mx]

Agree with the above 2 posters. Scrap it and learn an easy standard.

[Jimmyplaysabass]

play "take the A train"

[DocBop]

Simply put go for a good musical performance, good time. phrasing, tone, arrangement. Better to play a simple song perfectly and with feeling than a so-so performance of a technically challenging tune. Also a simple song you can nail you will be able to feel confident and make getting thru the audition less stressful.

[BassChuck]

Any high school student reading this should print out post #2 and #3 and read them often. If you aren't ready for music school and aren't committed to music (and being committed doesn't mean just liking to do it, it means showning you have a burning curiousity about ALL aspects of music..especially ALL aspects of performance) its just a waste of time and money... and with tuition as it is today thats a big waste.

I would go one step further and say that any kid going for an audition to music school WITHOUT being on top the game with reading has either not been taking private lessons or their teacher is out of touch with what the student is trying to do.

[jsingles]

woah woah, I dont know where you guys managed to come up with the idea that I am a slacker... I have loved music my whole life, but I have only been playing BASS for a year, and I have been working VERY VERY hard at it. People tell me they have never seen somebody as good as me who has only been playing for a year... Instead of being a REAL slacker and saying AWW IM NOT GOOD ENOUGH, IM NOT GONNA BOTHER AUDITIONING, I am trying my best to follow my dream and make music a bigger part of my life.. and I don't see why that is supposed to be a bad thing... so why dont you leave that decision to me and not worry about it? I dont know need to prove my worthiness to you, I need to prove it to my college...

Your advice on the song was good, and i DID think it was a stupid piece to play, which is why I made this post.... I just wanted to know what you guys thought. I will look for a good and simple jazz tune to play. Should I stick to the bass lines when I play one or should I flirt with the melody a little?

thank you

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by jsingles

woah woah, I dont know where you guys managed to come up with the idea that I am a slacker... I have loved music my whole life, but I have only been playing BASS for a year, and I have been working VERY VERY hard at it. People tell me they have never seen somebody as good as me who has only been playing for a year... Instead of being a REAL slacker and saying AWW IM NOT GOOD ENOUGH, IM NOT GONNA BOTHER AUDITIONING, I am trying my best to follow my dream and make music a bigger part of my life.. and I don't see why that is supposed to be a bad thing... so why dont you leave that decision to me and not worry about it? I dont know need to prove my worthiness to you, I need to prove it to my college...

Your advice on the song was good, and i DID think it was a stupid piece to play, which is why I made this post.... I just wanted to know what you guys thought. I will look for a good and simple jazz tune to play. Should I stick to the bass lines when I play one or should I flirt with the melody a little?

thank you

OK, as someome who was there for 7 years let me give you some audition advice when it comes to picking a jazz tune: Pick an easy one because they don't really care about the head that much. If you can play it in all 12 keys that would help your case. But more importantly if you are being asked to play a jazz tune then the intent is that you are going to improvise over the changes since jazz is, of course, an improvisational art. You should probably learn the changes in all 12 key too. Just playing the melody as it is written in a fake book is regurgitation and your adjudicators know that.

The music school I went to had a 60% drop out rate. 2 out of 3 people couldn't hang, but the ones that did are some of the best friends I have ever had since we all made it through the trial by fire together. I hope your experience turns out as well.

[projectMalamute]

Originally Posted by jsingles

woah woah, I dont know where you guys managed to come up with the idea that I am a slacker... I have loved music my whole life, but I have only been playing BASS for a year, and I have been working VERY VERY hard at it. People tell me they have never seen somebody as good as me who has only been playing for a year... Instead of being a REAL slacker and saying AWW IM NOT GOOD ENOUGH, IM NOT GONNA BOTHER AUDITIONING, I am trying my best to follow my dream and make music a bigger part of my life.. and I don't see why that is supposed to be a bad thing... so why dont you leave that decision to me and not worry about it? I dont know need to prove my worthiness to you, I need to prove it to my college...

Your advice on the song was good, and i DID think it was a stupid piece to play, which is why I made this post.... I just wanted to know what you guys thought. I will look for a good and simple jazz tune to play. Should I stick to the bass lines when I play one or should I flirt with the melody a little?

thank you

Where are you auditioning? I seem to remember pretty clear guidelines for a jazz performance major when I did this years ago. I think they wanted something like head, walk a couple choruses, solo a couple choruses, head. I was supposed to prepare 2 tunes, I want to say I did Stella by Starlight and Solar. It was a while ago now.

[jsingles]

thanks guys I really appreciate it... I go to umass lowell, and they do require jazz. I am really not familiar with many jazz or jazz blues pieces but I will talk it over with my teacher this weekend. Are there any pieces you strongly suggest? I value your opinions alot

Thats a good idea to mix it up a bit and play around with the changes, thanks!

[steverosati]

Originally Posted by PocketGroove82

Forget Portrait of Tracy for any other solo bass piece. Why, you ask?

1. The board will have heard 1,000 terrible versions of it, each wonderfully and uniquely hacked to pieces. It will probably instantly put a sour taste in their mouths the second you announce that you are playing it.

2. It's a solo piece, and there is not a single bassist in the world who makes a living, is great or famous because he can play by himself, all alone.

3. Since you are a performance major, the board is going to rate your playing and put you in an ENSEMBLE based on how you play. You need to show them that you can really play with an ensemble.



So, if I were you I would trash the solo stuff and show them you know your role as a bass player and can competently perform that role in a group setting. They are going to expect your reading to suck, but if your reading sucks AND you can't show them that you can play with a group...then you've got nothing.

If I were you, I'd pick real jazz standard or jazz blues. Sure you can get by with Autumn Leaves or All of Me, but you would make you look a lot cooler if you picked a jazz standard that has not been run into the ground. Sometimes, in auditions, your tune selection speaks as much about your musical maturity as your playing does. Since you don't want to play alone, you can try a Jamey Aebersold Accompaniment CD, Music Minus One Accompaniment CD, play along with the recording, or (even better) have a drummer and piano/guitar player play with you.

Also, it's better to really nail something simple, than muck your way through something hard. Try to show them what you CAN do, not what you are TRYING to do. Most bassists who head off to music school like Jaco, teachers know this. There is no need to cover his tune, they can hear in your playing if you are really influenced by the man.

Hope that helps a little!

Matt

+++++++++1!

[steverosati]

Are you preping for this audition alone? I see way to many guys on here that try putting together audition material with out a private teacher, That is a big mistake first off any reputable College ( not just one thats after your tuition money) is going to want to Know if you have been taking from a teacher and second a good teacher will know how to prep you for the audition. The school dosen't want to see you play a melody, as the bass player they want to know if you know how to function as a bass player.Stick with traditional roles do a walking line, latin, and a waltz feel over changes. you know real standards" All of me, Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa, All the things you are. thats what they want from a jazz bass performance major. I speak from experience on this subject I had bad auditions and I had a buch of good one + I have helped many of my students on getting their auditions together. Good luck

[BassChuck]

Originally Posted by jsingles

woah woah, I dont know where you guys managed to come up with the idea that I am a slacker... I have loved music my whole life, but I have only been playing BASS for a year, and I have been working VERY VERY hard at it. People tell me they have never seen somebody as good as me who has only been playing for a year... Instead of being a REAL slacker and saying AWW IM NOT GOOD ENOUGH, IM NOT GONNA BOTHER AUDITIONING, I am trying my best to follow my dream and make music a bigger part of my life.. and I don't see why that is supposed to be a bad thing... so why dont you leave that decision to me and not worry about it? I dont know need to prove my worthiness to you, I need to prove it to my college...

Sorry if I offended. I just seen a lot of people go into this sort of thing really unprepared for what they get into. And... there are several threads in this forum that are posted by people like that. Its hard to know the difference on internet postings, so I was talking to a general attitude (that I've encountered personally many times) and not so much you. Good luck with the audition.

[Mark Wilson]

Here's a list of a few easy standards.

1) Autumn Leaves (About a million people will play this tune)
2) All The Things You Are
3) Blue Monk (Reallllyyy Easy!)

These would be great for an audition. Blue Monk is a blues in Bb.

Also, music school is tough, man. i'm here right now for my degree in jazz.
If you've only been playing a year, You've got your work cut out for you.

Music's a tough world, man. Very cut-throat.

[jsingles]

thanks guys I know it will be hard but it would be harder going through life knowing I never tried. I plan to take it very seriously though. I will let you know how it goes!

Don't worry about it basschuck, I totally understand where you are coming from.

I know I am under prepared but I can still do the best I can with the little experience I have. I just need to show them that I am musically inclined, and not just some high school kid who thinks hes cool cuz he mashes the root note on his squire P bass.

[onlyclave]

Originally Posted by Mark Wilson

Here's a list of a few easy standards.

1) Autumn Leaves (About a million people will play this tune)
2) All The Things You Are
3) Blue Monk (Reallllyyy Easy!)

These would be great for an audition. Blue Monk is a blues in Bb.

Also, music school is tough, man. i'm here right now for my degree in jazz.
If you've only been playing a year, You've got your work cut out for you.

Music's a tough world, man. Very cut-throat.

+1. I guess what I haven't conveyed in my previous postings regarding this is if you don't have a solid understanding of the basics of reading bass and treble clef and applying that to your instrument you're going to have a very tough time in music school. It's not that the school doesn't have time to teach you how to read music and play your instrument, it's that YOU don't have the time to learn that on top of all of the general education, music theory, ear training, music appreciation/music history classes, ensembles and the private instruction you'll be dealing with on a weekly basis. It's a 12-14 hour a day, 7 day a week job.

I watched my peers drop like flies over the years and become psychology majors. They just couldn't make it even though they loved playing their instruments just as much.

[DocBop]

Originally Posted by onlyclave

Once classes kicked off, there was very little instruction on "How to play bass". I had 2 different private lessons a week and most of that was so that the entire bass section was on the same page in orchestra rehearsals. Don't get me wrong, I got _really_ good at bass, but that was only because the other classes I was taking gave me the insight I needed to improve my musicianship and playing on my own. The University of Oregon School of Music had me study music and I applied that to my own instrument.

I want to point out how important that statement is.

I worked at music school for years that was know for it's arranging and composing program. We had performance programs too, but the arranging and composing program turned out really great musicians who performance and improv skills improved greatly afterwards. They understood more how things fit together and which in turn improved their performance because they understood more about how to make the music work not just their part. Also in the long run I see more arranging and composing majors still making a full time living in music than the performance majors. You need skills in a lot of areas to make a career out of music. Especially now with the internet you are now competing for work in a global marketplace.

[lizdarocker]

Through all this advice. Im sure your going to nail whatever piece you decide on

Liz

[SLaPiNFuNK]

Play a Rhythm Changes tune with a Bee-Bop head...