Easy contemporary classical or Arco jazz piece recommendations

[lasse.veli]

Classical music has sometimes very beautiful melodies.
However, if I listen to jazz and focus on finding beautiful melodies,
this contemporary spirit brings me more pleasure.

Will apply to music schools this spring, both to jazz college, and classical too. My current teacher just don't have any time nor "sense" to find me pieces to play. I'm currently playing (presumably normal classical players starters stuff) Adagio and Allegro from D minor sonata by Galliard. And a nice song called just Melodie by J Massenet, Op. 10. This is the "easy" difficulty level, I've played bass about 3 years.

Beautiful Love is out of my reach Any pointers or ideas, even transcriptions of somewhat short and easy to listen pieces? Ones that audience likes too. Well, sure there should one or two be nifty double bass-doable simple but great sounding technical tricks too..

[Pat Harris]

In preparing for a college audition, I would start with finding a new teacher if you're current one cannot recommend adequate audition material. If auditions are in the spring, that doesn't leave a lot of time to prepare.

That said, I'm not sure exactly what you're looking for. In my experience with college auditions, and having completed two degrees (one classical, one jazz) it doesn't really matter so much on what you play, it's how you play it. I would continue to refine what you're currently working on, and maybe add the Prelude from Bach's First Cello Suite. As far as jazz, at the undergraduate level, most professors are more interested in your groove, walking ability, musicality, and elements that make a good "functional" jazz bassist rather than flashy licks.

-Pat