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Double Bass College Auditions 2007-08 Already?!?

#45
I auditioned and got a full scholarship to Manhattan with the Minuets from the first cello suite and a C major scale. I played pretty badly, on my old, horrific hybrid with a 44 1/2" string length. I was tense and my bow arm showed it.

They are looking for talent. If you were already a monster you wouldn't need conservatory. In my case, they were very forgiving of my tense playing. Hope this provides some comfort. Good luck!

Eric
 
#47
I'm starting to worry about details that I don't know if I can fix or how to fix.

First of all, my bridge. It is slightly warped but that isn't the big problem. It puts really bad string action on my bass and makes some of my pieces really hard to practice. Its my school's bass so there's nothing i can do.

Also, my spiccatto stroke (mainly for Mozart 40). I have heard so many different ideas to pulling off a good sound that I don't know what to do. I try mixing and matching ideas but I can't seem to find something that works. I'm auditioning for IU and BU so I'm pretty sure this would have some significant effect.
 
#48
Auditioning can be overwhelming. The important thing is to stay calm and don't get nervous. These auditions are for school, not a big time job and not for your life. Believe it or not these teachers are not looking for perfect performances, or for you to play like Edgar Meyer (if you did you wouldn't need to study with them). Just keep working hard, listen to your teacher, and try to incorporate everything that you have learned. If you do this, you will make improvement and you will make a good impression on the audition committee. Also, remember to not stop practicing scales, etudes and exercises. Even if they aren't asked on the audition list, they are essential for improvement. The more comfortable you become with them, the greater they will help while warming up because playing things well calm your nerves.

-Nick
 
#49
My old teacher used to remind me that the audition panel members are already predisposed to like you. In other words, nobody shows up to sit on a panel all day hoping to hear you play badly - they want to like you and your playing.

His advice to me was practice like hell before, get there early, don't forget to breathe, and focus on singing through my left arm/hand/fingerboard. If I focus on singing/playing, things just go better and I relax.
 
#57
bassbass said:
I was wondering what the general opinion on the following teachers are? I've heard that they are all very good but i'm not too sure where to audition for. I've been told to look up...
Tim cobb, Lawrence Hurst, Bruce Bransby, Paul ellison, Ed Barker? Has anyone had experience with any of these guys and if so what are they like, whats their focus with teaching?
Any info is of some help!
Click to expand...

Bransby is REALLY good. I took a lesson with him, and I'm pretty sure I want to go to IU now from his teaching. He has a very different way of thinking and teaching from what I could tell, simply put, he's the man.

Ellison is an amazing dude in his own rite. I watched him teach a masterclass and he's very much position/posture oriented, basically if don't want a bad back in 80 years, go to him. He's one of the best teachers in the US right now, and pretty much if you study with him you WILL get a job sooner or later. He puts out so many good students that it's scary. Personally, I'm not ready for him, but if you are, go for it.
 
#58
one thing to keep in mind about rice that I haven't seen mentioned yet is the large amount of academic work involved, relative to other music schools of its caliber. rice is an extremely selective university, and shepherd school students have to complete the same core curriculum requirements as all everyone else.
of course, hundreds of music students do fine every year, and if you have a chance to study with paul ellison you'd be crazy not to take it. but for someone who's been focusing 100% on music it can be a bit of a shock and a stress.
 
#59
turin said:
one thing to keep in mind about rice that I haven't seen mentioned yet is the large amount of academic work involved, relative to other music schools of its caliber. rice is an extremely selective university, and shepherd school students have to complete the same core curriculum requirements as all everyone else.
of course, hundreds of music students do fine every year, and if you have a chance to study with paul ellison you'd be crazy not to take it. but for someone who's been focusing 100% on music it can be a bit of a shock and a stress.
Click to expand...
You learn to deal with it. I've never been a particularly motivated student, but I do what I can. Actually, the academic classes at Rice don't have to be impossible. Yes, you can take ridiculously hard classes, but you don't have to (even the football players need a few easy A's). I've found the music classes to be much more of a challenge.
 
#60
PaulCannon said:
You learn to deal with it. I've never been a particularly motivated student, but I do what I can. Actually, the academic classes at Rice don't have to be impossible. Yes, you can take ridiculously hard classes, but you don't have to (even the football players need a few easy A's). I've found the music classes to be much more of a challenge.
Click to expand...

yeah, I was there for a couple of years, so I know that even though it means a lot of credit hours, it's not necessarily that hard. but I do think it's a pretty significant difference from, say, juilliard or nec or wherever. when I was asking "what's rice like?" I wish someone had told me! ;)
 

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