Double Bass College Readiness

[basspirate777]

If one wanted to really nail a college audition, how would you folks approach:

One movement from a Bach cello suite or an etude by F. Simandl or E. Nanny
One movement from standard bass concerto or sonata
Free choice of an orchestral excerpt
Major or minor scales and arpeggios in three octaves

For Music Education, Music Technology, Music Media Production, Composition and Theory Degrees:

One movement from a Bach cello suite, an etude by F. Simandl or E. Nanny, or an equivalent etude
One movement from standard bass concerto or sonata
Major or minor scales and arpeggios in three octaves
Optional: Free choice of an orchestral excerpt


This is for Ball State University.

I've been playing EB for 18 years, DB for 5 and have a good handle on theory. I am still new to the DB I feel though, it's been different as I was mainly self taught with music until starting school at 26 after 8 years spent touring and recording as a freelancer in Nashville.

I've had only a handful of lessons with a really awesome local professor, but I have been beating the basics to death for the past few years, waiting for my opportunity to resume work on my degree.

How badass are these kids who audition at colleges these days? I am always amazed at some of the youtube stuff, there are 16 year old kids just owning stuff.

I mean, when they say scales in three octaves with arpeggios...are they going to ask for easy stuff like G, E, Bb or is it likely for an audition board to throw some whacky curve balls? I've been a woodshedder since I was a preteen, so I am up for getting anything up to par, I just don't know how to practice at the moment.

I have a solid handle on Simandl I, circle of 5ths with arpeggios with the DB but most of my work with Bach or solo material has been EB and this school only seems interested in the DB. I am totally okay with that, but I need to bring myself up to the appropriate level.

Due to family reasons the Mrs. and I are relocating to the area and this seems to be the best option for me to finish a music degree. I also have as much as 9 months after moving there to work with their current teacher, but I want to kinda get a better scope of things at the moment...

Any thoughts??

 

[Herbie 80's]

The first thing I would do if I was you, is to get a classically trained teacher. They'll know more about this process and what they're looking for, and will give you more tangible advice than we can. Also, they will help refine your playing for college, and prepare you.

Most of the good Universities for studying music are accepting students who are at the level of graduation 20 years ago, and that's just when they audition. If you don't get in your first time, try, try, and try again. I waited two years after High School graduation to study in a concentrated manner to be ready for the demands of University, so be ready for a big challenge.

Also, working on Bach on EB won't really help you with playing it on DB. It's so much different on DB and it can be very hard, with a lot of things to delve in to. Some people spend their whole life just trying to master Bach's cello bourree from the 3rd suite, and it is used all the time as an audition piece.

 

[basspirate777]

Yeah you kinda nailed what I was getting at...it seems the level is through the roof these days.

I agree on getting a teacher. I hope to study w someone regularly for almost a year before auditioning.

I also need to probably put the other stuff on hold and focus.

I wish I could play some jaco and just let 'em have it on the eb. the classical rte has been calling me for years now though.

Thanks for your thoughts!