Are there any general music classes i can get into in order to learn these skills? or does everything for music require an audition?
I think you meant to ask this question: "Can I take courses in college to prepare for being a music major?"
90% of all music courses are "Music Majors Only." Even the majors have a hard time getting into all the classes they need. Yes, there is usually one course called something like "Introduction to Music" that many schools have for everyone else. To expect this to prepare you for majoring in music would be like expecting knowing the names of the major components of an automobile (engine, transmission, differential, brakes, wheels, tires, steering mechanism, suspension, electrical system, fuel system, etc.) to enable you to drive. It might help, it can't hurt, but it won't do the job.
Playing solo concert repertoire on an instrument, reading music fairly well in at least treble and bass clef, singing basic melodies at sight, notating simple music correctly, identifing intervals, keys, chords, and scales, from notation and by ear, and understanding how to work in an ensemble are basic essentials that enable you to do something even more important: play and learn a large amount of music on an instrument that has a significant solo repertoire, and develop a sophisticated set of cognitive musical skills for expressive playing and understanding what you hear. None of this comes from reading books or listening to professors. It all comes from hundreds--even thousands of hours of practice, not just on your instrument, but also practicing increasingly difficult music reading, written theory/analysis, and hearing tasks.
This bit about learning a large amount of solo music is where we electric bassists have real problems. The repertoire for our instrument is probably the largest there is in terms of the sheer amount of music using our instrument, but is also one of the smallest in relation to standard works that can be played with the bass as the principle voice in a concert setting.
That's one of the main reasons electric bass often "gets no respect." Even the double bass has issues there.
But none of this blather is going to help you, really. What you need is a year or 2 of intensive study with a teacher who will teach you to read music, notate it, listen to it, and understand it. That is a big job and such teachers are hard to find, cost a lot, and can be really hard to deal with.
Another good bet is to find a local conservatory that has an "Extension Division." This is a division where you do not earn a degree or credit, and you don't have to audition. You are, in effect, a cash cow, though these types of things are usually not as expensive as regular conservatory classes. They are part-time programs (take as few or many courses as you want), usually for young people and older adults. I think San Francisco Conservatory has this. Mannes School in New York used to have such a program, as did Juilliard. You can start with the basics in theory and ear training, and take lessons on double bass privately while you learn theory in classes. Convincing one's parents that this is a good idea would probably be as hard as actually getting into a music school.
I would emphasize again that piano is essential. To learn piano, you really need a piano (not a cheap electronic keyboard), a real teacher, and the will to practice every single day.
Doing all of this while in college is very very difficult. Most college freshmen have a hard enough time fitting their homework, sleep, meals, exercise, and laundry around their grueling party and hang schedule! And Oh darn, I forgot about going to classes...ha ha ha, that's supposed to be funny!
Yet, I'm serious. Actually getting things of use done in college is very hard for most kids in the first couple of years. To do your school work and catch up to the music majors is a tall order. I know, I tried and it was a miserable life. I was behind almost every one, and never did catch up while I was an undergrad. It took me 7 years to get a college degree. The first year was spent in a different major, 2 years were then spent out of school, and then 3 and a half back as a music major to get my B.A. in music. I then proceeded to take 3 more semesters of undergraduate music courses at two other schools to catch up so I could actually compete in graduate school.
Oh yeah, before I became a music major, I got a high number in the military draft lottery so I didn't have to go to Vietnam, and spent those 2 years year out of school learning enough to play a fairly pathetic double bass audition, which did however, succeed in getting me into the local college music program. I also spent that time out of school gigging and actually making a good living as a bassist--I needed to pay for a double bass and teacher, a piano and teacher, an ear training teacher, stereo, LPs, books, apartment, reliable used car, etc. I supported my self-designed study solely by playing electric bass in bar bands.
That was in the early '70s when the drinking age was 18, the bars were always full, nearly all had live music, and typical gigs were 5 nights a week paying $100 a night per player. Sorry for the trip down "memory lane," but times have changed. Due to inflation, that $500 a week in 1971 is like making $2000 a week in 2008. Try to find a bass gig that pays like that now, they are very rare! Seasoned adult pros are competing for them. In this day and age, far fewer paying gigs exist, and expectations are (sadly) that young people will get on with things a bit faster. Hope this helps--at least a little.
