Double Bass How to practice for sight reading auditions

[davidsbass]

tips?

 

[bassicmelodies]

Collect material that is unfamiliar to you. Write each down on a piece of paper, throw paper in jar and pull one out at a time to read from. Keeps you on your toes.

 

[M0ses]

Sight read a lot. It gets easier.

 

[fryBASS]

^ Those 2 posts... it's about all you can do.

 

[Andrew Hamilton]

When I'm playing music I generally try to stay between 2 and 4 measures ahead of where I'm actually at (depending on tempo). It allows you to formulate a game plan.

 

[Rocky]

The first thing I was taught to do is mark all the down beats, and repeats. Next look at the piece and make note of any repeating figures. This helps to simplify the piece by breaking it down into recognizable sections. Next learn the rhythm by tapping it out with one hand while keeping time tapping your foot. Do not worry about the notes harmonically at this point only the rhythm. After you know the rhythm then learn all the notes, but do not worry about the time just yet. when you have the notes down and what positions and fingerings you will be using then combine the two. Next play the piece slowly and get it down. If you mess up do not stop, keep going making a mental note of where you messed up until you reach the end of the piece. Now go back to where you messed up and cycle the part you had trouble with. Try playing the piece slowly again. Repeat the process as necessary. This method works and it gets easier and easier with time.

 

[ILIA]

All the above suggestions work, bu solo sight-reading practice can modify and/or stop anytime with no repercussions other than a dent to the success rubric--often a moving target in order to protect the ego.

SOOOO...

Get together with other instrumentalists and read chamber music. At the very least, get together with other bassists and sightread bass ensembles. For a real challenge, read string quartets with each bassist taking turns with each part. Yes. viola part, too. If you can sucker two violinists, and a violist to play string quartets with you, even better. This activity will develop the mindset and awareness required for sightreading auditions with umpteen times more efficiency than sightreading practice in solitude.

BTW, it goes without saying that for every orchestra gig that you do, strive to learn the part cold. This helps your sightreading skills, too.

 

[SVT4001]

I agree with everything stated previously, especially what ILIA says about sight reading in ensemble. Many people speed up during easy passages and slow down during more difficult ones without realizing it. A metronome can help...but nothing is better than having others to hold you accountable.

If you can't find anyone else to play with you, you might find someone to proctor you.

Recording (audio or video) your practice or reading sessions can be quite enlightening.

You must develop the ability to "play past your mistakes" too. Under no circumstances may you "go back and fix" a mistake while you're reading...unless you have repeat signs of course! Play through in time! This is a common mistake that people make when they are first learning to read. It's hard to let something go, especially when you KNOW it was wrong...but you have to do it! Remember...this only applies to SIGHT READING.

Also, keep this advise in mind: If you read it more than once you are PRACTICING it...what you want to develop is the ability to read at FIRST SIGHT. Get stacks and stacks of music and treat it like you would toilet paper: Once you've used it...well, you get the picture.

Trombone and bassoon music are a good source of fodder!

And not to overstate it, but do it A LOT!!!

Good luck!

Joe

 

[User4843936]

You must develop the ability to "play past your mistakes" too. Under no circumstances may you "go back and fix" a mistake while you're reading...unless you have repeat signs of course! Play through in time! This is a common mistake that people make when they are first learning to read. It's hard to let something go, especially when you KNOW it was wrong...but you have to do it! Remember...this only applies to SIGHT READING.

+1. This is probably the most useful piece of advice anyone could ever give you re. sightreading.... It's difficult to unlearn that stop and look habit but it really helps! Good luck!

 

[Square Bear]

Also important- practice sight singing. Great sight readers do not just see the notes and rhythms and play them, there is more to it than that. You want to be able to imagine the sound of the music you are reading. Don't stop at notes and rhythms, sight read dynamics and articulations too.

Here's a great exercise for sight reading - read a book out loud to someone. If you are in school, always volunteer to read aloud from the text. If you want to be convincing in the moment, you need to think ahead and understand the inflection, pronunciation, etc before the words come out. Put pressure on yourself to be as intelligible, accurate, and expressive as possible. It's exactly like sight reading music and you can learn a lot from the experience.

 

[ILIA]

Here's a great exercise for sight reading - read a book out loud to someone. If you are in school, always volunteer to read aloud from the text. If you want to be convincing in the moment, you need to think ahead and understand the inflection, pronunciation, etc before the words come out. Put pressure on yourself to be as intelligible, accurate, and expressive as possible. It's exactly like sight reading music and you can learn a lot from the experience.

Interesting. It never crossed my mind until now about the similarities between sight-reading/performing music notation and sight-reading/performing words. Thanks.