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Double Bass How to prepare

  • Thread starter Thread starter aaabass
  • Start date Start date
#41
Oh, please...:rolleyes: What is this, some sort of "dumb and dumber" routine? Posting under multiple usernames is a bannable offense on this BBS. Let's all please keep the humor alive and well but ABOVE THE BOARD. If you wanna say something funny, sign your real name to it, or save your breath. This troll thing might be funny to some, but it isn't funny for the moderators. Just stop now, please. :eyebrow:
 
#42
I think Kouss hit it right on the nose with those solos. The main solos from Koussevitzky, Bottessini, Vanhal, Dragonetti, and even Dittersdorf will be nothing short of impressive to anybody who you perform it too. The reason those are the most popular is because they have elements that show off different styles, techniques, and really challenge the player. The most important thing to do is to perfect them, god knows the worst feeling is having to perform a solo you're not ready for. Oh and for the pre-audition jitters, I suggest reading The Inner Game of Music by T. Gallaway. It is an amazing read and helped me overcome all fears. GL
 
#43
Machiavelli's "Art of War?" Asimov on physics? The "mallet stroke?" The Astoria Symphony Orchestra? (I know it's real, I just remember reading the craigslist ads when it was forming in Queens.) "AllegroConBasso" AND "Prescottissimo?" Fart jokes?
Yes, trolls are annoying, but I have to admit I laughed at this thread when reading it in retrospect (just to see what it takes for someone to get banned). C'mon--"taking medication for Irritable Bowel Syndrome" as a hobby AND as an area of instruction? Twisted.
 
#44
I am not AllegroConBasso. I have no idea who that is, but think they are cool. I own a 5 string Prescott. However, I may be starting a new website entitled, playbass.com or net or whatever. Maybe it can be a partner with talkbass.

Now that I've been censored once, we can talk more about auditions. One recommendation I have is to NEVER accept favors for ANY audition from ANYONE because you will never be happy knowing you didn't really win. For example, one I know who got their post this way has only deteriorated as a person and isn't respected by anyone because EVERYONE knows how they got their job. Also, anyone in this situation will never help anyone else no matter what for fear of losing their gift. They will live a life of constant fear knowing they didn't earn that phat paycheck and fearing who knows their dirty secret. EVERYONE knows!!!

Nighty Night.
Prescottissimo...
 
#47
Prescottissimo said:
I am not AllegroConBasso. I have no idea who that is, but think they are cool. I own a 5 string Prescott. However, I may be starting a new website entitled, playbass.com or net or whatever. Maybe it can be a partner with talkbass.

Now that I've been censored once, we can talk more about auditions. One recommendation I have is to NEVER accept favors for ANY audition from ANYONE because you will never be happy knowing you didn't really win. For example, one I know who got their post this way has only deteriorated as a person and isn't respected by anyone because EVERYONE knows how they got their job. Also, anyone in this situation will never help anyone else no matter what for fear of losing their gift. They will live a life of constant fear knowing they didn't earn that phat paycheck and fearing who knows their dirty secret. EVERYONE knows!!!

Nighty Night.
Prescottissimo...
Click to expand...

Prescottissimo

First let me say that your profile is funny stuff. Anyway, I would have to disagree with your comments about accepting favors in some cases. For instance, "winning" an audition unfairly because your buddy is judging or someting like that is bogus but happens alot I am told. I got refered to my current pre-professional/semi-profesional union/non-union/volunteer orchestra beacuse my teacher was principal. I didin't audition per se, I just showed up to a rehearsal (when there were, for reasons unkown, no other bassists on hand) and I guess they liked my playing so they hired me. If I had had to audition I would have choked do to inexperience, but playing with this group which operates in a proffesional manner had been extremely valuable to my playing experience, and now I have the confidence to audition for other groups. Sometimes you need to get a foot in the back door to advance.

Jon
 
#48
Well, I have witnessed firsthand the dangers of what shoes/feet in the back door can do to morale and a person's professional/personal development. For example, an insecure teacher may strike a deal with an insecure conductor if they both feel they have something the other wants: the conductor agrees to hire the teacher's favorite student who repeatedly fails to win and the teacher agrees to get the conductor hired at his orchestra since the conductor is having similar problems himself.

So, again, when taking paying/tenured auditions, I can only strongly recommend that people have faith in their abilities, practice hard, be prepared, do it the fair way for a lifetime of peace and good conscience. For the pre-professional stuff, it's still advisable but less disastrous without tenure. Think of those others who may have to suffer from a rigged audition - in some cases decades of aftermath.
 
#49
Dudes......I don't see what the big deal is about Allegro and Presto or whatever his name is..........I think they're kind of funny! This is the most interesting stuff I've seen on these forums and people are talking about it at work, professionals I know have never been to the site before.

Some of the highest ranked professionals are pretty out there too so why get so ruffled over 'systematic degradation' and ISB meds. Besides, what if Presto really has ISB, could this be considered disability discrimination?
 
#53
Hey, I'm new here, this is my first post. This thread really interests me because I can see a lot of talk about what pieces you should play and how good you should be for entrance into an orchestra, but no one is really mentioning the fact that you can still 'win' an audition even if there are people of higher ability.

The principle thing that ALL auditions and interviews are designed to determine is your suitability for the position, and your playing ability is only half of what is 'required'. You should have a good attitude towards working in a group, you should be a 'nice person', you need to be very enthusiastic about playing in that orchestra and you should know a fair bit about the workings of orchestras, or even better the orchestra you're auditioning for, to show enthusiasim, motivation and a great attitude towards getting the part.

But all the same, if you've come here, read the lists of recommended study pieces and taken the time to learn them and learn them well, then you're already showing a good attitude and enthusiasm!

Cheers!
 
#54
fingerstyle said:
...you can still 'win' an audition even if there are people of higher ability.

The principle thing that ALL auditions and interviews are designed to determine is your suitability for the position, and your playing ability is only half of what is 'required'.
Click to expand...

Well, [barring any "secret auditions"], your playing ability is ALL that is required to get to the hiring stage of an orchestral audition.

Once you get to the hiring stage ("Final Round"), usually the screen comes down and the committee can look for any weird things you might do... and can then acertain your degree of "enthusiasm", et cetera.

A Principal Bass Player has since admitted that sometimes it's not the "best" player, but the "right" player that wins the job.
 

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