Berklee?

[BassKat]

Hey fellow jazz cats. Well its time for me to be applying for colleges and Berklee College of Music is at the top of the list as of now. I play the upright bass and electric when I have to but my big thing is on the upright. I'm stoked about the school but a lil scared to be honest. I have met and played with players that come from there and they are great players and I think I can learn a lot from there. But what should I be playin to get ready or up my game? What will they want to hear at auditions? I live a good ways away from Boston so what should I have in an audition tape? Thanks for your posts.

[Nathaniel Catchpole]

BassKat,

I'd have reservations recommending Berklee to a potential student, although it very much depends what you expect to get out of it. If you search the archives, I've answered questions about the college several times before.

Worth pointing out that if you get a scholarship (or don't), you can re-audition six months later to try to increase the scholarship before you start at the college, it's also worth considering one of their three week courses beforehand (which also have some scholarship provision) since a few people I knew at the college had got very large scholarships due to recommendations from faculty teaching on the three week course, could be a risk if you weren't able to get the course itself funded. A tape audition doesn't mean you can't also audition in person. Some of this might have changed, I graduated three years ago. As a bass player, they ought to give you a decent amount, definitely emphasise your upright playing if you send a tape.

Also, if you want to get ahead and avoid a lot of unnecessary and expensive classes, I'd recommend buying some of their harmony (and possibly ear-training and arranging) books and going through them. Brushing up on that could save you a semester or two's worth of entry level classes, leaving you more credits to spend on playing classes or allowing you to graduate earlier or go part-time (I ended up doing all three of those).

On the other hand, are you aware of New England Conservatory?

[graypencil]

.. and Lynn Seaton is now at Univ. of N TX as well ..

Along with Nats' cogent comments on Berklee, you might to well to search the JC archives for the Berklee threads which explore the plusses and minuses in detail ..

[JazzJunkie]

There's a good article in "Jazz Improv" Magazine (Vol. 4, Issue 2) on "The Auditioning Process", by Todd Coolman -- who happens to be a bass jazzer and director of the Jazz Studies Program at Purchase College - SUNY. Cheers! {JJ}

[BassKat]

Thats kool thanks for the replies. I am planning on goin to college for more of the performance side. I am still open for all the college suggestions cus I haven't really decided for sure. I'm just looking for a college that has a very stronge jazz department, doesn't really matter where its at. I will check out the New England Conservatory.

[bostontricky]

BassKat, how far away are you from Boston? I just (like, today) discovered a friend from high school studied bass at New England Conservatory in the mid-90s.

Perhaps he could contact you (once I contact him)...

[BassKat]

I live in Illinois so you can do the math lol. But like I said the place really doesn't matter all the much it more depends on the school.

[J Stinnett]

BassKat,

I have taught bass at Berklee for many years now and can give you a brief answer. The specific requirments for your audition are listed on the Berklee web page.

In my own words, you should have a piece of music prepared. The selection, is not nearly as important as the quality of your performance. Because you play upright, perhaps a jazz standard would be appropriate. Play the melody, bass line, and solo. If you have worked on some technical material that would be good also. i.e. classical etude, scales, arpeggios... You will be asked to read some music, both chord chart and notated line.

What every auditioner wants really to hear is if you can play the string bass in tune, in time, and what level you are at. It is most important that you play something well. Not necessarily complicated.

Despite some of the earlier skepticism expressed here, I can assure you that there are many excellent bassists at Berklee. Both students as well as teachers.

[VIBEr]

Originally Posted by J Stinnett

Despite some of the earlier skepticism expressed here, I can assure you that there are many excellent bassists at Berklee. Both students as well as teachers.

I think that much skepticism has been directed at college jazz education in general rather than Berklee in particular. I can't speak for Berklee since I've never been there, but music schools face the continuing problem of turning out graduates into a dwindling job market. I suppose that I would ask a prospective student to consider whether a jazz studies degree is actually going to get him where he wants to go professionally.

[Lastonein]

Hey Basskat. You may want to check THIS out.
Teachers don't often come with more practical experience than this.

[Lois Gilbert]

Read Ask Jaleel Shaw - he's in a perfect position to answer your concerns

good luck