School of Music > Admission & Aid > Auditions > Undergraduate/Teacher Licensure > Bass

Auditions: Undergraduate - Bass

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Applicants pursuing Jazz Bass must submit a prescreen by January 6.  Prescreens are not required for applicants pursuing Classical String Bass. ​

Bassists may choose to perform either a classical or jazz audition. Applicants who wish to schedule both may do so. In order to apply and audition for both, please email musicadmissions@depaul.edu​. For jazz applicants, please scroll to the bottom of this page and click the Jazz Bass drop-down box for audition requirements.

Successful applicants will be assigned to the applied studios within the category (classical or jazz) for which they have auditioned. If an applicant wishes to study in both the jazz and classical studios they must participate in both a classical and jazz audition. All bass auditions must be performed on a string bass. Bass guitars are not acceptable for the audition.

Please see the audition requirements below. Uploads must be video files. Audio files will not be accepted.

We encourage all applicants, if at all possible, to audition in-person.  

  • Live audition dates are scheduled during the weekends in February. Review list of audition dates by instrument here.
  • ​Recorded video auditions are available by request and must be submitted by February 1 to your Blue Demon Domain (for undergraduates) or your application portal (for graduates/post-masters), in the “edit portfolio" section. To enable the recorded audition submission, contact musicadmissions@depaul.edu. 

Audition Repertoire

  • two contrasting orchestral excerpts
  • one movement from a Bach cello suite
  • one movement from a standard bass concerto

Recorded Interview Questions (only applicable to those who select a recorded submission to audition)

​Please upload a video that is no longer than 2-3 minutes and responds to the below questions:

What is your musical background?

Why are you applying to DePaul?​

Prescreen Video Requirements - Materials due by January 6.

Applicants have the option of video recording unaccompanied, with live accompaniment, or with a backing track (real instruments/musicians preferred, i.e. Aebersold play-along tracks).  Videos do not need to be a professional studio recording, however, please ensure that you can be clearly seen and the bass prominently heard on your video.  No other solos besides bass, please.

Please prepare the following:

1) BLUES – choose one of the following: "Billie’s Bounce" (Charlie Parker, key of F), "Sonnymoon for Two" (Sonny Rollins, key of Bb). 150-200 bpm.  Play the melody, walk bass lines for three choruses, solo for two choruses, play the melody out

2) RHYTHM CHANGES - "Oleo" (Sonny Rollins), key of Bb, 190-220 bpm.  Play the melody, walk bass lines for two choruses, solo at least one chorus, play the melody out

3) SCALES - play two major scales of your choosing, two octaves ascending and descending

 

Live Audition Requirements  

Please prepare the following:

1) BLUES - a jazz blues melody of your choosing (not the same tune as applicant’s pre-screen video).  Play the melody, walk bass lines for three choruses, solo for at least two choruses, play the melody

2) MEDIUM TEMPO STANDARD - choose one of the following:  "Rhythm-a-ning", "Take the A Train", "There Will Never Be Another You", "I’ll Remember April", "All the Things You Are", "On Green Dolphin Street". Play the melody, walk bass lines for two choruses, solo for at least one chorus, play the melody.  

3) BALLAD – "Polkadots and Moonbeams".  Play the melody, improvise for 16 bars, then play the melody for the remainder of the chorus

 

Recorded Interview Questions (only applicable to those who select a recorded submission to audition)

​Please upload a video that is no longer than 2-3 minutes and responds to the below questions:

-       What is your musical background?

-       Why are you applying to DePaul?​

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