Curtis double bass

College Majors Music Major
1

Hey guys, I have played bass for about 4 years now and I am really interested in going to Curtis. I’m in 10th grade and love to practice scales and excersizes form the Jeff bradetich technique book ( not the 200$ one). I don’t really know what else to practice and what else I should be learning. The last solo I played was the bouree from the 3rd solo from bach cello suites. Could anyone give me and tips on what to practice, how to practice, maybe a solo I could start and how to get into Curtis!?

2

What do you plan to do after Curtis?

3

Bottesini Concerto 2, Dittersdorf, Koussevitzki…Do you have a private teacher who can give you repertoire ideas? The Double Bass program at Curtis is extremely difficult to get into and the number of openings varies from year to year.

4

I read an interview with Edgar Meyer once where he said bass players should study all the Bach cello suites that everything they need to learn is in there. That being said, do you have a private teacher? Usually your private teacher is the best person to guide you in your studies.

5

From the Curtis audition website:

Double bass

Applicants must submit a screening video with the application to be considered for the live auditions. Applicants will be notified in January of their live audition status.

Screening Repertoire

Applicants should prepare a five to ten minute video recording of a work or works that best exhibits their skills.The choice should be similar to, but not limited to the Double Bass live audition repertoire.

Live Audition Repertoire

Applicants will play from memory:

  1. A movement written before 1830, preferably from a solo work by Bach.
  2. A movement written after 1830.
  3. One other work from any period, which could be another movement from the required works above.The pieces may be originally written for Double bass or transcribed from another instrument. The three choices should show the strengths of the applicant as completely as possible.
  4. In addition, two prepared excerpts from the standard orchestral literature will be required (music may be used for this portion only).
6

if you don’t have a private teacher yet its unlikely you’ll get in. you need to be extremely advanced.