Bass electric/upright

Mandatory music selection requirements for auditioning as a bassist.

Recruiting for this instrument
is currently closed.

Mandatory music selections

Requirements for your audio recording

Selections no.3 and no.4 may use a live rhythm section, a backing track, or play the selection to an audible metronome click (on beats 2 and 4).

Mandatory Selection No. 1 - Perform one classical etude on upright bass from Nanny, Rabbath or Simandl.

Mandatory Selection No. 2 - Perform one technical study on electric bass.

Mandatory Selection No. 3 - Perform one selection from the standard swing repertoire on upright bass including an improvised solo.

Mandatory Selection No. 4 - Perform one selection of a contrasting style (funk, fusion, latin jazz, rock, etc.), on electric bass.

Optional Selection No. 5 - Perform one selection of your choice on electric or upright bass.

We will contact you with your results

The music selection board will assess your submission. When the assessment is completed, you will be informed whether or not you are selected to participate in a live audition.

Live audition process and preparation

All auditions will be performed live with a Regular Force Band.

The live audition is divided into 4 parts:

• solo performance
• ensemble performance
• theory and aural skill tests
• Music Branch interview

Solo performance

Prepared solos

You must prepare at least 4 pieces of contrasting musical styles. Mandatory Selections 3 and 4 will be performed with a rhythm section.

Mandatory Selection No. 1 - Perform any one movement from the Bach Cello Suites on electric bass.

Mandatory Selection No. 2 - Perform a solo piece of your choice that best exemplifies your abilities, demonstrates your versatility in the classical repertoire on upright bass using arco technic.

Mandatory Selection no. 3 - Perform one selection from the standard swing repertoire on upright bass. The selection will be performed with a rhythm section and will display your ability to accompany and improvise over a set of chord changes.

Mandatory Selection no. 4 - Perform one selection of a contrasting style on electric bass (funk, fusion, latin jazz). The selection will be performed with a rhythm section and will display your ability to accompany and improvise over a set of chord changes.

Mandatory selections 3 and 4 must be from the following list:

Swing, ballad:

• What Is This Thing Called Love (C major, quarter note = 184 bpm)
• All The Things You Are (Ab major, quarter note = 184 bpm)
• Four (Eb major, quarter note = 132)
• Rhythm Changes (Anthropology, Oleo etc.) (Bb major, quarter note = 194 bpm)
• Body and Soul (Db major, quarter note = 60 bpm)
• My One and Only Love (C major = 60 bpm)
• In A Sentimental Mood (F major = 60 bpm)

Latin/Funk/Fusion:

• Recorda-me (bossa) (A minor, quarter note = 176 bpm)
• Cantaloupe Island (Funk) (G minor, quarter note = 116 bpm)
• How Insensitive (bossa) (D minor, quarter note = 126 bpm)

Scales and arpeggios

• Chromatic Scale – full practical range of the instrument
• Diatonic Scales (All keys) – Major, Harmonic and Melodic Minor
• Arpeggios (All keys) – Major triads, minor triads, dominant and diminished 7ths

Note: all scales and arpeggios must be played from memory, two octaves (where possible), in 16th notes at quarter = 72 bpm.

Designated scales will be followed by either an arpeggio, a Dominant 7th arpeggio built on the 5th degree of the scale, or a Diminished 7th arpeggio built on the 7th degree of the scale, and will resolve to the tonic.

Ensemble performance

Prepared pieces

Perform various styles of music while playing in different ensembles. Material will be provided 4 weeks prior to the audition. You will be required to play both electric and upright bass.

Sight-reading

Perform various styles of music while sight-reading with various ensembles. Material is provided at the audition.

Theory and aural skill tests

Musical theory

A music theory test will be performed and you will recognize:

• signs
• terms
• chords
• intervals
• score types
• transposition
• abbreviations
• time signature
• identifying keys
• cadences and melody writing
• major, minor and other scales and modes

Aural Skills

The aural skill test will including the following:

• melodic dictation
• incorrect notes in a given melody
• separate dictation treble clef and bass clef
• intervals - harmonic, melodic, ascending and descending
• chords (triads) - major, minor, 1st and 2nd inversion and 4 notes chords: Dom7, dim7, aug7

Music Branch interview

A selection panel within the Regular Force Band will assess you. After the audition, you will be interviewed by the panel. All recordings and assessments will be sent to DHH Music for final selection.

Final selection will be based on the panel’s recommendations.