Bass guitar

Specific bass guitar admission requirements

Pieces and accompaniment 

For the entrance audition for the Jazz & Pop Zwolle course, you should prepare five pieces that are different in character and tempo. Besides the general admission requirements, there are additional, specific admission requirements for each instrument.  For the bass guitar entrance audition, the following applies: 

• At least one of the pieces should be a Jazz or Jazz-orientated piece 
• At least one of the pieces should be a Pop or Pop-orientated piece
• At least three of the five pieces must be performed with a band 

Outside of the requirements listed above, the styles of the remaining pieces can be chosen freely. You can play any form of Jazz, Latin or Pop music as well as a mix of various styles. Your own compositions (band repertoire, solo pieces, etudes, etc.) are especially welcome. 

During the audition, you will perform a minimum of two and a maximum of three of the prepared pieces. You will also play several exercises (see below). 

You choose which piece you will play first. The other pieces will then be chosen by the audition committee. 

Ideally, you should audition with your own band. If that is not possible, you can play with students from the Academy of Music, though you must request this in advance. There is a fee associated with this service. Please contact conservatorium.zwolle@artez.nl for more details on arrangement and cost. 

Exercises, skills and knowledge

In addition to the pieces mentioned above, the following will also be assessed: 

• playing major and minor (natural, harmonic and melodic) scales in all keys with correct fingerings and appropriate articulation; 
• playing broken major and minor triads and tetrads in all keys with correct fingerings and appropriate articulation; 
• playing simple melodies; 
• playing a basic bass line;
• improvising by ear based on a simple chord chart;
• constructing a bass line based on a simple chord chart;
• interpreting and playing chord symbols and notation (bass clef);
• after a brief period of preparation, sight-reading ability of a simple chord accompaniment with a bass line suitable for the style; 
• after a brief period of preparation, playing a simple melody written in bass clef. 

Main criteria

Many aspects of your performance are considered in the final assessment of your entrance audition. Some important ones are: 

• a foundationally relaxed posture allowing efficient movement; 
• joy in playing; 
• active listening and interaction with others in the ensemble; 
• charisma and way of presenting yourself; 
• a good feel for your musical role in an ensemble; 
• tone production and expressivity; 
• rhythmic stability; 
• improvisation and creativity; 
• openmindedness and possessing a broad musical interest. 
• openness and a broad musical interest.

Major lecturers