Majors

Bass Guitar

Your lessons will focus on creating your own bass lines, continually expanding your repertoire by exploring various styles and genres. You’ll develop your solo skills and learn how to work in a range of settings. You can choose to experiment with other types of bass, such as synth bass, fretless bass or contrabass. Beginning in your third year, you will be able to specialise in synth bass or contrabass.

 

After completing these classes, you will be an all-around bass guitar professional with your own unique sound. You will also be able to perform on all stages and in all studios. From style and genre, pop history, culture and current issues, you will know all the ins and outs.

 

Your ability to read music is a core part of the major classes. At the same time, it’s important for you to be able to track your progress. That’s why our schedule also allows space for your development in a band or bands, so that you will have every opportunity to explore your ambitions and talents. You will find out whether you have what it takes to become a band leader, arranger or studio technician. During this journey of discovery, you will also attend classes on PA (sound system), studio techniques and arrangement.

Admission requirements for Bass Guitar

We expect you to be at a decent level by the start of your programme, so that you can successfully achieve the final learning outcomes within the four-year programme. During the admission process, we will assess your level and potential for development.

 

This is what you will do:

  • Perform
    • Play at least two pieces that showcase your skills. The pieces must be from different genres.
  • Rhythm test
    • Play along to a drum loop and keep the rhythm going when the loop cuts out for several beats.
  • Come up with a bass line
    • Produce your own bass line based on a drum pattern and a chord progression.
  • Listen and repeat
    • Play a fragment and ask you to play it by ear as soon as you can. You may also be asked to play on the spot with a play-along.
  • Reading music
    • We will test your sight-reading skills.
  • Reading chord symbols
    • We will assess your understanding of chord symbols, including those relating to rhythm and form. You will perform an accompaniment and solo.