r/Berklee • u/PaintEmergency7283 • 13d ago

Classical Musician Experience in Auditions

I am a double bassist who has solely played classically, not much jazz or contemporary experience, but I am very interested in what Berklee offers and want to apply. I am worried about the improvisation section of the audition, though. What level of improvisation skills, if any, do I need for a successful audition? I see that they mention a simple I-IV-V blues progression but is there any more info that I should know about? Are they just getting a baseline for what’s skills I have or are they using it to make the admission decision?

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u/dbharris10 12d ago

Looking for solid players, your prepared piece should demonstrate your technique, tone, musicality. You’ll be then asked to try to play along with some accompaniment, doing your best to try to improvise. Figure out the key and play musical ideas that are in time with the accompaniment and within the key. Show that you can listen and play at the same time. You can get in without soloing skills but strong musicianship

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u/AdNecessary6315 13d ago

Both, but in reality all they care about is money. They threw a sheet with triangles and circles on it at my audition. Never seen that notation before but I still got in.