Double Bass
As a double bass player you will often lay down the foundation of the music. Whether it’s swing, groove music, or modern creative, as a bass player you need to be able to adjust to different settings. Both comping and improvising will be part of your artistic development. During the lessons you will focus on developing skills like timing, sound, intonation, harmony, technique, and composition. With your teachers you will be covering jazz in a broad sense, discovering the main jazz styles from the US, as well as jazz from other regions such as Europe or South-America. You will also be working on your skills with a bow.
Teachers
Tijs Klaassen
Tijs Klaassen is considered one of the top notch double bass players in The Netherlands. Apart from leading his own quintet, he is a sideman in a large number of bands. Tijs collaborates with a wide range of musicians such as Ben van Gelder, Mete Erker, Franz von Chossy, Suzan Veneman, Reinier Baas, Kika Sprangers, and many others. He has studied both jazz and classical music, and also plays bass guitar. He has taken lessons with Ron Carter, Orlando Le Fleming, Rick Rosato, and Ben Street.
Guus Bakker
Guus Bakker obtained a master degree in both bass guitar and double bass. He is very active as a sought-after freelance bassist who is credited for the wide range of styles he masters in both jazz, and pop music. Guus has worked with a great variety of artists and groups such as Eric Vloeimans, Rembrandt Frerichs, Wouter Hamel, Rotterdam Jazz Orchestra, Robin Verheyen, Tutu Puoane, Ben van den Dungen & Jarmo Hoogendijk, Gare du Nord, Michiel Borstlap, and Wende Snijders.
There are three steps to the audition:
- 1. Video-preselection
- 2. Theory test
- 3. Live/online session with the main subject teachers
Candidates are expected to prepare material for both the video-preselection and the session with the main subject teachers. This can be the same or similar material for both steps.
1. Video-Preselection
Upload 3-5 videos to your personal upload portal (PortalPlus). Suggested material to prepare and upload:
- To assess your level of ability, you have to prepare three pieces. These pieces should represent different styles (e.g. jazz, funk, latin, pop, et cetera), but at least one piece must be a jazz standard in which we hear you play accompaniment (walking bass) and an improvised solo.
2. Theory Test
If you are selected, you will be invited to an online theory test using Microsoft Teams (approx. 30min.). You can find the theory guidelines here.
3. Live/Online session
If you are selected after the first round, you will also be invited for a live or online audition:
- Candidates living in the Netherlands and Belgium will have to do a live audition, location Fontys Academy of the Arts (Zwijsenplein 1, Tilburg).
- Candidates from other countries will have to do an online audition.
Duration of the audition is 15/20 minutes.
When you are invited for a live audition, the commission prefers to see you perform and play your repertoire with an accompaniment/group or band of your own. If possible, bring your own musicians to the audition. In exceptional cases the school can provide accompaniment. Please indicate this on the questionnaire form you will receive after you application. Please be mindful: there is a warm-up room, but there’s no opportunity for a joint rehearsal on campus. Be sure to bring proper sheet music for your band members.
During both live and online sessions, you will be asked to perform your material as prepared for the pre-selection. Besides this, you can be asked to present additional exercises.