Bass Guidelines
Bass LEVEL I: The Little Fiddle
Checklist:
- Tempo: Quarter note = 110 – 130 bpm (rit. at m. 12)
- Demonstrates correct posture.
- Tone is full.
- Dynamics are demonstrated where appropriate (p at m. 11 and mf at m. 13)
- Notes are articulated Appropriately and consistently
- Performance conveys the character of the piece
- Clean string crossings
- Clean and accurate shifts with good intonation
- Most bowings and note values are played accurately (up bow end of m. 8)
- Clean, separate 1/16th notes (mm. 1, 3, 9 – 13 and 15)
Bass LEVEL II: March in G
Checklist:
- Tempo: Quarter note = 80 – 90 bpm
- All notes, especially half notes, receive their full value
- Demonstrates correct posture
- Tone is full
- Dynamics are demonstrated where appropriate (mf at beginning to p at m. 6 F in m. 20 to mf in m. 22)
- Crescendos and decrescendos are the correct length and volume (p m. 6 crescendo to F m. 7)
- Notes are articulated appropriately and consistently
- Performance conveys the character of the piece
- Clean string crossings
- Clean and accurate shifts with good intonation (watch 3rd to 1st shifts especially ex. m. 20)
- Most bowings and note values are played accurately
- Slurs are connected
- Fingerings are consistent with Suzuki Bass School Vol. 2
Bass LEVEL III: L’ Elephant
Checklist:
- Tempo: Quarter note = 110 – 130 bpm
- Conveys a sense of grandeur (pomposo)
- Demonstrates correct posture
- Tone is full
- Uses vibrato as appropriate
- Dynamics are demonstrated where appropriate
- Crescendos and decrescendos are the correct length and volume
- Notes are articulated appropriately and consistently
- Performance conveys the character of the piece
- Clean string crossings
- Clean and accurate shifts with good intonation (mm. 17 – 32 and mm. 45 – end)
- Most bowings and note values are played accurately
- Slurs are connected
- Fingerings are consistent with Suzuki Bass School Vol. 2
Bass LEVEL IV: Marcello Sonata in E minor Adagio and Allegro and 1 major and 1 minor 2-octave scale of choice from the end of Suzuki Bass School Vol. 4
Checklist:
- Tempo: Adagio Quarter note = 40 bpm and Allegro Quarter note = 100 – 120 bpm
- Demonstrates correct posture
- Demonstrates ease of movement
- Tone is full
- Uses vibrato as appropriate
- Trills are clear (Adagio mm. 11, 14, and 15 Allegro m. 26 and 29)
- Dynamics are demonstrated where appropriate
- Crescendos and decrescendos are the correct length and volume
- Notes are articulated appropriately and consistently
- Performance conveys the character of the piece
- Clean string crossings (Allegro A to D 4th pos. beat 3 of m 7 – m 8)
- Clean and accurate shifts with good intonation.
- Most bowings and note values are played accurately
- Slurs are connected
- Fingerings are consistent with Suzuki Bass School Vol. 2
- Clean 1/16th notes (Allegro mm. 6 – 11 and mm. 18 – 22 and mm. 23 – beat 1 of 26)
- Stylistic differences between Adagio and Allegro sections are appropriate