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Strings · 168 verified programs with a double bass pathway

Double Bass: degrees, diplomas and programs

Double bass study ranges from orchestral and solo classical playing to jazz bass, with training shaped by the instrument's size and its foundational role in ensembles.

Also called: Contrabass, Upright bass, String bass, Kontrabass, Contrebasse.

What the listings below mean

A program is listed for double bass only where its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study pathway. These are formal degree, diploma or certificate pathways; the page says which. An instrument taught in private lessons, or a teacher on the faculty, does not create a listing.

91 Bachelor’s · 60 Master’s · 8 Diploma · 6 Practice doctorate · 3 Certificate · 139 named major, 7 formal principal-study pathway, 22 named in the program title

168 programs

How results are ordered: alphabetically by institution, or by most recently checked when you choose that sort. There is no price ranking, because tuition in different currencies, fee categories and bases (per year, per credit, whole program) is not comparable. A program appears under a subject only through a verified link (dedicated degree, major, concentration or documented pathway). A value we could not verify is shown as “not published”, never as “no”. Items marked Sponsored are paid placements; they never change verification or order. Online programs are not counted as physically located in a state or city, and an institution’s location does not tell you whether it enrols students from your country.

Published double bass audition repertoire

Copied from each program’s own admissions page. Requirements are specific to the program and intake: follow the link and check the current year.

  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Master of Music
    • • Two movements from a Bach Cello Suite. | • Orchestral excerpts – prepare key passages from the following choices: | a. Mozart’s 35th Symphony & 40th Symphony ; or 41st Symphony . | b. Beethoven’s 3rd Symphony , Scherzo , or Strauss’ Don Juan . | c. Til Eulenspiegel’s Merry Pranks . | • A complete standard concerto from memory. | Graduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should upload the audition directly to their Graduate College application. Graduate applicants who submit a recorded audition will also register for a virtual interview with the faculty. Applicants can register for their interview after submitting the Graduate College application.​
  • University of Iowa: Bachelor of Music (BM)
    • For general information and to register for an audition, please see Undergraduate Auditions . | Audition Requirements: | Major or minor scale (2 octaves) | Etude (Franz Simandl, Storch-Hrabe, etc.) | Solo work | Compositions are welcome in PDF format, but not required.
  • Lawrence University: Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
    • Two contrasting pieces or movements from the standard repertoire (Including a movement from a Baroque sonata or suite) | Your choice of 2-4 standard orchestral excerpts | Three-octave major scale, its relative melodic minor, and arpeggios | Sight-reading may be requested during live auditions | An introductory video is required for recorded auditions | In addition, students may elect to perform a transcribed jazz solo or improvise with pre-recorded accompaniment.
  • University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign: Bachelor of Music
    • • Two Orchestral Excerpts from the following choices: | a. Beethoven’s 5th Symphony , trio from 3rd movement or Beethoven’s 9th Symphony , recitative from 4th movement. | b. Mozart 40 Mvt. I or Mozart 41 Mvt. IV. | c. Verdi – Othello Solo or Mahler Symphony I, 3rd movement, bass solo. | • One movement from a Bach Cello Suite. | • One movement from a standard concerto. | On-campus audition dates can be found here . It is highly recommended that all undergraduate candidates attend an on-campus audition. If you are unable to audition on-campus, please select the “recorded” audition format preference on your supplemental music form. Undergraduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should follow the steps outlined here .
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Bachelor of Music
    • Double Bass: Audition Requirements All applicants (Bachelor of Music, Artist Certificate, Master of Music, Graduate Diploma, Artist Diploma, Doctor of Music Arts) Solo Repertoire A large-scale movement or piece, similar in scope to the 1st movement of a concerto A piece or movement in a contrasting style and time period from above A piece of choice, in any style, genre, or time period; this piece should represent you as a unique musician (can be an additional movement from 1 and 2 above) Orchestral/Chamber Excerpts Three excerpts from the orchestral and/or chamber repertoire By different composers Requiring contrasting technical demands Movements may be performed with or without repeats Da Capo forms count as one movement (e.g., Minuets I and II, or Scherzo and Trio)
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Master of Music
    • Double Bass: Audition Requirements All applicants (Bachelor of Music, Artist Certificate, Master of Music, Graduate Diploma, Artist Diploma, Doctor of Music Arts) Solo Repertoire A large-scale movement or piece, similar in scope to the 1st movement of a concerto A piece or movement in a contrasting style and time period from above A piece of choice, in any style, genre, or time period; this piece should represent you as a unique musician (can be an additional movement from 1 and 2 above) Orchestral/Chamber Excerpts Three excerpts from the orchestral and/or chamber repertoire By different composers Requiring contrasting technical demands Movements may be performed with or without repeats Da Capo forms count as one movement (e.g., Minuets I and II, or Scherzo and Trio)
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Graduate Diploma
    • Double Bass: Audition Requirements All applicants (Bachelor of Music, Artist Certificate, Master of Music, Graduate Diploma, Artist Diploma, Doctor of Music Arts) Solo Repertoire A large-scale movement or piece, similar in scope to the 1st movement of a concerto A piece or movement in a contrasting style and time period from above A piece of choice, in any style, genre, or time period; this piece should represent you as a unique musician (can be an additional movement from 1 and 2 above) Orchestral/Chamber Excerpts Three excerpts from the orchestral and/or chamber repertoire By different composers Requiring contrasting technical demands Movements may be performed with or without repeats Da Capo forms count as one movement (e.g., Minuets I and II, or Scherzo and Trio)
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Diploma
    • Double Bass: Audition Requirements All applicants (Bachelor of Music, Artist Certificate, Master of Music, Graduate Diploma, Artist Diploma, Doctor of Music Arts) Solo Repertoire A large-scale movement or piece, similar in scope to the 1st movement of a concerto A piece or movement in a contrasting style and time period from above A piece of choice, in any style, genre, or time period; this piece should represent you as a unique musician (can be an additional movement from 1 and 2 above) Orchestral/Chamber Excerpts Three excerpts from the orchestral and/or chamber repertoire By different composers Requiring contrasting technical demands Movements may be performed with or without repeats Da Capo forms count as one movement (e.g., Minuets I and II, or Scherzo and Trio)
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Artist Certificate
    • Double Bass: Audition Requirements All applicants (Bachelor of Music, Artist Certificate, Master of Music, Graduate Diploma, Artist Diploma, Doctor of Music Arts) Solo Repertoire A large-scale movement or piece, similar in scope to the 1st movement of a concerto A piece or movement in a contrasting style and time period from above A piece of choice, in any style, genre, or time period; this piece should represent you as a unique musician (can be an additional movement from 1 and 2 above) Orchestral/Chamber Excerpts Three excerpts from the orchestral and/or chamber repertoire By different composers Requiring contrasting technical demands Movements may be performed with or without repeats Da Capo forms count as one movement (e.g., Minuets I and II, or Scherzo and Trio)
  • Cleveland Institute of Music: Doctor of Musical Arts
    • Double Bass: Audition Requirements All applicants (Bachelor of Music, Artist Certificate, Master of Music, Graduate Diploma, Artist Diploma, Doctor of Music Arts) Solo Repertoire A large-scale movement or piece, similar in scope to the 1st movement of a concerto A piece or movement in a contrasting style and time period from above A piece of choice, in any style, genre, or time period; this piece should represent you as a unique musician (can be an additional movement from 1 and 2 above) Orchestral/Chamber Excerpts Three excerpts from the orchestral and/or chamber repertoire By different composers Requiring contrasting technical demands Movements may be performed with or without repeats Da Capo forms count as one movement (e.g., Minuets I and II, or Scherzo and Trio)
  • Northwestern University: Bachelor of Music
    • Audition dates: | Early Decision: November 14 | Regular Decision: February 6 & 13 | For Prescreening: | One solo piece | One three-octave major scale | Two orchestral excerpts of the applicant's choice from any works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and/or Strauss (any combination is acceptable). | For Final Audition: | Two contrasting solo pieces | One major scale, one harmonic minor scale, and one natural minor scale of choice, in two or three octaves | Three orchestral excerpts of the applicant's choice from any works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and/or Strauss (any combination is acceptable). | Note: Sight-reading and memorization are not required
  • Northwestern University: Master of Music
    • Audition dates: | February 6 & 13 | For Prescreening: | Two contrasting solo pieces | Three orchestral excerpts of the applicant's choice from any works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and/or Strauss (any combination is acceptable). | For Final Audition: | Two contrasting solo pieces | One movement from J.S. Bach, Suites for Violoncello | Five orchestral excerpts of the applicant's choice from any works by Bach, Beethoven, Brahms, Mozart, and/or Strauss (any combination is acceptable).

About double bass study

The double bass is the largest bowed string instrument, and its role as the harmonic foundation of orchestras and jazz groups shapes how it is taught. Degree-level students work on tone, shifting across a long fingerboard, bow technique, and the physical demands of a large instrument. Two bowing traditions, French and German, and different tuning conventions mean that teachers within one department may approach technique differently.

Programs usually divide or combine two broad paths. The classical path centres on orchestral excerpts, solo repertoire and chamber music, with orchestral work a major focus because bass sections are central to professional ensembles. The jazz path emphasises walking lines, improvisation, comping with rhythm sections and playing pizzicato, often within a jazz studies department where bassists may also study electric bass.

Typical degree contexts include the Bachelor of Music in double bass performance, the Master of Music, and practice doctorates such as the Doctor of Musical Arts. Jazz double bass is often a principal-study option within jazz degrees, and a few programs support both traditions. Because cohorts are small, some schools combine bass with other low strings in teaching, though students still need a dedicated bass teacher.

What study typically involves

  • Double bass technique including shifting, bowing and intonation
  • Orchestral excerpts and section playing
  • Solo repertoire, including works written specifically for bass
  • Chamber music and ensemble playing
  • Jazz bass: walking lines, improvisation and rhythm-section skills in some programs
  • Sight-reading, ear training and theory
  • Music history and style
  • Pedagogy in some programs

Award titles. Double bass study may be recognised through a Bachelor of Music or BMus and a Master of Music or MMus, with jazz bass sometimes appearing within a jazz-specific degree title. Some conservatories award an Artist Diploma or a graduate or postgraduate diploma, which are diploma-level awards and not master's degrees. The Doctor of Musical Arts is a practice doctorate. Names vary by country and no equivalence is claimed.

This directory lists a program under double bass only when its official page names the instrument in the title, as a major, or as a formal principal-study option. A private teacher or a faculty bassist does not count. Not every school offers double bass as a degree specialization, and jazz bass may be offered separately from classical bass.

Auditions and admissions guidance

General orientation only. Each program publishes its own repertoire, format and deadlines; this directory cannot guarantee acceptance.

Double bass auditions are normally live, with some schools using a recording to prescreen. Classical bass applicants often play contrasting solo or sonata movements and may be asked for scales and orchestral excerpts. Jazz applicants may be asked to play a head, walk a blues or standard, and demonstrate improvised lines.

Schools usually test sight-reading, theory and aural skills, and may interview candidates. Some provide an instrument for the audition when travelling with a double bass is difficult, so it is worth asking in advance.

Each program publishes its own repertoire and format, and these change by year. Read the current-year audition page for every school and confirm accompanist and instrument arrangements. Nothing here guarantees admission.

See also preparing for auditions and prescreening vs final auditions.

Costs and funding

Bassists are sometimes sought for orchestras and jazz ensembles, and programs may offer scholarships connected to ensemble needs. Graduate students may be considered for assistantships, such as coaching sectionals or playing in studio ensembles, depending on the school.

Terms depend on institution, country and year, and many students receive partial support or none. Contact each department about options.

Costs beyond tuition. Bassists may need to buy or rent an instrument, which can be expensive, plus a bow, strings, rosin, a padded or hard case and regular maintenance. Transporting a large instrument can require a vehicle or additional travel fees, and amplification may be needed for jazz or contemporary work. Accompanist and audition travel costs are also possible.