Current Audition Information - forms, dates, requirements
- Scales
- Students will be asked to perform:
- major scales with arpeggio.
- minor scales with arpeggio.
- Sight Reading
- Students will be asked to sight read examples in
various jazz styles.
- Prepared Piece
- perform a jazz etude, transcribed solo, or appropriate selection from jazz ensemble literature (soli section, or solo part)
- Jazz Perfomance
- Students will be asked to perform contrasting selection(s) with prerecorded or live accompaniment (Aebersold play-alongs are fine). Tunes should be selected from standard jazz repertoire. Suggested tunes include:
- blues tunes: Tenor Madness, Now's the Time, Blue Monk
- standards: Take the A Train, Autumn Leaves
- latin/island feel: Blue Bossa, St. Thomas
- ballad: In a Sentimental Mood, Lover Man
- Pianists, guitarists, and wind players are expected to play the melody and improvise.
- Pianists and guitarists will be asked to "comp" the chord changes as well.
- Bassists will be asked to play basslines which outline the harmony and reflect the rhythmic style of the selection. Bassists may also improvise if they choose to.
- Jazz Drummers will be asked to:
- 1. sight read
- 2. demonstrate styles:
- 1) Medium swing- sticks and brushes
- 2) Latin - Bossa Nova, Samba, Afro-Cuban
- 3) Ballad - brushes
- 3. Alternate keeping time and improvising for 4, 8, and 12 measure groups (trading)
- Students interested in the Jazz Composition Major must audition as an instrumentalist but are encouraged to bring scores and tapes to their audition.