Strings
Students should prepare a two or three-octave scale of their choice and one solo work. The solo work should best represent your skills and must show elements of shifting, vibrato and a a complement of bow technique such as spiccato, slurred bowings and brush stroke. The excerpt may be either a solo and/or etude. Students should bring a copy of the piece for the judges. The judges may stop a student mid-piece once they have heard what is necessary to make a placement Sightreading will be used in auditions.
Harps
Perform a piece of your choosing.
Woodwinds and Brass
Perform a two-octave scale of their choice (quarter note at about 84mm). Perform one solo piece that BEST represents your skills. The piece should be technically challenging but also demonstrate the student’s ability to play musically and expressive. The excerpt may be either a solo and/or etude. Students should bring a copy of the piece for the judges. The judges may stop a student mid-piece once they have heard what is necessary to make a placement. Sightreading will be used in auditions.
Percussion
All interested percussion students should prepare one solo work of their choice and perform the following:
Auditions
Auditions are open to all students from 8th through 12th grade who are currently enrolled in their school’s music program. Based on an audition, the following ensemble positions will be filled: drum set, bass, piano, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. Other instruments will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
The jazz audition will be a relaxed environment. We want to get a good sense of your playing ability, and also assess your ability to pick up on new ideas. Auditions will be 10 minutes long.
Audition Materials
Download the appropriate charts for your instrument
C instrument
Download play-a-long tracks
There Will Never Be Another You
Things Ain’t What They Used to Be
Horns
Traditional jazz combo instruments: trumpet, trombone, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax. We will ask you to play:
Piano/Guitar/Vibes
We will ask you to play:
Bass
We will ask you to play:
Drums
We will look/listen for drum technique, your time, and your ability to swing.
Other grooves we would like to hear include, but are not limited to: