Jazz Academy
Audition Requirements

Auditions

 

Auditions are open to all students 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

 
 

Horns

 

Traditional jazz combo instruments: trumpet, trombone, alto sax, tenor sax, baritone sax. We will ask you to play:

  • One scale of your choosing

  • One major scale of our choosing

  • The “head” (melody) to There Will Never Be Another You and Things Ain’t What They Used to Be with the play-along track

We would like to hear you improvise on the changes. We do not expect you to be a killer improviser, but we do expect you to try. Much of jazz is based on improvisation, therefore, a willingness to try is imperative for participation in the ensemble.

 

Piano/Guitar/Vibes

 

We will ask you to play:

  • One scale of your choosing

  • One major scale of our choosing

  • The “head” (melody) to There Will Never Be Another You and Things Ain’t What They Used to Be with the play-along track.

  • One chorus of comping the changes for either There Will Never Be Another You or Things Ain’t What They Used to Be

We would like to hear you improvise on the changes. We do not expect you to be a killer improviser, but we do expect you to try. Much of jazz is based on improvisation, therefore, a willingness to try is imperative for participation in the ensemble.

 

Bass

 

We will ask you to play:

  • One scale of your choosing

  • One major scale of our choosing

  • The “head” (melody) to There Will Never Be Another You and Things Ain’t What They Used to Be with the play-along track.

  • One chorus of walking the changes to either There Will Never Be Another You or Things Ain’t What They Used to Be

We would like to hear you improvise on the changes. We do not expect you to be a killer improviser, but we do expect you to try. Much of jazz is based on improvisation, therefore, a willingness to try is imperative for participation in the ensemble.

 

Drums

 

We will look/listen for drum technique, your time, and your ability to swing.

  • Be prepared to play the styles of both prepared tunes, There Will Never Be Another You and Things Ain’t What They Used to Be

Other grooves we would like to hear include, but are not limited to:

  • medium swing (on Ride and on HH)

  • uptempo bop. (tempo 200+)

  • brushes ballad

  • jazz waltz (medium tempo)

  • samba

  • Bossa