
Jazz Academy
Audition Requirements
Auditions are open to students through 12th grade . Based on an audition, the following ensemble positions will be filled: drum set, guitar, bass, piano, saxophone, trumpet, and trombone. Other instruments will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
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 by video submission.
Audition Materials
Download the appropriate charts for your instrument
C instrument
B-flat instrument
E-flat instrument
Bass Clef 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:
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. Must be recorded with the play-along tracks
We would like to hear you improvise on the changes on at least one of the songs. 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. Must be recorded with the play-along tracks
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 on at least one of the songs. 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. Must be recorded with the play-along tracks
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 on at least one of the songs. 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 on the “head” (melody) to There Will Never Be Another You and Things Ain’t What They Used to Be. Must be recorded with the play-along tracks.
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