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Undergraduate Audition Materials and Requirements: Jazz Studies

Each applicant will perform a 15-minute audition accompanied by members of the jazz studies faculty.

The Bachelor’s of Music degree in Jazz Studies is offered for interested students on the following instruments:

• Double Bass
• Guitar
• Piano
• Percussion
• Saxophone
• Trombone
• Trumpet
• Tuba
• Woodwind and string auditions are at the discretion of the jazz studies faculty.

Items to Bring to the Audition:

1. Your instrument
2. 3 copies of lead sheets in concert key for songs that you wish to perform
3. Drummers – cymbals & hi-hats (if desired), sticks, brushes
4. Guitarists & Bassists - bring your own cords

Items We Will Supply:

1. Amplifiers
2. Drum set
3. Piano
4. Stereo system

Audition Repertoire

The titles suggested in this section illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition. Candidates are free to choose a program using music from this list or music of comparable quality.

The requirements (except for drum set, see separate requirements) for the jazz audition are as follows:

* Candidates should prepared something similar to the following, although not all selections may be heard:

• Ballad, in tempo (Body and Soul, Lover Man, In a Sentimental Mood, etc.)
• Jazz Standard, moderate to up-tempo (All the Things You Are, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, etc.)
• Rhythm Changes (I Got Rhythm, Anthropology, Oleo, etc.)
• Straight-Eighth tune, moderate tempo or faster (Blue Bossa, Little Sunflower, etc)
• 12-Bar Blues, any tempo

* Play a bebop head from memory (i.e. Confirmation, Donna Lee, Ornithology, Scrapple from the Apple) to demonstrate jazz phrasing and articulation skills.

* Chords and Scales: In addition, all candidates are expected to have knowledge of and may be called upon to perform, all major and minor scales, and the II V7 I progression in arpeggiated format (all chords up to the 9th).

* Piano and Guitar (strongly encouraged for all other candidates):

• One of the above required pieces must be performed as an unaccompanied solo

* Bass: In addition to the above requirements, bassists will be asked to walk bass lines through the progressions of any or all selections.

* Drum Set: Candidates for drum set will be asked to sight-read big band charts and demonstrate proficiency in the following areas: brush work at a ballad and medium fast swing tempo, Afro Cuban and related grooves (such as mambo, rhumba and bolero), Brazilian bossa nova, samba, contemporary rock, and grooves in 5/4 or 7/4. Candidates should be prepared to demonstrate ability to play time, delineate form and improvise over the following types of tunes: blues, rhythm changes (I Got Rhythm, Anthropology, Oleo, etc.), and modal (So What, Impressions, Little Sunflower, etc.). In addition, candidates will be asked to trade 4s, 8s and choruses.

* Optional:

• Original compositions and non-standard repertoire are acceptable as part of the audition and may be performed or submitted. Please keep in mind that the jazz faculty will not be available to rehearse. Bring 3 photocopies of each selection in lead sheet form.

Classical Study for Jazz Studies Majors
Students who wish to take classical lessons (MUP 111/311) must pass a classical studio audition to be eligible to take these lessons while pursuing Jazz Studies at ASU. Please follow the suggested MUP 111/311 audition requirements listed under each instrumental area.

Taped Auditions
You may send a high quality tape if distance prohibits a live audition. Applicants auditioning by tape/CD must demonstrate improvisational skills on their recorded audition.

Woodwinds
Brass
Strings
Percussion

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