Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Jazz Studies Audition Information

​

Jazz Studies (BM)

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

l  Studio instruction in jazz is only available to jazz performance majors. Therefore, only applicants applying for the Bachelor of Music in Jazz Performance, Bachelor of Music in Music Education and Bachelor of Music in Music Therapy or Bachelor of Arts in Music and Culture may audition in jazz.

Recorded Auditions: While recorded auditions are acceptable, a live audition is strongly recommended for scholarship consideration. Applicants must demonstrate improvisational skills on a recorded audition. See "Recordings + Portfolios" for technical specifications.

Bring to Your Audition:

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

We Will Supply:

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

Audition Repertoire

l  The titles suggested in this section illustrate the kind and quality of music appropriate for an audition.

l  Applicants are free to choose a program using music from this list or music of comparable quality. Candidates for all instruments (except for drum set: see separate requirements) should prepare something similar to the following, although not all selections may be heard:

ü  Ballad, in tempo (Body and Soul, Lover Man, In a Sentimental Mood, etc.)

ü  Jazz Standard, moderate to up-tempo (All the Things You Are, There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, etc.)

ü  Rhythm Changes (I Got Rhythm, Anthropology, Oleo, etc.)

ü  Straight-Eighth tune, moderate tempo or faster (Blue Bossa, Little Sunflower, etc)

ü  12-Bar Blues, any tempo

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

ü  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).

ü  Original compositions and non-standard repertoire are optional, but 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.

Instrument-Specific Requirements

l  Piano and Guitar (strongly encouraged for all other candidates): One of the above required pieces must be performed as an

     unaccompanied solo

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

l  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.

Classical Study for Jazz Majors

l  Students who wish to take classical lessons must pass a classical studio audition to be eligible to take these lessons while pursuing jazz studies at ASU. 

l  To audition in both classical and jazz, select "Bachelor of Music: Performance" as your 2nd Choice Degree on the School of Music

      application.

                                                                                                                                 Updated on 08/01/2018