Auditions | College of Music | University of Colorado Boulder

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Masters’ of Music

Pre-screening Recording

A pre-screening recording is required for all graduate jazz performance and pedagogy applicants. Live auditions will be granted to applicants chosen from these recordings. Applicants will be notified of the faculty decision no later than one month prior to any live audition.

Pre-Screening Recording Requirements

• Five different jazz tunes (applicant’s choice), representing five different styles (e.g. Latin, blues, rhythm changes, contemporary ballad, etc.); improvising on all five tunes as well.
• Applicants can also upload and submit any additional materials (e.g. arrangements, compositions, copies of recitals or other recordings, written articles, etc.) along with their pre-screening recordings online.

Applicants are required to upload their additional materials along with their recordings to the Graduate Application by December 1.

Live Auditions

Repertoire for the live audition is the same as listed above. A rhythm section will be provided for the live audition. Applicants are required to provide copies of lead sheets for the other musicians at the live audition.

Applicants will also provide a repertoire list, containing all the tunes the applicant feels they know well enough to play, if called to do so. Some tunes will be selected from that list for the audition.

Recorded Auditions


Live auditions are strongly preferred. A recorded audition (live performance or studio recording) may be submitted in place of a live audition. Please see the Recorded Audition Guidelines for information on submitting a recording.

A live audition is required to qualify for Teaching Assistantships. Applicants unable to travel for a live audition should contact their respective faculty member directly. Requirements for a recorded audition are identical to a live audition. Editing within a movement is prohibited. Any indication of editing may disqualify the candidate from admission. The recording (audio/video) must be in a digital format with high quality audio.

Please note that while recorded auditions will be given full consideration, the best demonstration of your musical ability is through a live audition. 

Doctor of Musical Arts

Pre-screening Recording

A pre-screening recording is required for all graduate jazz performance and pedagogy applicants. Live auditions will be granted to applicants chosen from these recordings. Applicants will be notified of the faculty decision no later than one month prior to any live audition.

Pre-Screening Recording Requirements

• 
Five different jazz tunes (applicant’s choice), representing five different styles (e.g. Latin, blues, rhythm changes, contemporary ballad, etc.); improvising on all five tunes as well.
• Applicants can also upload and submit any additional materials (e.g. arrangements, compositions, copies of recitals or other recordings, written articles, etc.) along with their pre-screening recordings online.

Applicants are required to upload their additional materials along with their recordings to the Graduate Application by December 1.

Live Auditions

Repertoire for the live audition is the same as listed above. A rhythm section will be provided for the live audition. Applicants are required to provide copies of lead sheets for the other musicians at the live audition.

Applicants will also provide a repertoire list, containing all the tunes the applicant feels they know well enough to play, if called to do so. Some tunes will be selected from that list for the audition.

Recorded Auditions


Live auditions are strongly preferred. A recorded audition (live performance or studio recording) may be submitted in place of a live audition. Please see the Recorded Audition Guidelines for information on submitting a recording.

A live audition is required to qualify for Teaching Assistantships. Applicants unable to travel for a live audition should contact their respective faculty member directly. Requirements for a recorded audition are identical to a live audition. Editing within a movement is prohibited. Any indication of editing may disqualify the candidate from admission. The recording (audio/video) must be in a digital format with high quality audio.

Please note that while recorded auditions will be given full consideration, the best demonstration of your musical ability is through a live audition.

Updated on 08/23/2018