Bienen School of Music - Northwestern University

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Bachelor of Music: Jazz Studies (All Instruments)

Prescreening required; must be video recording

For Prescreening and Final Audition:

• Trumpet, saxophone, and trombone players will perform with piano (or guitar), bass, and drums.
• Guitarists will perform with piano, bass, and drums.
• Pianists will perform with bass and drums.
• Bassists will perform with piano (or guitar) and drums.
• Drummers will perform with piano (or guitar) and bass.

Choose one song from each of the categories and be prepared to perform the song’s melody and improvise a solo on the chord changes of the song. Rhythm section instruments should demonstrate the ability to accompany a soloist.

All songs are listed in concert key:

Rhythm Changes

• Cottontail, Duke Ellington Bb Major
• Chasin’ the Bird, Charlie Parker, F Major
• Oleo, Sonny Rollins, Bb Major

Blues

• Au Privave, Charlie Parker, F Major
• Blue Monk, Thelonious Monk, Bb Major
• Mr. P.C., John Coltrane, C minor

Ballads

• Embraceable You, George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin, Eb Major
• The Nearness of You, Hoagy Carmichael/Ned Washington, F Major
• You Don’t Know What Love Is, Gene de Paul/Don Raye, F minor

Waltz

• Emily, Johnny Mandel/Johnny Mercer, C Major
• Jitterbug Waltz, Fats Waller, Eb Major
• Someday My Prince Will Come, Frank Churchill/Larry Morey, Bb Major

Drummers only

In addition to the selections listed above, drummers should prepare the following grooves:

• Afro-Cuban 6/8 groove
• Shuffle groove with backbeat
• Swing groove with brushes (slow, medium, and fast)
• Swing groove with sticks (slow, medium, and fast)

Updated on 09/05/2018