Bienen School of Music - Northwestern University

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Master 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. Rhythm section instruments should demonstrate the ability to accompany a soloist.

All songs are listed in concert key:

Up-Tempo

• The Eternal Triangle, Sonny Stitt, Bb Major
• From This Moment On, Cole Porter, F minor
• The Way You Look Tonight, Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields, F Major

Blues

• Chi Chi, Charlie Parker, Ab Major
• Mr. Day, John Coltrane, Gb Major
• Cheryl, Charlie Parker, C Major

Ballads

• ‘Round Midnight, Thelonious Monk, Eb minor
• Someone to Watch Over Me, George Gershwin/Ira Gershwin, F Major
• Detour Ahead, Herb Ellis/John Frigo/Lou Carter, C Major

Waltz

• Waltz for Debby, Bill Evans, F Major
• Ugly Beauty, Thelonious Monk, Db Major
• Falling in Love with Love, Richard Rodgers/Lorenz Hart, 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 on09/05/2018