Music at Illinois - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Jazz Bass

1. Technique:​
• Major scales, arco, in two octaves in all keys.

2. Walking Bass:
•Major blues in B-flat, C, A-flat, and E-flat.
•“Rhythm” changes, (based on the song form for I Got Rhythm), in B-flat, F, and E-flat Major.

3. Repertoire:
•Two pieces in contrasting styles, one of which is a be-bop tune. Demonstrate a personal interpretation of the melody, an improvised solo, one or more choruses of walking   bass. Suggestions for Be-bop tunes include: "Au Privave", "Billie's Bounce", "Tricotism", and "Joy Spring". Suggestions for non Be-bop tunes include: "Autumn Leaves", "I'm Old-Fashioned", "Beatrice", "Dolphin Dance", and "Ceora".

Arranger/composer applicants must complete additional requirements that consist of:

1. Present a portfolio of your arrangements/compositions at your audition as well as recordings of those works
2. Demonstrate the ability to harmonize a lead-line using 4-part closed position voicings and 4-way drop-two voicings
3. Demonstrate a working knowledge of transpositions and ranges of instruments found in a contemporary jazz setting

Jazz Drumset

The audition will require a demonstration of the following musical styles:

• 4/4 Swing at a variety of tempos
• Funk/Fusion styles at a variety of tempos
• Samba and Bossa Nova
• Mambo
• Afro-Cuban 6/8

Note: Trading 4-bar, 8-bar, 12-bar solos may be requested for all styles listed above.

Additional skills assessed:
1.Brush technique
2.Waltz and odd meter performance (5/4 & 7/4)
3.Repertoire knowledge
4.Sight reading (chart) 

Note: The prospective student should be prepared to discuss previous performance experience, teachers, and method books used in study. If available, the prospective student may have an opportunity to demonstrate the above skills in a performance situation with a large jazz ensemble.

Jazz Guitar

1. Complete performance of a standard jazz ballad. Suggestions for pieces include: "Body and Sool", "Autumn in New York", "Here's That Rainy Day", "Infant Eyes", or other song of the applicant's choice.
2. Two jazz tunes in contrasting style, including one Be-bop tune. Suggestions for Be-bop tunes include: "Au Privave", "Joy Spring", "Jordu", "Yardbird Suite", and "Donna Lee". Suggestions for a non Be-bop piece include: "Milestones" (new version), "So What", "Ceora", "Manha de Carnival", and "Up Jumped Spring".

Jazz Piano

Applicants should be prepared to play a twenty-minute audition consisting of three or more contrasting jazz pieces. Additionally, the applicant should be prepared to play two or more contrasting classical pieces. The jazz piano audition is combined with the classical piano audition and both are required for admittance to the Jazz Performance degree programs. Music should be memorized and include a work by J.S. Bach and a movement of a classical sonata.

1. Ballad: I Can’t Get Started, In A Sentimental Mood, Misty, What’s New, When Sunny Gets Blue
2. 12 Bar-Blues: Au Privave, Billies Bounce, Now’s The Time, Straight No Chaser
3. Medium-Up Tempo Swing: All The Things You Are, Autumn Leaves, How High The Moon, Just In Time, My Romance, Stella By Starlight.
4. Jazz Standards: Confirmation, Donna Lee, Oleo, Ornithology.
5. Latin: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, The Girl From Ipanema, Wave, Green Dolphin Street.
6. Tunes in 3/4: Bluesette, Someday My Prince Will Come, Tenderly, Valse Hot, Alice in Wonderland.

Music typical of undergraduate auditions includes selections from any of the following, as well as many other works of the standard piano repertoire from the Baroque through the contemporary era:

• Bach: French Suites or Well-Tempered Clavier
• Haydn, Mozart or Beethoven: first movement of a sonata
• Chopin: Nocturnes or Etudes
• Brahms: Intermezzi
• Debussy: Preludes
• Bartok: Suite, Op. 14
• George Crumb: A Little Suite for Christmas

Jazz Saxophone

1. Prepare two 12-bar blues heads and improvise on the changes chosen from "Billies Bounce", "Straight No Chaser", "Tenor Madness" or "Isotope".
2. Prepare the melody to one jazz standard ballad and improvise at least one chorus on the changes chosen from "Misty", "Body and Soul", "Lover Man" or "I Can't Get Started".
3. Prepare the melody to the jazz standard "All The Things You Are" and improvise at least one chorus on the changes.
4. Prepare the melody to the jazz standard "Oleo" and improvise at least one chorus on the changes.

Jazz Trombone

1. Blues in F (choose one) - "Billie's Bounce"; "Now's The Time" Melody plus 3 improvised choruses
2. "Rhythm" changes in Bb- "Oleo" Melody plus 2 improvised choruses
3. Ballad (choose one) - "Misty" (Eb); "In A Sentimental Mood"(F) Melody plus 1 improvised chorus
4. Standard (choose one) - "Autumn Leaves" (Gm); "Caravan" (Fm); "Satin Doll" (C) Melody plus 2 improvised choruses
5. Bordogni/Rochut - Melodious Etude #6
6. Scales - Major scales in all keys – 2 octaves

Jazz Trumpet

1. Major scales in all keys (2 octaves when possible)
2. 2-octave chromatic C scale (Bb concert), slurred, to be performed cleanly at a fast tempo
3. Short classical demonstration (an etude, excerpt from a solo, contest piece/etude, etc.)
4. Choose one of the following blues compositions, perform the melody twice, and play 3 to 4 solo choruses: Tenor Madness (*Bb), Sandu (*Eb), Au Privave (*F), or Billie' Bounce (*F) (*denotes concert key)
5. One standard jazz ballad of your choice (Body and Soul, I Can't Get Started, Misty, In A Sentimental Mood, etc.)
6. One additional jazz tune of your choice (If a non-standard tune, please provide your own play-along track if desired). Play the melody and 1-2 improvised choruses.
7. Sight-reading proficiency (lead or section parts)

Jazz Voice

1. Prepare and sing two 12-bar blues heads as "scat" solos and improvise on the changes chosen from "Billies Bounce", "Straight No Chaser", "Tenor Madness" or "Blue Monk".  Provide a "leadsheet" in your key for each tune for the accompanying pianist or provide a play-along CD or MP3 for accompaniment.
2. Prepare and sing one chorus of the melody to one jazz standard ballad chosen from "Misty", "Body and Soul", "Lover Man" or "I Can't Get Started".  Provide a "leadsheet" in your key for the chosen tune for the accompanying pianist or provide a play-along CD or MP3 for accompaniment.
3. Prepare and sing one chorus of the melody to the jazz standard "All The Things You Are" and improvise at least one chorus on the changes.  Provide a "leadsheet" in your key for the accompanying pianist or provide a play-along CD or MP3 for accompaniment.

Updated on 09/07/2018