Music at Illinois - University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Jazz Bass

1. Scales:
• Major and melodic minor scales played arco, in two to three octaves and in all keys
• Prepare a 2-octave whole tone scale from Bb.

2. Walking Bass:
• “New York” major blues in four keys (as is the tune Blues for Alice by Charlie Parker)
• One of the following up-tempo compositions: Moment’s Notice, Giant Steps, and One Finger Snap

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, and the ability to also accompany in a “two beat” style, with appropriate fills and inflections. Suggestions for Be-bop tunes include: Little Willie Leaps, Milestones (old version/Charlie Parker) Billie’s Donna Lee, Tricotism, and Joy Spring. Suggestions for non-Be-bop tunes include Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum, Nefertiti, Beatrice, and Dolphin Dance.

Arranger/composer applicants must complete the following additional requirements:
• Show a portfolio of your arrangements/compositions at your audition as well as recordings of those works.
• Demonstrate the ability to harmonize a lead-line using 4-part closed position voicings and 4-way drop-two voicings.
• 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 NovaV
• 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)

Jazz Guitar

1. A complete performance of a jazz ballad, including one chorus of the harmonized melody as well as an improvised single-line solo. Suggested tunes: Chelsea Bridge, But Beautiful, Miyako, For Heaven’s Sake, Estate, or other tune of the applicant's choice
2. Two jazz tunes in contrasting style, including one Be-bop tune. Each piece should demonstrate a personalized interpretation of the melody, an improvised solo, and one or more choruses of comping. 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), Giant Steps, Ceora, Moment’s Notice, and One Finger Snap or other.
3. One piece of European “classical” music either composed or transcribed for the guitar. This may be an etude or an excerpt from a sonata or suite: Bach cello suites or violin partitas, for example. This may be performed finger style (classical guitar), with a plectrum, or as a combination of the two. As an alternative, an original composition for solo guitar may be substituted.

Jazz Piano

1. One blues head (in F or Bb). Students will be asked to play the melody, then comp (piano and guitar only), and finally improvise on the changes.
2. One jazz standard any style. Students will be asked to play the melody, then comp (piano and guitar only), and finally improvise on the changes.
3. One rhythm changes tune. Students will be asked to play the melody, then comp (piano and guitar only), and finally improvise on the changes.
4. Demonstrate major, jazz melodic minor, harmonic minor and harmonic major scales, diminished, tritone, and augmented scales. Demonstrate all major modes in all keys and blues scales in all keys.

Jazz Saxophone

1. Prepare a solo piece including playing the melody and at least 3 improvised choruses of a jazz standard (any style)
2. Prepare at least two blues heads and improvise on the changes
3. Prepare the melody to one jazz standard ballad and improvise at least one chorus
4. Prepare the melody to one medium swing tempo jazz standard of your choosing and improvise at least one chorus
5. Prepare the melody to the jazz standard "All The Things You Are" and improvise at least one chorus
6. Prepare the melody to the jazz standard "Oleo" and improvise at least one chorus

Jazz Trombone

Master of Music candidates, prepare:  

1. Blues in F - "Blues For Alice" (Bird Blues)  Melody plus 3 improvised choruses
2. "Rhythm" changes in Bb - "Anthropology"  Melody plus 2 improvised choruses
3. Ballad (choose one) - "Body And Soul" (Db); "Chelsea Bridge" (Db) Melody plus 1 improvised chorus
4. Standard (choose one) - "All The Things You Are" (Ab); "Stella By Starlight" (Bb); "Have You Met Miss Jones" (F); "What Is This Thing Called Love" (C) Melody plus 2 improvised choruses
5. Bordogni/Rochut - Melodious Etude #43
6. Scales - In All Keys (2 octaves): Major, Dorian, Lydian, Natural Minor (Aolean), Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, Auxiliary Diminished "aka" Dominant Diminished (ascending half step - whole step), Whole Tone.

Doctor of Musical Arts Candidates, prepare:

1. Blues in C - "Isotope"  Melody plus 3 improvised choruses
2. "Rhythm" changes in Bb - "Moose The Mooche"  Melody plus 2 improvised choruses
3. Ballad (choose one) - "Prelude To A Kiss" (C); "Peace" (Horace Silver) (Bb) Melody plus 1 improvised chorus
4. Standard (choose one) - "Moment's Notice" (Eb); "Inner Urge"; "Stablemates" (Db); "Con Alma" (C) Melody plus 2 improvised choruses
5. Thad Jones - "Tip Toe" from measure before "G" through downbeat of "J" (trombone section soli) 
6. Jacque Castérède - Sonatine - Movement 1
7. Scales - In all keys (2 octaves - ascending and descending): Major and ALL modes; Melodic Minor; "Jazz" Minor (ascending form of melodic minor in both directions) and 2 modes of your choice (ex: altered or diminished/whole tone; mixolydian #4, lydian b7, etc.); Harmonic Minor; Diminished and Auxiliary Diminished (ascending whole step/half step and ascending half step/whole step ); whole tone

*Please contact Music Admissions about audition requirements for the Artist Diploma in Jazz Trombone.

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's 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 "rhythm changes" heads as "scat" solos and improvise on the changes chosen from "I Got Rhythm", "I Can't Believe You Are In Love With Me", "Rhythm-a-ning".  Provide a "leadsheet" in your for each tune for the accompanying pianist or provide a play-along CD or MP3 for accompaniment.
2. Prepare and sing one rubato verse and one "in tempo" chorus of the melody of a jazz standard ballad chosen from "Darn That Dream", "Body and Soul", "The Things We Did Last Summer", or "Misty".  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. Be prepared to vocally arpegiate chords from each of the following 5 qualities: major7, minor7, dominant7, minor7b5, and fully diminished and sing the following scales: major, jazz melodic minor, harmonic minor, harmonic major, diminished.
4. Prepare and sing one chorus of the melody to the jazz standard "Come Rain Or Come Shine" and improvise "scat" at least one chorus on the changes.  Provide a "leadsheet" in your key for an accompanying pianist or provide a play-along CD or MP3 for accompaniment.

Updated on09/07/2018