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Jazz Studies Audition Information

MM – Jazz bass (acoustic preferred), guitar, piano, saxophone, trombone, and trumpet

1. Major scales, whole tone, diminished, and ascending melodic minor scales.
2. Play the melody and improvise from memory on the chord changes of one tune from each of the following three lists:

ü  Bebop tunes: Groovin’ High, Half Nelson, Confirmation, Donna Lee, Joy Spring, Stablemates

ü  Standard tunes: All The Things You Are, Stella By Starlight, What Is This Thing Called Love?, Star Eyes, Alone Together, There Will Never Be Another You, Have You Met Miss Jones?, On Green Dolphin Street

ü  Post-bop tunes: Giant Steps, Moment’s Notice, Bolivia, Inner Urge, Dolphin Dance, Moontrane

                  Perform one jazz etude or transcription

                  Auditionees may be asked to sightread typical jazz ensemble parts

Master of Music – Drumset

Auditions consist of the applicant being able to demonstrate their ability to play in the following musical styles:

1. 4/4 swing at a variety of tempos
2. Funk and rock styles at a variety of tempos
3. Samba and bossa nova
4. Mambo
5. Afro-Cuban 6/8

Additional skills assessed during the Jazz Drumset audition:

1. Brush technique
2. Waltz and odd meter performance
3. Repertoire: transcription or jazz etude

Updated on 09/14/2018