Peabody Institute - Johns Hopkins University
Jazz Studies Audition Information
Undergraduate
(BM)
Note:
Jazz auditions are not available at regional audition sites.
Applicants
to Peabody’s undergraduate program in Jazz Studies must successfully complete a
performance audition on their applied instrument and an entrance examination to
assess proficiency in theory and aural skills.
All applicants
The
audition comprises performances of:
Scales
Major,
natural minor, harmonic minor, melodic minor – ascending and descending
*Drummers
are encouraged to play vibes or piano but may also sing to fulfill this
requirement.
Improvisation
Performance
(melody and improvisation) of three tunes from the standard jazz repertoire:
- A medium tempo 12-bar jazz blues.
- A medium or medium up-tempo standard jazz
tune.
- A standard ballad.
*Drummers
must demonstrate both the ability to delineate the melody and must solo over
the form of each of the required vehicles.
Applicants
must provide their own accompaniment. Play-a-longs or good quality
accompaniment tapes are acceptable. At the audition, a selection without
accompaniment may be requested.
Sight-reading
Demonstrate
proficiency at sight-reading.
ADDITIONAL
PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS
Vocalists
Standards
should be selected from the songbooks of Ellington, Rodgers & Hart, Berlin,
Porter, Gershwin, Kern, etc. Vocal applicants with piano skills are encouraged
to accompany themselves.
Guitar
Demonstrate
proficiency at comping in various styles.
Piano
Demonstrate
proficiency at comping in various styles.
Bass
In
addition to all other requirements, bass players must:
- Demonstrate the ability to play in a range
of styles including 4/4 walking time in a range of tempos, jazz waltz
time, a bossa-nova feel, slow ballad accompaniment, a rock or funk groove,
and an ostinato pattern. Possible examples of these might be:
- 4/4 walking, a slow, medium or
fast 12 bar blues, medium or fast ‘rhythm changes’, a tune form such as
Groovin’ High, Four, There’ll Never Be Another You, Confirmation, Out of
Nowhere, or Autumn Leaves.
- Jazz waltz time – a tune like
Someday my Prince will Come, Up Jumped Spring, All Blues, or Blusette.
- Bossa Nova feel – Some
possibilities might be The Girl From Ipanema, Wave, Triste, Once I Loved,
or Desafinado.
- Slow Ballad accompaniment – A
standard ballad form, such as Body and Soul, What’s New, In a Sentimental
Mood, Soul Eyes, or Sophisticated Lady. Be prepared to play a tune of
this type in a slow ‘2’, or half note pulse, without going into a 4/4
walking line.
- Rock/Funk Groove – Pick something
that you like to play, and that you’re comfortable with. It could be a
bassline from a current favorite song, or something classic such as a
James Jamerson bassline , a New Orleans groove like the Meters or the
Neville Brothers, a 16th note based funk line like something Tower of
Power might play, or a groove from your favorite Hip-hop artist or Jam
band. The main thing is to pick something that you like, and feel
comfortable with.
- Ostinato pattern – This could be
a part of a tune that has a repeating bassline such as Bolivia, or
Joshua, the intro ‘vamp’ from Song for my Father, or the opening bassline
in Footprints. It’s not difficult to find ostinatos within the standard
jazz repertoire. Just pick one that you like.
- Play something that demonstrates the level
of technical proficiency. This could be an etude or technical study from a
bass method or etude book, a scale study, or a solo transcription.
Something that you’ve work on, and fell that you can play well.
- Double Bassists only – Play a melody of your choice with the bow. This can be
included as part of your required jazz audition tunes. Some good choices
might be Body and Soul, What’s New, Goodbye Pork Pie Hat, or In a
Sentimental Mood.
Note to jazz bass applicants: We won’t have time to hear
all of these during your audition, but you should be prepared to play an
example of each one. They can be short examples, but in each case should
demonstrate that you understand what it is that we’re asking you to do. If
you’re unfamiliar with the styles, songs, or terminology that we’ve used here,
please go to one of the thousands of jazz resources out there and look them up.
Learning to be resourceful in your studies is an essential part of your jazz
education, and you need to begin that process now, if you haven’t already. Good
luck!
Drum Set
Drummers
will be expected to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of percussion rudiments.
- Examples of the following drum styles using
both sticks and brushes at various tempi; bebop, jazz waltz, bossa nova,
samba, salsa or Afro-Cuban, funk, rock, R & B, shuffle, ballads
Updated on 09/19/2018