Boyer College of Music and Dance | Temple University

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Jazz Drums (BM)

l  Play one chorus of time over the form of a jazz standard, and transition between brushes and sticks for various sections of the form (to be determined by the audition panel). This will be done alone, without the rhythm section.

l  Sight read a single line snare drum étude.

l  Sight read a drumset big band chart excerpt.

l  Sandu and one additional jazz standard from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company, Volume 1, with an ensemble of current Boyer students. This will include playing behind a soloist, trading, and soloing over the form (to be determined by the audition panel).

l  Recorded auditions (video files only) must include all of the components listed above; the sight-reading component must be replaced with an étude (either classical or jazz). Click here to SUBMIT YOUR RECORDING.

l  All selections must be performed from memory.

l  Live auditions: Students will be accompanied by a rhythm section of current Boyer students.

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Jazz Guitar (BM)

Note: Jazz Guitar has a prescreening round - click here for more information

Prescreening requirements:​

Click here to SUBMIT YOUR PRESCREENING RECORDING.

All jazz guitar applicants to Boyer's jazz department must submit a preliminary screening recording via Acceptd by January 1. Following the review of the recording, students will be contacted in order to schedule their audition.

l  Each applicant must perform West Coast Blues (pg. 401) and one additional jazz standard from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company, Volume 1.

l  All selections must be performed from memory.

l  Applicants are expected to improvise on each selection.

Live audition requirements:

      l  Scales-major and minor (harmonic and melodic).

l  Major and minor arpeggios, triads and seventh chords will be performed two octaves.

l  Sandu and two additional jazz standards from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company, Volume 1.

l  All selections must be performed from memory.

l  Applicants are expected to perform with an ensemble of current Boyer students, to improvise on each selection, and to sight read an excerpt from a big band chart and/or a select étude.

l  Applicants of chord instruments may be asked to accompany on various styles such as: Latin, bossa nova, and funk/rock.

l  Recorded auditions (video files only) must include all of the components listed above; the sight-reading component must be replaced with an étude (either classical or jazz). 

                                    Click here to SUBMIT YOUR RECORDING.

l  Live auditions: Students will be accompanied by a rhythm section of current Boyer students.

Jazz instrumental (BM)

l  Scales-major and minor (harmonic and melodic).

l  Major and minor arpeggios, triads and seventh chords will be performed two octaves (piano four octaves)

l  Sandu and two additional jazz standards from The New Real Book, Sher Music Company, Volume 1.

l  All selections must be performed from memory.

l  Applicants are expected to improvise on each selection.

l  Applicants of chord instruments may be asked to accompany on various styles such as: Latin, bossa nova, and funk/rock.

l  Applicants will be required to sight read an excerpt from a big band chart and/or a selected étude.

l  Recorded auditions (video files only) must include all of the components listed above; the sight-reading component must be replaced with an étude (either classical or jazz). 

​

                                                                                  Click here to SUBMIT YOUR RECORDING.

l  Live auditions: Students will be accompanied by a rhythm section of current Boyer students.

Jazz Voice (BM)

Prescreening requirements:

Click here to SUBMIT YOUR PRESCREENING RECORDING.

All jazz voice applicants to Boyer's jazz department must submit a preliminary screening recording via Acceptd by January 1. Following the review of the recording, students will be contacted in order to schedule their audition.

l  Scales: major, harmonic minor, and chromatic scales. One octave, using the syllable "MA" or solfeggio.

l  Arpeggios: major, minor, and diminished triads and seventh chords. One octave, using the syllable "MA" or solfeggio.

l  Prepare a blues song of your choice, medium tempo, swing.

l  Prepare 1 song from the following

ü  Take The A-Train (medium tempo, swing)

ü  How High The Moon (up tempo, swing)

ü  It Could Happen To You (medium tempo, swing)

ü  It Don't Mean A Thing If It Ain't Got That Swing (medium tempo, swing)

l  Prepare 1 song of your choice representing different styles (e.g. ballad, latin feel, bebop head, original compositions, etc)

l  Improvisation is highly recommended on one or more of your selections.

l  All selections must be performed from memory.