Butler School of Music - The University of Texas at Austin

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Jazz Double Bass (BM)

l  Display ability to walk a bass line that outlines the chord progression and maintains a steady tempo

l  Walk and improvise over a blues in the key of F (four to five choruses)

l  Walk and improvise over a non-blues piece of your choice from standard jazz repertoire (Autumn Leaves, Satin Doll, My Romance, etc)

l  Perform a prepared piece/transcription (optional)

l  Sight read a lead sheet chord progression

l  Display aural skills (chord recognition) 

Jazz Guitar (BM)

Video Prescreening (required):

Submit a video recording that contains three selections:

l  Melody and improvisation over a blues progression

l  Melody and improvisation over a bossa nova or samba

l  Melody and improvisation over a jazz standard

Applicants may be accompanied by a play-along recording or a live rhythm section.
Applicants may use the sample titles but are not restricted to those selections. Sample titles for each category are as follows:

l  Blues: Tenor Madness or Straight, No Chaser

l  Bossa Nova/Samba: Triste or Blue Bossa

l  Jazz Standard: Take The "A' Train or What Is This Thing Called Love

Upload and attach your video prescreening to the Butler School of Music application form and submit by Dec. 1. Audio-only prescreening submissions do not qualify.

Those applicants that are invited to audition are strongly recommended to play a live audition on one of the scheduled audition days.

Audition (if invited):

l  Display abilities to comp with voicings and rhythms idiomatic to jazz

l  Improvise and comp over a blues in the key of F (four to five choruses)

l  Play the melody, improvise, and comp over a non-blues piece of your choice from standard jazz repertoire (Autumn Leaves, Satin Doll, My Romance, etc.)

l  Perform a prepared piece/transcription (optional)

l  Sight-read a lead sheet chord progression

l  Display aural skills (chord recognition)

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Jazz Piano (BM)

l  Display abilities to comp with voicings and rhythms idiomatic to jazz

l  Improvise and comp over a blues in the key of F (four to five choruses)

l  Play the melody, improvise, and comp over a non-blues piece of your choice from standard jazz repertoire (Autumn Leaves, Satin Doll, My Romance, etc.)

l  Perform a prepared piece/transcription (optional)

l  Sight read a lead sheet chord progression

l  Display aural skills (chord recognition)

                                                              Updated on 04/24/2019