School of Music | University of Washington

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Jazz Studies (BM & MM) 

Double Bass/Electric Bass

l  Perform walking bass lines based on the following chord progressions: 12 bar blues in all keys, Rhythm changes in B-flat, How High the Moon (Ornithology) in G, Cherokee in B-flat.

l  Play the following melodies: Any standard based on 12 bar blues, Any melody based on rhythm changes in B-flat, How High the Moon or Ornithology in G, Cherokee in B-flat.

l  Be prepared to improvise a solo on above chord changes.

l  Prepare 2 octave scales in major, mixolydian, Dorian, diminished and auxiliary diminished.

l  Prepare the following arpeggios in at least one octave: Major, minor, diminished, augmented and dominant seventh. 

Drum Set

l  Perform a written jazz drum solo transcription, examples include; Max Roach, Joyspring or Jacqui; Philly Joe Jones, Locomotion.

l  Demonstrate basic rudiments; double stroke roll, paradiddle rudiments etc.

l  Demonstrate Jazz, Latin, and funk styles.

l  Improvise over standard 32-bar form in a jazz style.

l  Sight-read an excerpt from a big band chart demonstrating the ability to set-up ensemble figures. 

Piano

l  Major scales 3 octaves, hands together.

l  Be able to play and improvise 3 jazz standards in solo piano style

²  Green Dolphin Street

²  My Romance

²  All the Things You Are

²  Night and Day, Blue Bossa

²  I Love You, Confirmation, St ella By Starlight)

l Play a "Blues" in the Jazz style;

l Sight-read a "lead" sheet. (Contact Marc Seales, 543-1231). 

All other instruments

l  Major scales memorized.

l  Be able to play and improvise 3 jazz standards in solo style

²  Green Dolphin Street

²  My Romance

²  All the Things You Are

²  Night and Day

²  Blue Bossa

²  I Love You, Confirmation

²  Stella By Starlight)

       ※ one must be a standard jazz tune in a swing feel, and two can be chosen from Blues, Latin, Funk, Ballad, etc.

l  Sight-read. A drum set and a CD and tape player with good speakers will be provided if needed.

                                                                                                                        Updated on 05/09/2019