Mead Witter School of Music ll University of Wisconsin - Madison

Jazz Studies Audition Information

Jazz Studies (BM)

l  Audition format: 20 minutes in front of a jury of jazz area faculty.

l  A student rhythm section will be provided for your audition.

l  When you choose your repertoire, please consider that the accompanying student rhythm section may be sight-reading your piece for the first time.

l  For the best possible performance, chose repertoire that does not require difficult sight-reading by the student rhythm section.

Woodwinds/ Brass/ Guitar/ Piano/ Bass

l  1. Major scales and all three forms of the minor scale (natural, harmonic and melodic)

in all twelve keys

l  2. A major or minor blues melody of your choice, such as “Now’s the Time,” “Billie’s Bounce,” “Tenor Madness,” “Straight, No Chaser,” “Stolen Moments” or a stylistically similar piece from the jazz repertoire

ü  Guitar and piano

u  perform the melody of the piece from memory, play a two or three-chorus improvised solo, and comp for another soloist

ü  Bass

u  perform the melody of the piece from memory, play a two or three-chorus improvised solo, and play a walking bass line for another soloist

ü  Other instruments

u  perform the melody of the piece from memory, play a two or three-chorus improvised solo

l  3. A jazz ballad of your choice, such as “But Beautiful,” “Darn That Dream,” “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” or a stylistically similar piece from the jazz repertoire o Bass: accompany the melody with an appropriate ballad bass line, play a one-chorus improvised solo (optional: play the melody of the “A” section) o Other instruments: perform the melody of the piece from memory, play a one-chorus improvised solo

l  4. One medium-swing piece from this list: “Beautiful Love,” “All The Things You Are,” “Invitation,” “It Could Happen To You,” or “There Will Never Be Another You” o Guitar and piano: perform the melody of the piece from memory, play a one-chorus improvised solo, and comp for another soloist o Bass: accompany the melody with a jazz bass line, accompany another soloist, play a one-chorus improvised solo (optional: play the melody) o Other instruments: perform the melody of the piece from memory, play a one-chorus improvised solo

l  5. One fully notated piece without improvisation, such as a piece from the classical repertoire, a jazz etude, or a jazz solo transcription (bring copies of the music for the audition team)

l  6. Sight-reading

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IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ: You must bring three (3) concert-key lead sheets of each piece you will perform at your audition for the student rhythm section, plus three copies of the fully notated piece for the audition team!!!

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Drum set

l  Drum set: a medium-swing blues melody of your choice, such as “Now’s the Time,” “Billie’s Bounce,” “Tenor Madness,” “Straight, No Chaser,” “Stolen Moments” or a stylistically similar piece from the jazz repertoire o Play time with the band, accompanying the melody of the piece and another soloist, then play an unaccompanied two- or three- chorus solo that outlines the blues’ melody

l  Drum set: a jazz ballad of your choice (also see audition requirement #7), such as “But Beautiful,” “Darn That Dream,” “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” or a stylistically similar piece from the jazz repertoire o Using brushes, play time with the band, accompanying the melody of the piece and another soloist

l  Drum set: “Seven Steps to Heaven” by Victor Feldman / Miles Davis (up-tempo swing) o Play the melody with the band, accompany a soloist, trade eighths with the band

l  Drum set: A Latin (Brazilian or Afro-Cuban) piece from the standard jazz repertoire o Play the melody with the band, accompany a soloist, trade fours with the band

l  One fully notated piece without improvisation, such as a piece from the classical repertoire, a jazz etude, or a jazz solo transcription

l  Vibraphone, marimba or piano: play two octaves of the major scale in all 12 keys (required of drum set applicants)

l  Vibraphone, marimba or piano: play the melody of the jazz ballad from #2 (required of drum set applicants)

l  Sight-reading of a big band drum part with

                                                                                                                             Updated on 05/12/2019