Graduate Auditions (including Teaching Assistant (TA) applicants

A. Performance of a prepared jazz etude, transcription or substantial big band chart (not preferred, but accepted) that is a minimum of 50 measures in length. The prepared piece may be in a style of the student’s choosing. If a transcription is chosen for this portion of the audition, the student will be required to perform the transcription along with the original recording. 

B. Perform the full melody and improvise over 2-4 choruses (60 measures of improvisation minimum) three jazz standards of contrasting styles and tempos. The songs selected should be of medium difficulty and above, and no more than one of these standards may be a 12 or 16 bar blues. This portion of the audition should be completed with the use of a backing track (i.e. Aebersold play-along, Band in a box, IRealB, etc.). The use of sheet music for this portion of the audition is not encouraged, but permitted (if absolutely necessary). Your video should be played in one single continuous performance (no editing is allowed). Click here for a List of possible standards appropriate for a graduate audition>>

C. Supplementary Materials Submission: While not a firm requirement, you may choose to assemble and submit a short portfolio of 2-3 items that are represent the breadth of your undergraduate work. This may include past transcriptions completed, original compositions/arrangements for large or small ensembles, a jazz-based research paper or professional recording project. Submission of supplementary materials is not required, but stronglyencouraged.

Jazz drum set auditions will differ significantly from what is listed above. Please contact professor James Dreier for specific audition details.