Join us for jazz studies auditions

Jazz Band

Undergraduate audition days

  • Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
  • Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025
  • Friday, Feb. 21, 2025

Submission deadline: All undergraduate applications must be submitted by Feb. 1, 2025

Graduate audition days

  • Friday, Feb. 14, 2025
  • Saturday, Feb. 15, 2025
  • Friday, Feb. 21, 2025

Submission deadline: All graduate applications must be submitted by Dec. 1, 2024

Undergraduate jazz studies auditions

No prescreening is required.

  • 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.
  • Prepare to perform the full melody and improvise over several choruses of two jazz standards of contrasting styles. No more than one of these two standards may be a 12 or 16 bar blues. This portion of the audition should be prepared with the use of a backing track (Aebersold play-along, Band in a box, IRealB, etc). Memorization of these pieces are not a hard requirement, but highly encouraged. 

Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and fit within the 30 minute audition slot.

Jazz standards should be accompanied by a backing track (listed above in prep requirements).

  • Performance of major and natural minor scales (2 octaves whenever possible) in all 12 keys in 8th notes at 120 bpm.
  • The audition will include sight-reading a short excerpt written in either swing, bossa nova, or funk styles.

Saxophone, Piano, Trumpet Repertoire:

The following is simply a list of suggested audition repertoire options. You are free to choose material beyond the standards listed, but they should be of comparable difficulty level and harmonic substance Blues (12 bar) in any major key (i.e. Tenor Madness, Now’s the Time, C Jam Blues, Blue Monk, Straight No Chaser, Mr. P.C., etc.) Remember that no more than one blues is allowed in your audition!

  • Blue Bossa
  • Autumn Leaves
  • Doxy
  • Summertime
  • Ladybird
  • Cantaloupe Island
  • Watermelon Man
  • So What
  • Killer Joe
  • The Sidewinder
  • Take The A Train
  • Satin Doll
  • St. Thomas
  • Bluesette
  • Song for My Father

Percussion Repertoire:

Contact Professor Damani Phillips directly for repertoire suggestions.

  • Preparedness
  • Improvisational skills
  • Sight-reading and scales
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the audition and number of applicants, we will not be able to provide individual comments. All decisions made will be final.

  1. When am I considered for scholarship?
    • You are considered for scholarship at the time of audition
  2. When will I hear about my results?
    • You will be notified via formal letter about your audition results and music scholarship results in early March

Graduate jazz studies auditions

No prescreening required.

  • 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. Please plan accordingly.
  • Prepare to perform the full melody (stylized in an individual way) and improvise over several choruses of three jazz standards of contrasting styles and tempi. 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 prepared with the use of a backing track (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).

Supplementary Materials Submission:

  • While not a firm requirement, you may choose to assemble and submit a short portfolio of 2-3 items that 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 strongly encouraged.

Audition materials should be thoroughly prepared and fit within the 30 minute audition slot.

Jazz standards should be accompanied by a backing track listed in the preparation requiements. 

The audition will include sight-reading an excerpt written in either swing, bossa nova, funk, or Latin-based styles.

Saxophone, Piano, Trumpet Repertoire:

The following is simply a list of suggested audition repertoire options. You are free to choose material beyond the standards listed, but they should be of comparable difficulty level and harmonic substance. Blues (12 or 16 bar) in any major or minor key (i.e. Tenor Madness, Birk’s Works, Now’s the Time, C Jam Blues, Blue Monk, etc.) Remember that no more than one blues is allowed in your audition!

  • Bb Rhythm Changes    
  • Recorda-Me    
  • All the Things You Are
  • Ceora    
  • Girl From Impanima  
  • You’re My Everything
  • I Hear a Rhapsody  
  • Giant Steps    
  • Joyspring
  • Cherokee    
  • Round Midnight  
  • In A Mellow Tone
  • Alone Together  
  • Well You Needn’t  
  • Donna Lee
  • Tricotism    
  • Yardbird Suite    
  • All of Me
  • Jeannine    
  • Beatrice    
  • All of You
  • Someday My Prince Will Come  
  • Blue Daniel    
  • Night and Day
  • Love for Sale  
  •  Yes or No    
  • Infant Eyes
  • Along Came Betty  
  • This I Dig of You    
  • Bye Bye Blackbird 

Percussion Repertoire:

  • Preparedness
  • Improvisational skills
  • Sight-reading and scales
Unfortunately, due to the nature of the audition and number of applicants, we will not be able to provide individual comments. All decisions made will be final.

  1. When am I considered for scholarship?
    • You are considered for scholarship at the time of audition
  2. When will I hear about my results?
    • You will be notified via formal letter about your audition results and music scholarship results in early March

Questions?

Portrait of Damani Phillips

Damani Phillips

Title/Position
Jazz Studies, Saxophone
Professor
Jazz Studies Area Head