Jazz Program Audition Instructions

Students interested in auditioning for the BSA Jazz Program must first complete the audition for the Music Instrumental Program.

If you have applied for the Instrumental Music Program for Percussion; Saxophone; Brass; Piano and Upright Bass and are also interested in applying for the BSA Jazz Program, please follow the instructions below.

BASIC REQUIREMENTS

1. Major Blues Scale in C, F, Bb, and Eb (one octave) played with swung eighth notes
2. Minor Blues Scales in C, F, Bb, and Eb (one octave) played with swung eighth notes
3. Major Scales in all 12 keys (one octave)
4. Perform a 12 bar blues in Bb:
a. Play the melody (tenor Madness, Sonnymoon for Two, Blue Monk, Freddie Freeloader). Freddie Freeload and Tenor Madness are included in this packet.
b. Play at least one chorus (12 measures) of an improvised or transcribed solo (Miles Davis’ “Freddie Freeloader” Solo provided)
c. In addition, Bass Players must walk one chorus of a quarter-note bass line (improvised or pre-written)
c. In addition, Guitar and Piano must play one chorus of the chord accompaniment
5. Drummers – Demonstrate the ability to play the following styles:
a. Medium Swing 4/4 time
b. Bossa Nova
c. Funk
6. Name at least one jazz musician who plays/played your instrument, which recording you like by them, and why. We will ask you during the audition.

Here are some suggestions:
Trumpet: Roy Hargove, Miles Davis, Bria Skonberg, Freddie Hubbard, Clifford Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Blue Mitchell, Sean Jones, Louis Armstrong, Lee Morgan, Chet Baker, Wynton Marsalis
Saxophone: Sonny Rollins, Sonny Stitt, John Coltrane, Lou Donaldson, Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Coleman Hawkins, Cannonball Adderley, Joshua Redman, Chris Potter, Melissa Aldana, Joe Henderson, Dexter Gordon
Trombone: Curtis Fuller, Wycliffe Gordon, Delfeayo Marsalis, Robin Eubanks, JJ Johnson, Kai Winding, Trombone Shorty, Kid Ory
Guitar: Joe Pass, Hery Ellis, Django Reinhardt, Jim Hall, Emily Remler, Wes Montgomery, Pat Metheny, John Scofield, Kurt Rosenwinkle, George Benson, Kenny Burrell, Charlie Christian, Grant Green
Piano: Wynton Kelly, Mary Lou Williams, Thelonious Mon, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, Duke Ellington, Bill Evans, Art Tatum, Bud Powell, Mccoy Tyner, Keith Jarret, Oscar Peterson
Bass: Ray Brown, Paul Chambers, Stanley Clarke, Ron Carter, Charles Mingus, Christian McBride, John Pattituci, Pino Palladino, Jaco Pastorious, Esperanza Spalding, Niels-Henning Orsted Pederson
Drums: Philly Joe Jones, Tony Williams, Elvin Jones, Art Blakey, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, Jack Dejohnette, Teri Lyne Carrington, Ed Thigpen, Eric Harland, Brian Blade, Lee Pearson
Vibraphone: Stefon Harris, Warren Wolf, Milt Jackson, Sasha Berline, Gary Gurton, Joe Locke, Bobby Hutcherson, Lionel Hampton