Jazz auditions take place during NSO. Interested students can sign up for an audition time on the form in the folder below.
About Auditions:
Students will be evaluated on tone quality, articulation, intonation, style, technique, and – if applicable – melodic ideas and development as well as the ability to interpret and navigate chord changes. But most of all, we just want to hear you PLAY!! Have fun and just show us what you can do. Auditions will be low pressure and geared toward student success!
Audition requirements: Materials and sign-up form are found in this folder.
WINDS/BRASS
- Play required jazz etude.
- Play the melody of a Jazz Ballad of your choice to showcase your sound. (unaccompanied)
- Play a B-flat concert scale in 8th notes to demonstrate full range and jazz articulation (swing feel). Begin on concert B-flat and play up to the top comfortable note of your range within the scale and then down to the bottom note of your range within the scale before ending on concert B-flat again.) Reeds – Optional – if you play flute or clarinet and have access to an instrument, you are welcome to play a scale or two on flute or clarinet to demonstrate your fluency on those instruments.
- Improvisation: This is optional but recommended for anyone who would like to take solos or play a chair that traditionally plays solos (for example, alto 1, tenor 1, trumpet 2, and trombone 1 & 2).
- Sight reading (Big Band Chart)
RHYTHM SECTION
Piano, Guitar, Vibes, and Bass
- Play a standard (your choice)-can be improvised or a transcription. (Piano, Guitar, Vibes)
- Demonstrate your comping ability in a variety of different styles: swing, ballad, funk, Afro-Cuban, Brazilian.
- Sight-read (melodic and harmonic)
- Demonstrate your soloing skills by improvising over a Billie’s Bounce (F Blues). Play head once and improvise 2 choruses. All of this will be accompanied by the jazz band director or other accompaniment.
Drums
- Prepare a 2-3-minute solo demonstrating your knowledge of different grooves – medium swing, up-tempo swing, ballad (with brushes), funk, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban. Transitions should be seamless and include appropriate fills.
- Demonstrate your sight-reading ability by reading a drum chart and providing the appropriate time feel as well as set-ups and kicks.
WEEKLY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE:
Mondays and Wednesdays
Jazz I: 7-9 p.m.
Jazz II: 9-10 p.m.
For more information, please contact Dr. Joseph L. Jefferson at jeffer2@stolaf.edu.