{"id":24,"date":"2013-08-14T09:55:45","date_gmt":"2013-08-14T14:55:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/?page_id=24"},"modified":"2026-06-16T13:22:31","modified_gmt":"2026-06-16T18:22:31","slug":"audition-requirements","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/audition-requirements\/","title":{"rendered":"Jazz Audition Requirements"},"content":{"rendered":"<div data-modular-content-collection><p><strong>Thank you<\/strong> for your interest in auditioning for the St. Olaf Jazz Ensembles. This page outlines all the information you need to prepare for the audition process. Auditions are held during NSO and are used for placement in Jazz Orchestra, Jazz Ensemble, and combos.<\/p>\n<p><strong>About Auditions:<br \/>\n<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Students are evaluated on tone quality, articulation, intonation, style, and technique, as well as melodic ideas and the ability to navigate chord changes when applicable. Above all, we\u2019re interested in hearing you play\u2014come prepared, play with confidence, and show us your strengths and swing.<\/p>\n<p>Bring your best to the audition, but don\u2019t be discouraged if every part doesn\u2019t feel fully comfortable yet. You are still encouraged to audition. This is an opportunity for us to meet you and to see how the jazz ensembles might support your growth as a musician during your time at St. Olaf.<\/p>\n<p>Materials for Jazz auditions can be found\u00a0<span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/drive\/folders\/1U83WttbmyVtdGR8tooP2DbSX5tbAbgJ_?usp=sharing\"><b>HERE<\/b><\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 Returning students can sign up <span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/document\/d\/1FXY3DCy1mN2mQPNK-ASTFBNzwZdbID2y\/edit?usp=sharing&amp;ouid=115639995670509877071&amp;rtpof=true&amp;sd=true\">HERE<\/a><\/strong><\/span> for an audition.\u00a0 (Incoming first years will be added to the audition calendar by Lisa McDermott.)<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>WINDS \/ BRASS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Required Scales<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Saxophones<\/strong><br \/>\nChromatic (full range),\u00a0D Major (2 octaves), F Major (2 octaves), D Harmonic Minor (2 octaves), G Harmonic Minor (1 octave),<br \/>\nOptional: if you double on flute or clarinet, please demonstrate those skills.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Trombones<\/strong><br \/>\nChromatic (full range), Bb Major (2 octaves), G Major (2 octaves), A Harmonic Minor (2 octaves), E Harmonic Minor (2 octaves)<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Trumpets<\/strong><br \/>\nChromatic (low F# to top and back), Bb Major, A Major, B Harmonic Minor (2 octaves), E Harmonic Minor (1 octave)<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Audition Components<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prepared jazz excerpt (required)<\/li>\n<li>Sight reading<\/li>\n<li>Improvisation: This is optional but recommended for anyone who would like to take solos or play a chair that traditionally plays solos (Alto 1, Tenor 1, Trumpet 2, Trombone 1 &amp; 2). You may improvise on a blues or a jazz standard.\u00a0<em>Please be prepared to play the melody, improvise for 2 choruses, and take the head out.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><em><strong>Suggested Improvisation Tunes<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\">Autumn Leaves (G minor\/Bb), All of Me (C), Fly Me to the Moon (C), There Will Never Be Another You (Eb), My Funny Valentine (C minor\/Eb), Satin Doll (C), Straight No Chaser (F blues), C Jam Blues (C blues), Tenor Madness (Bb blues), Oleo (Bb rhythm changes)<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">RHYTHM SECTION<\/span> (Piano, Guitar, Bass, Vibes)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Play a standard (your choice) \u2013 can be improvised or a transcription.<\/li>\n<li>Prepared jazz excerpt (if provided)<\/li>\n<li>Students should be prepared to perform the following chord progressions, playing through twice in each style:<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Bb6 | G7 | Cmi7 | F7 | Dmi7 | G7 | Cmi7 | F7 |<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Dmi7 | G7 | Cmaj7 | Cmaj7 | Gmi7 | C7 | Fmaj7 | Fmaj7 |<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 80px;\">Ami7 | D7(b9) | GMA7 | CMA7 | F#mi7(b5) | B7(#5,#9) | Emi(MA7) | E7(b9)<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><em style=\"color: initial;\"><strong>Styles<\/strong><\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Medium swing<\/li>\n<li>Fast swing (up to quarter note = 240)<\/li>\n<li>Bossa nova<\/li>\n<li>Funk<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><strong>Note for pianists and guitarists:<\/strong>\u00a0In medium and fast swing styles, you should comp in a supportive, rhythmic, and varied way\u2014using syncopated, largely chordal figures as you would behind a soloist in a combo setting.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 40px;\"><em><strong>Sight Reading<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li>Melodic + harmonic reading<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<u>DRUM SET<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prepare a 2-3-minute solo demonstrating your knowledge of different grooves \u2013 medium swing, up-tempo swing, ballad (with brushes), funk, Brazilian, and Afro-Cuban. Transitions should be seamless and include\u00a0appropriate fills.<\/li>\n<li>Demonstrate your sight-reading ability by reading a drum chart and providing the appropriate time feel as well as set-ups and kicks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>*After individual rhythm section auditions, rhythm section players may be asked to play together in small groups to assess ensemble interaction and musical communication.<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>VOCALISTS<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Prepare a medium tempo jazz standard of your choice. Bring a lead sheet (melody and chords) of the tune with you in the key that you will be singing it. Scatting is\u00a0optional, but most welcome. If you want to scat, it can be done on the chord changes of your prepared piece or a blues in the key of your choice.<\/li>\n<li>Sight Reading<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Note: Be prepared to briefly discuss your jazz background and interest in the program.<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">WEEKLY REHEARSAL SCHEDULE<\/span><br \/>\n<\/strong>Jazz Orchestra: 6:45-8:45 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays<br \/>\nJazz Ensemble: 3:10-4:10 p.m. on Tuesdays, and 3:45-4:45 p.m. on Thursdays<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">CONTACT<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For more information, please contact <a href=\"mailto:jeffer2@stolaf.edu?subject=Jazz Auditions\">Dr. Joseph L. Jefferson<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><!-- begin-migrated-from-panel-builder --><!-- end-migrated-from-panel-builder --><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Thank you for your interest in auditioning for the St. Olaf Jazz Ensembles. This page outlines all the information you need to prepare for the audition process. Auditions are held [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":209,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-24","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/209"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=24"}],"version-history":[{"count":23,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1267,"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/24\/revisions\/1267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wp.stolaf.edu\/jazz\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=24"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}