Jazz Studies (Graduate)

Jazz Saxophone/Trumpet/Trombone

• Prepare a solo piece including playing the melody and at least 3 improvised choruses of a jazz standard (any style)
• Prepare at least two blues heads and improvise on the changes
• Prepare the melody to one jazz standard ballad and improvise at least one chorus
• Prepare the melody to one medium swing tempo jazz standard of your choosing and improvise at least one chorus
• Prepare the melody to the jazz standard "All The Things You Are" and improvise at least one chorus
• Prepare the melody to the jazz standard "Oleo" and improvise at least one chorus

Jazz Piano

• One blues head (in F or Bb). Students will be asked fo play the melody, then comp (piano and guitar only), and finally improvise on the changes.
• One jazz standard any style. Students will be asked to play the melody, then comp (piano and guitar only), and finally improvise on the changes.
• One rhythm changes tune. Students will be asked to play the melody, then comp (piano and guitar only), and finally improvise on the changes.
• Demonstrate major, jazz melodic minor, harmonic minor and harmonic major scales, diminished, tritone, and augmented scales. Demonstrate all major modes in all keys and blues scales in all keys.

Jazz Drumset auditions consist of the applicant being able to demonstrate their ability to play in the following musical styles:

• 4/4 swing at a variety of tempos
• Funk and rock styles at a variety of tempos
• Samba and bossa nova
• Mambo
• Afro-Cuban 6/8

Additional skills assessed during the Jazz Drumset audition:

• Brush technique
• Waltz and odd meter performance
• Repertoire knowledge

The prospective student should be prepared to discuss previous performance experience, teachers, and method books used in study. If available, the prospective student will have an opportunity to demonstrate the above skills in a performance situation with either a large or small jazz ensemble.

Jazz Guitar

1. Technique:
   
   • In addition to major scales and melodic minor scales in all keys in three octaves (see undergraduate requirements) prepare diminished (also known as octatonic) and whole tone scales in the same way.
   • Prepare the following ninth and thirteenth chords as two octave arpeggios: Maj9, 9, 7b9, 7#9, 13b9, Maj7#5 and Maj7b5 in all keys.


2. Repertoire:
   
   • Prepare a complete performance of a jazz ballad, including one chorus of the harmonized melody as well as an improvised single-line solo. Suggested tunes: "Chelsea Bridge", "But Beautiful", "Miyako", "For Heaven’s Sake", "Estate" or another song of the applicant's choice.
   • Prepare two jazz tunes in contrasting style, including one Be-bop tune. Each piece should demonstrate a personal interpretation of the melody, an improvised solo, and one or more choruses of comping. Suggestions for Be-bop tunes include: "Au Privave", "Joy Spring", "Jordu", "Yardbird Suite", and "Donna Lee". Suggestions for a non Be-bop piece include: "Milestones" (new version), "Giant Steps", "Ceora", "Moment’s Notice", and "One Finger Snap".
   • Prepare a piece of European “classical” music either composed or transcribed for the guitar. This may be an etude or an excerpt from a sonata or suite: Bach cello suites or violin partitas, for example. This may be performed fingerstyle (classical guitar), with a plectrum, or as a combination of the two.
   • Prepare a transcription of a solo by an acknowledged jazz master. This could be a work by a guitarist such as Wes Montgomery, Barney Kessel, or John Scofield for instance, or another instrumentalist such as Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Lee Morgan, or McCoy Tyner.
   • Prepare a piece that demonstrates an expertise in one of the following areas:
     1. Non-traditional time signatures such as 5/4, 7/4 or other, including creative improvisation in the example.
     2. An original reharmonization and/or reworking of a traditional piece.
     3. An original composition on a pre-existing song form other than blues or I Got Rhythm.

Jazz Bass

1. Technique:
   
   • Prepare major, melodic and harmonic minor scales arco, in two to three octaves in all keys in triplets, playing three triplet notes per bow at mm. 72 or greater for the quarter note.
   • Prepare diminished (also known as octatonic) and whole tone scales in two octaves.
   • Prepare major and minor triads, major seventh, dominant seventh, minor seventh, and half-diminished seventh chords as two to three octave arpeggios in all keys.


2. Walking Bass:
   
   • Prepare the minor blues and “New York” style (as is the tune "Blues for Alice" by Charlie Parker) major blues in all keys.
   • Prepare the following up-tempo compositions: "Moment’s Notice", "Giant Steps", and "One Finger Snap" in the original key and one other key of the applicant’s choice.


3. Repertoire:
   
   • Prepare two pieces in contrasting styles, one of which is to be a be-bop tune. Demonstrate a personal interpretation of the melody, an improvised solo, one or more choruses of walking bass, and the ability to also accompany in a “two beat” style, with appropriate fills and inflections. Suggestions for Be-bop tunes include: "Little Willie Leaps", "Milestones" (old version/Charlie Parker), Billie’s "Donna Lee", "Tricotism", and "Joy Spring". Suggestions for non Be-bop tunes include: "Fee-Fi-Fo-Fum", "Nefertiti", "Beatrice", and "Dolphin Dance".
   • Prepare a piece of notated European “classical” music. Suggestions include the Bille Etudes (E.R. 263 or more difficult), any selection from Storch Hrabe 57 Etudes, a movement from a Baroque sonata or suite by a composer such as Marcello or Bach, or any other comparable repertoire.
   • Prepare a transcription of either a bass line by an established master player such as Ray Brown, Dave Holland, Slam Stewart, or Christian McBride, or a solo or portion thereof by a master player on any instrument, including Lester Young, Wayne Shorter, Wes Montgomery, Ray Brown, or Sarah Vaughn.
   • Prepare a piece that demonstrates the ability to walk and solo in a non-traditional time signature such as 5/4 or 7/8 or other.

Arranger/composer applicants must complete additional requirements that consist of:

• Show a portfolio of your arrangements/compositions at your audition as well as recordings of those works
• Demonstrate the ability to harmonize a lead-line using 4-part closed position voicings and 4-way drop-two voicings
• Demonstrate a working knowledge of transpositions and ranges of instruments found in a contemporary jazz setting