2022-2023 Senior Festival Jazz Audition Information
Contact Patrick Kennedy with any jazz audition questions
Email: p.kennedy@schoolsofwestfield.org
**Due to changes required by the MMEA State Board, there will be 3 modifications to jazz auditions this year:**
1) playing the rhythm section comping sheet will no longer be a part of the audition
2) drums will demonstrate Medium Swing, Latin/Bossa Nova, Jazz Waltz, Funk/Rock, and Fast Swing with trading fours
3) improvisation over the chord changes of the audition piece will be required of all other instruments in the audition.
**Due to these required changes, the score sheet will also be changing, as is true for all other MMEA-WD auditions**
Audition Pieces
Jazz Saxophones/Brass/Piano/Guitar/Bass/Vibes
"Tenor Madness," pp. 4-5, Approaching the Standards, Vol. 3, Dr. Willie Hill
Audition MP3s:
Jazz Drums
“Afro Cuban,” pp. 8-9. Contemporary Drum Set Solos, Murray Houliff. Must also demonstrate Medium Swing, Latin/Bossa Nova, Jazz Waltz, Funk/Rock, and Fast Swing with trading fours
Woodwind, Brass, Piano, Vibes, and Guitar will play the melody WITH THE CD and the example improvisation WITH OR WITHOUT THE CD.
For the improvisation, adjustments can be made as needed to facilitate ease of range issues, technique issues, tempo issues, etc. It is more important that the player play stylistically correct with adjustments as needed. Use the example improvisation as a guide. Students may transpose any portion of the example either up or down one octave to accommodate range.
Scales
All students will play two major scales in keeping with the scales required for their instrument, and a two octave chromatic scale.
Scales for brass and woodwinds are prescribed on MMEA-WD website.
guitar - C, G, D, E, A, F, Bb, Eb, Ab (two octaves)
piano/vibes - C, D, A, E, F, Bb, Eb, Ab (two octaves)
bass - C, D, A, Bb, Eb (one octave) G, F, Ab (two octaves)
Equipment
Percussionists may use the drum set provided by WSU or bring their own 4 or 5 piece set.
**Guitar and Bass amplifiers ARE NOT available at WSU. Please bring your own for auditions.**
Vibes may use the vibraphone provided by WSU or bring their own vibraphone.