2025–2026 Senior Festival Audition Requirements
VOCAL • STRINGS • WINDS • PERCUSSION • JAZZ
Audition Pieces:
Drum Set
“El Vino,” pp. 4-5
Contemporary Drum Set Solos, Murray Houliff
Published by Kendor Music
Drummers must also demonstrate the following interpretive styles:
Medium Swing (152 bpm)
Latin/Bossa Nova (136 bpm)
Jazz Waltz (144 bpm)
Funk/Rock (100 bpm)
Swing with trading fours (180 bpm)
Saxophones, Brass, Piano, Bass, Guitar, Vibes
"Cottontail," pp. 32-33
Approaching the Standards, Vol. 3, Dr. Willie Hill
Published by Alfred Music
Students will play the melody with the recording below, and the example improvisation with or without the recording.
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 correctly with adjustments as needed. Use the Full Track above to study, and then prepare to play it with the Audition Track above. Students may transpose any portion of the example either up or down one octave to accommodate range.
All auditions (except drum set) could be performed in this manner:
Option 1:
-
play the melody first time through
-
play the sample improvisation second time (make adjustments as needed if too high/low)
-
improvise a solo third time
-
play the melody and go to the ending on the fourth time (not required, but makes for a nice complete presentation)
Option 2:
-
play the melody first time through
-
improvise second time
-
play the sample improvisation without the recording (if performing at a slower tempo)
Scales:
Students should prepare all scales listed on their instrument's scale sheet. In the audition, the adjudicator will select two of the major scales for students to play, along with the chromatic scale. All scales must be memorized. There is no chromatic scale for bass, and there are no scales for jazz drum set.
Sight-Reading:
A short excerpt will be provided for sight-reading. Students will be given one minute to look it over before playing.
Equipment:
Drummers may use the drum set provided at the audition, or bring their own 4 or 5 piece set.
Vibes players may use the vibraphone provided at the audition, or bring their own vibraphone.
Guitar and bass amplifiers will not be provided; students must bring their own.
Contact Patrick Kennedy for any jazz audition questions.
Email: p.kennedy@schoolsofwestfield.org