Jazz Audition Requirements

The first round of jazz auditions for the 2026-2027 season will begin in March and continue through mid-May.

Updated Requirements are listed below.

Registration forms will be posted soon.

There will be openings for all instruments in all ensembles.

Jazz Ensemble:

Jazz Ensemble is a non-audition ensemble for beginning jazz students. Jazz Ensemble is for students who are comfortable on their instruments (fingerings, reading notes, common music terms you get in band class) but are rather new to improvisation. Our program looks a little different from most school programs in that everything we do in Jazz Ensemble (and our combo program all the way through high school) is taught by ear. Sometimes this is brand new for students, but we encourage them to stick with it because it definitely gets easier. In Jazz Ensemble, we focus on the basics of improvisation, do some jazz listening and history, and work on playing as a group.

Jazz Ensemble rehearses on Sundays.

Registration forms will be posted here soon.

Jazz Orchestra and Concert Jazz Band:

1) Major Scales

  • Musicians should be prepared to play all twelve Major scales from memory.

2) Improvisation

  • All pitched instruments (all instruments except drums) should be prepared to solo over 3 choruses of a Bb blues at 120 bpm with a backing track. 

  • Piano/guitar/vibes will also comp over a Bb blues at three different tempos: 

    • 65 (1 chorus) 

    • 120 (2 choruses) 

    • 200 (2 choruses) 

  • Bassists will also walk at three different tempos: 

    • 65 (1 chorus) 

    • 120 (2 choruses) 

    • 200 (2 choruses) 

  • Drummers will alternate playing time and soloing at three different tempos over a Bb blues: 

    • 65 (with brushes 2 total choruses: 1st— play time, 2nd—solo)

    • 120 (4 total choruses: 1st—time, 2nd—solo, 3rd—time, 4th—solo) 

    • 200 (4 total choruses: 1st—time, 2nd—solo, 3rd—time, 4th—solo)

3) 2026-2027 Required Excerpts (Download Excerpts).

  • Most instruments will prepare excerpts from “In a Mellow Tone” by Duke Ellington, arranged by Oliver Nelson:

    • Alto Sax: mm. 3-25 and mm. 39-73

    • Tenor Sax: mm. 3-25 and mm. 39-73

    • Bari Sax: mm. 3-25 and mm. 39-73

    • Trumpet: mm. 88-109 (take the second ending) and mm. 124-end

      • (prepare trumpet 1, 2 or 3 depending on what is most appropriate to your level)

    • Trombone: mm. 88-109 (take the second ending) and mm. 124-end

      • (prepare part 1, 2, 3, or 4 depending on what is most appropriate to your level)

    • Piano: mm 109-end, and "Rockin' In Rhythm" by Duke Ellington:  beginning-letter A

    • Guitar: mm. 5-25 and mm. 109-end

    • Bass: beginning- m. 25 and mm. 109-end

    • Drums: beginning-25, m 89-end (take the second ending)

    • Prepared piece for Vibes: TBA

4) Sight-reading

  • Sight-reading

    • All musicians will sight-read an excerpt. All basses will sight-read a bass part with a written bass line

    • Bass Players only: you will also be asked to walk a bass over chord slashes.