Jazz Audition Requirements

The first round of jazz auditions for the 2025-2026 season concluded in May. There are openings for some instruments in all ensembles. Click here to register for an audition and MYAC will contact you regarding open positions.

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.

To sign up for Jazz Ensemble, fill out a registration form:

jazz ensemble registration

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) Prepared Piece (Download Excerpts)

  • Most instruments will prepare an excerpt from “Basie-Straight Ahead” by Sammy Nestico:

    • Alto Sax: Letter I-L

    • Tenor Sax: Letter I-L

    • Bari Sax: Letter I-L

    • Trumpet: Letter I-L

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

    • Trombone: Letter I-L

      • (prepare part 1 for those wishing to play lead, otherwise prepare part 2)

    • Piano: Letter I-L

    • Guitar: Letter I-L

    • Bass: Letter I-L

    • Drums: Letter I-L

    • Prepared piece for Vibes: When She Smiles Upon Your Face (Reid); Letter H to I

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: to be considered for Concert Jazz Band or Jazz Orchestra, you will also be asked to walk a bass over chord slashes.

Sign up to audition for Jazz Orchestra or Concert Jazz Band:

Click here to Register for an Audition