Jazz Guitar Audition Requirements

Jazz Guitar Audition Requirements

Undergraduate requirements (BM, BME)

1. Scales:

• In all keys, show knowledge of major and melodic minor (either “jazz” or traditional) scales in several positions, at least 3 and ideally 7.
• For recorded auditions prepare one key of major and one key of melodic minor.

2. Tunes: 

• Prepare 2 tunes in contrasting style, including one Be-bop. Suggestions for Be-bop tunes include: “Au Privave”, “Joy Spring”, “Jordu”, and “Donna Lee”. Suggestions for a non Be-bop piece include: “Inner Urge”,So What”, “Ceora”, “Recorda-Me”, and “Up Jumped Spring”. With each, plan to play the head, solo, and also comp.

On-campus audition dates can be found here. It is highly recommended that all undergraduate candidates attend an on-campus audition. If you are unable to audition on-campus, please select the “recorded” audition format preference on your supplemental music form. Undergraduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should follow the steps outlined here.

Graduate requirements (MM, DMA)

• 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 other tune of the applicant’s choice.

• Two jazz tunes in contrasting style, including one Be-bop tune. Each piece should demonstrate a personalized 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 or other.

• One 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 finger style (classical guitar), with a plectrum, or as a combination of the two. As an alternative, an original composition for solo guitar may be substituted.

It is highly recommended that all graduate candidates attend an on-campus audition. If an applicant is unable to travel to campus for a live audition, the faculty will accept a recorded audition, and a virtual interview may occur. Graduate applicants who would like to submit a recorded audition should upload the audition directly to their Graduate College application.