2019 Jazz Auditions

2019 auditions will be September 9-13. Sign up on the band room door!

Before Auditions

  • Signup for an audition time
  • Pick up a registration form (you’ll return this at the time of your audition) 
  • Print your audition materials (links below) or pick up a “hard copy on the document holder outside Miss Anderson’s door
  • Practice for your audition!  😀 
  • Ask Miss Anderson if you have questions

Important: All musicians who participated in Jazz Band last year will be doing a group audition on Tuesday, September 10 at 7 AM. If you miss this, you’ll need to sign up for a “new student” audition. All jazz musicians interested in returning, should prep the 2019 Jazz Audition Requirements below. We’ll also be doing some ensemble sight reading. It is important for returning jazz musicians to sign-up for the “group audition” so I know who to expect and which sections will have openings.

There is a Jazz Audition Workshop on Friday, September 6 open to ANY (new or returning) student interested in BJH Jazz. We’ll go over the audition process and work on the audition materials. This workshop is optional.

2019 Jazz Audition Requirements:

  • Winds/Vibes Procedure
    • Play the Head from Bessie’s Blues (link below)
    • Play the etude for the appropriate instrument (link below)
    • Rest for one chorus (12 measures)
    • Improvise for 2 choruses (24 measures)
    • Stop Playback track – sight-read a selection supplied at auditions
    • Bb Concert Scale 
    • Chromatic Scale (your full range- from the lowest note to highest note you can play)
  • Piano/Guitar Audition Procedure
    • Play the Head from Bessie’s Blues (link below)
    • Play the comping etude for the appropriate instrument (link below)
    • Rest for one chorus (12 measures)
    • Improvise for 2 choruses (24 measures)
    • Stop Playback track – sight-read a selection supplied at auditions
  • Bass Audition Procedure
    • Play the Head from Bessie’s Blues (link below)
    • Play the walking bass line (link below)
    • Rest for one chorus (12 measures)
    • Improvise for 2 choruses (24 measures)
    • Stop Playback track – sight-read a selection supplied at auditions
  • Drum Audition Procedure
    • Perform the style grooves and improvisation (link below)
    • Play the drum part for “Ah, That’s Freedom” with background track (links below)
    • Stop Playback track – sight-read a selection supplied at auditions

Audition Materials

Bessie’s Blues-head for C instruments (piano, vibes, guitar)
Bessie’s Blues- head for Bb instruments (trumpet, tenor sax)
Bessie’s Blues-head for Eb instruments (alto sax, bari sax)
Bessie’s Blues- head for Bass clef instruments (trombone, bass)

BB Etude Alto Sax
BB Etude Baritone Sax
BB Etude Tenor Sax
BB Etude Trombone
BB Etude Trumpet
BB Etude Vibes

BB Comping Etude Piano
BB Comping Etude Guitar
BB Walking Bass line/etude

Drum Grooves
Ah, That’s Freedom Drum part

Play Along Tracks

Bessie’s Blues- All Winds & Vibes
Bessie’s Blues- Bass
Bessie’s Blues- Piano and Guitar
Ah, That’s Freedom- Drum audition