JAZZ

Undergraduate Jazz Studies Auditions

Students who play traditional jazz instruments, Trumpet, Saxophone, Trombone, Guitar, Piano, Bass, and Drumset, can audition for admission into the Undergraduate Jazz Studies Degree Option at Western Illinois University.  Please see below for audition criteria that is specific to Jazz Studies.

Audition Materials and Requirements

THEORY ELEMENTS

  1. Major Scales in all 12 keys.
  2. Chord Arpeggios
    1. Major 9
    2. Dominant 9
    3. Minor 9
    4. Minor 9 (flat-5)
    5. Diminished
    6. Augmented
  3. Students may be asked to perform modes and minor scales (Though this is not a requirement for entrance, faculty may probe to find the prospective student's depth of theory understanding)

TRANSCRIPTION

  1. Students may perform a transcription from an artist in the jazz tradition.  Students should bring a recording of the transcription with them and be able to perform the transcription with the recording.

LITERATURE

  1. Students should prepare a standard tune from the following list and be able to play the melody in a jazz style as well as improvise over the harmony for the selection.
    1. Billie's Bounce
    2. Now's The Time
    3. Autumn Leaves
    4. Blue Bossa
    5. All The Things You Are
  2. Students may prepare an etude from the following collections:
    1. Jim Snidero - Jazz Conception
    2. Greg Fishman - Jazz Saxophone Etudes: Volumes 1, 2 or 3.

RHYTHM SECTION

  1. Drums
    1. Medium Swing Feel
    2. Fast Swing Feel
    3. Trading Fours
    4. Bossa Nova
    5. Samba
    6. Afro Cuban
    7. Funk
  2. Bass
    1. Students should be prepared to walk bass lines in a swing style
    2. Improvisation
  3. Guitar
    1. Students should be able to play the melody for their literature choice
    2. Students should be able to comp the changes for the harmony
    3. Students should be able to improvise on their selection
  4. Piano
    1. Students should be able to play the melody for their literature choice
    2. Students should be able to comp the changes for the harmony
    3. Students should be able to improvise on their selelction

SIGHT READING

All students will be asked to sight-read a selection.  Rhythm section instruments may be asked to comp and/or walk changes as well.