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Jazz Ensemble Audition Requirements and Expectations Fall 2024

VCU Jazz Orchestra – directed by Prof. Taylor Barnett, rehearses Tues/Thurs 4-5:50pm in James Black Music Center, room 1003

VCU Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra – directed by Prof. Dimitrije Vasiljevic, rehearses Tues/Thurs 4-5:50pm in Singleton Center, room B40

VCU Small Jazz Ensembles (SJE) – There will be eight SJEs, based on the number of interested students, and rehearsals are scheduled based on the availability of the faculty coach and the members assigned to each group.

*When you submit your schedule at the link below, you will indicate your interest in participating in a Jazz Orchestra and/or SJE.

Audition Dates

  • Tuesday 8/20: 11:10am-4pm
  • Wednesday 8/21: 12:00-5:00pm
  • Thursday 8/22: 11:10am-4pm
  • Friday 8/23: 11am-2pm
    • All auditions will take place in James Black Music Center 2014
  • Monday 8/26 – Last day for students to add/drop a course.
  • Tuesday 8/27 – First rehearsal of Jazz Orchestras
  • Week of 8/26 – First rehearsal of Small Jazz Ensembles (as individually scheduled).

SIGN UP FOR JAZZ AUDITION SLOT HERE

PLEASE UPLOAD A COPY OF YOUR COURSE SCHEDULE USING THESE INSTRUCTIONS.

Audition Requirements

Horns and Piano: Prepare the required excerpt for you instrument, found below. Also prepare the melody and 1-chorus of improvisation on a jazz, bossa, Afro-Cuban, or samba tune of your choice. Plan to use recorded accompaniment. If in doubt about what tune to play, choose “Billie’s Bounce” by Charlie Parker (a lead sheet can be found in Real Book Vol 1, or online).

Guitar and Bass: The required tune is “Solar” by Miles Davis, for which you should prepare the melody and 2-choruses improvisation (a lead sheet can be found in Real Book Vol 1, or online). Also prepare the melody, 1-chorus of comping and 1-chorus of improvisation on a jazz, bossa, Afro-Cuban, or samba tune of your choice. Plan to use recorded accompaniment.

Drums: Unaccompanied performance of the following grooves (8-16 bars each, at a tempo that is appropriate for the given style): medium swing, jazz waltz, samba, bossa, ballad (with brushes), 12/8 Afro-Cuban, up-tempo swing. swing. Drummers are required to bring their own cymbals, hi-hat clutch, sticks and brushes.

All Auditionees: Sight reading: You will have 1 minute to study the piece. A recommended tempo will be marked but is not mandatory.

Questions about Jazz Ensemble auditions can be directed to Prof. Taylor Barnett at barnettt@vcu.edu.

Audition Materials

Trombone

Trumpet

Alto Sax

Baritone Sax

Tenor Sax

Piano