Jazz Auditions

For All Auditions, Regardless of Ensemble

All-State Audition Requirements for 2024
2024 All-State Audition Video Tutorials (courtesy of MacPhail Center for Music). We are using ETUDE SET 2 for 2024 Auditions.

Each Jazz Audition Should Include:

Scales (single, continuous take) – see below (note: drum set is exempt from scales requirement)
Jazz Etude (SET 2)– see link below
Improvisation
- For Saxes, Trombones and Trumpets, improvise with Blues in Bb or Blues in F. 4-5 choruses of soloing. May listen to one chorus before beginning.
- For Piano, Guitar and Vibes, using Blues in Bb or Blues in F, 4-5 choruses split evenly between comping and soloing. May listen to one chorus before beginning.
- For Bass, using Blues in Bb or Blues in F, 4-5 choruses split evenly between bass line and soloing. May listen to one chorus before beginning.
- For Drumset, improvise without background track. Student plays 1-2 minute solo, including swing, funk, rock and Latin with the emphasis on swing. Transitions should be seamless and include appropriate fill.

Each recording above must be a separate file, and each file must be recorded in one continuous take. See Guidance for Video File Auditions for more information.

Jazz Audition Materials by Instrument:

Jazz Etudes (Set 2): All Instruments

Saxophone Jazz Scales

Trumpet Jazz Scales

Trombone Jazz Scales

Bass Trombone Jazz Scales

Double Bass Jazz Scales

Guitar and Vibes Jazz Scales

Piano Jazz Scales

Credits to Peter Schimke (Piano), Jay Young (Bass), Chris Olson (Guitar), Dave Schmalenberger (Drums) and Ricardo Ehramjian (Recording Engineer) for preparing the MMEA All-State Jazz audition improvisation tracks. (Nov. 2015)

Bb Blues Play Along