January 9, 2021 • 2:45pm-5:30pm RHYTHM SECTION AUDITIONS will be held face-to-face in Amp Practice Room (NC612R).
Amplifiers, drums, and other similar gear will be provided. If you require special
needs or have questions please contact Dr. David Baker at David.Baker@uvu.edu.
All other instrumentalists (trumpet, trombone, and saxophone) will audition for jazz and commercial music ensembles during their wind symphony audition.
ALL INSTRUMENTALISTS will be provided 1-2 short sight-reading excerpt(s) to determine their placement in ensembles. Each excerpt will demonstrate a variety of skills with special emphasis on interpretation, style, dynamics, articulation, time, and sound.
OPTIONAL: If you would like IMPROVISATION to be a part of your consideration, please be prepared to solo for 2-4 choruses on the Learn Jazz Standards “F Blues” play-along (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bg-Ea7aCb1E.) This will help better determine placements in the Jazz Orchestra and Small Jazz Ensembles but is not required.
VOICE: If you’re interested in singing as a guest artist* for the Jazz Orchestra, please prepare one song at a medium swing tempo (not a ballad). Male vocalists should choose something from the repertoire of Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Tony Bennett, or a similar artist. Female vocalists should choose something from the repertoire of Ella Fitzgerald, Diane Reeves, Sarah Vaughan, or a similar artist. You may sing acapella or bring a backing track.
*Please note that guest artists are not full time members of an ensemble and will not receive ensemble credit. Guest artist participation is limited to a few rehearsals and one performance per semester.
Drums – be prepared to demonstrate briefly a variety of styles including playing with the brushes, a swing two-feel, bossa-nova, samba, 12/8 Afro-Cuban Bembe or Mambo, backbeat, and a waltz. You may additionally be asked to demonstrate some other pop styles: shuffle, funk, or rock.
Piano/Guitar – be prepared to demonstrate some chord voicings based on a given chord symbol. You may be asked to play a brief chord progression.
Bass – be prepared to play a two-octave major scale ascending and descending, key to be
determined. You will additionally be asked to demonstrate a variety of styles such
as rock, funk, and bossa nova.
