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Prescreening -
All applicants wishing to complete a jazz or contemporary
instrumental/vocal audition must pass a prescreening audition.
Applicants must submit the University of Miami application, Frost
School of Music (FSOM) Supplemental Application, and submit a cd/dvd
by December 1 to the FSOM Admission Office . Your cd/dvd will not
be reviewed by faculty until both applications and applicable fees
are received.
All prescreening
requirements are the same as the audition requirements listed below
unless otherwise noted.
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Prescreening - DVD preferred, but CD is
acceptable. Please include a resume with your submission.
- Applicants for jazz saxophone should prepare a DVD
containing 2 or 3 short songs in contrasting styles with rhythm
section accompaniment (live or play along tracks).
- Please include melody of each song and several choruses of
improvisation.
- Supplemental materials such as minor instrument pieces,
classical pieces, live concert recordings, etc is welcome but
cannot substitute for the sax and rhythm format.
Auditions Requirements -
Jazz Saxophone Auditions are divided into four segments:
1) Applicants should bring a list of prepared repertoire (a minimum
of four standard songs/jazz standards) to be performed in a combo
setting. The list should represent a variety of key centers, tempos
and rhythmic formats (swing, jazz rock, ballad, Latin, etc.). Applicants
will be judged on interpretation of melodies, improvisational skills
(melodic and rhythmic development, harmonic accuracy, etc.), and
size and variety of repertoire.
Basic piano accompaniment will be provided at on-campus
auditions. the applicant may also perform a portion of the
audition with self-supplied prerecorded rhythm section tracks or
provide their own accompanist. Performance of jazz
repertoire by memory is strongly encouraged.
2) Music Theory/Scales: Applicants are expected to have proficiency
on all major and harmonic minor scales across the entire range
of the saxophone. Jazz saxophone applicants should be comfortable
with basic chord construction and be able to arpeggiate
all qualities of seventh chords. Knowledge of more
advanced scales/chords/patterns is a plus. On-campus auditions will
include a brief theory/ear evaluation.
3) Prepare a concert piece or etude (non-jazz). Applicants will
be judged on technique, phrasing, articulation, tone and intonation,
etc. as related to the interpretation of a written piece of music.
4) An etude, concert piece, or jazz performance demonstrating skills on secondary
instruments (clarinet, flute, or piano) is optional but encouraged.
On-campus final auditions are preferred
and will include sight-reading, scales, piano assessment, and a brief interview.
All things being equal, applicants who play a live audition and are
interviewed on campus will be given stronger consideration for
admission/scholarship.
Regional Auditions:
You must provide your own
accompaniment ment
(live or prerecorded) and supply your own playback unit for recorded
accompaniments. The Jamey
Aebersold accompaniment recordings are acceptable. Sight-reading and
scaleswill be included.
Supplemental audition materials/recordings are
welcome and encouraged
but may not be substituted for the listed audition requirements. |
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Prescreening -
Requirements are the same as listed below.
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Two or three short tunes in a small group setting
with
drums, bass, guitar, and/or piano that demonstrate your improvisational
skills. Include a variety of rhythmical feels or tempos (swing,
Latin, rock, ballad, etc.). You may include big band selections
in which you are a featured soloist (recording only).
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Optional - Original compositions or arrangements. |
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On-Campus Audition: In addition to prepared selections you
may be asked to demonstrate technical devices (scales, articulations),
theoretical knowledge (chord scales) and sight-read for rhythmical
accuracy, time feel, and phrasing.
Regional Auditions: Bring your accompaniment
pre-recorded
and a play back unit. The Jamey Aebersold accompaniment recordings
are acceptable. |
Prescreening -
Requirements are the same as listed below.
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Two or three short tunes in a small group setting
with drums, bass, guitar, and/or piano that demonstrate your improvisational
skills. Please include a variety of rhythmic feels or tempos (swing,
Latin, rock, ballad, etc.) You may include big band selections on
which you are a featured soloist (tape only).
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Optional - Original compositions or arrangements. |
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On-Campus Audition:
In addition to prepared selections you may be asked to demonstrate
technical devices (scales, articulations), theoretical knowledge (chord
scales) and sight-read for rhythmic accuracy, time feel, and phrasing. |
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Regional Auditions: Bring your accompaniment
pre-recorded and a play back unit. The Jamey Aebersold accompaniment
recordings are acceptable. |
Prescreening - DVD
preferred. Requirements are the same as listed below for a
Recorded/Regional Audition.
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Play a walking bass line, then changes at sight.
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Sight-read a classical piece, or play
a prepared piece.
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Sight-read something with swing feel.
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Answer questions on theory and background. |
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Recorded/Regional
Audition |
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Swing Four - with a walking bass line (5 minutes
- most
important).
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Latin - Samba, Bossa, or Afro-Cuban (3
minutes).
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Rock Feel - anything from funk to Corea,
etc. (3 minutes).
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A Legitimate Piece - selections from Baroque or Classical
literature. Need not be a piece composed solely for bass;
may be an etude (3 minutes). |
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We will be looking especially for a solid time feel and sound
bass lines. State the theme in any or all of the first three categories.
In addition, you must solo on all of them. The first three
selections should be with drums, guitar and/or piano; additional
instruments are acceptable as are synthesized or pre-recorded
backgrounds.
Regional Auditions: Bring your accompaniment
for the jazz
selections pre-recorded and a play back unit. The Jamey
Aebersold accompaniment recordings are acceptable. |
Prescreening - DVD
preferred, but CD is acceptable.
- 3 pieces featuring the
applicant.
- Standards and/or
jazz tunes of contrasting tempos, including one ballad.
- Total length should be
between 15 and 20 minutes..
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Recorded/Regional Audition |
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Solo Piece - a standard or jazz ballad (e.g. Misty).
Present the melody harmonized "chord-melody" unaccompanied
(2-3 minutes). Improvisation is allowed within the time limits,
but is not mandatory.
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Small group selections - guitar, bass, drums, optional
piano and/or horns.
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| a. |
a medium tempo 12 bar "jazz" blues.
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a medium or medium-up tempo standard jazz tune;
the harmonic rhythm (number of beats per chord change) should
be primarily whole notes or half notes.
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a standard ballad or jazz ballad.
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For all of the above, play the melody (in the appropriate style)
clearly and accurately and solo on each piece (up to 3 minutes
for each). "Comp" one chorus behind a horn, piano or bass
solo in selection a or b. Additionally for c, include one improvised
chorus in addition to the melody.
On-Campus Auditions: You will be asked to play all or part of
the material listed above. The accompaniment will be provided
by the faculty member conducting the audition. If your selections
are unusual, please bring a lead sheet. You will be asked
to sight-read a brief selection and answer questions about
scales and chords.
Regional Audition: Bring your accompaniment for the small
group selections pre-recorded and a play back unit. The Jamey
Aebersold accompaniment recordings are acceptable. You will
be asked to play scales and chords.
Recorded Audition: The total length of
the recording should not exceed 20 minutes. If a live rhythm section
is not available, a recording using Jamey Aebersold accompaniment recordings
is acceptable. Be careful in balancing the volume of your part with
that of the accompaniment. |
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Prescreening -
Requirements are the same as listed below for recorded auditions.
On-Campus Auditions are preferred. At your audition, you will
demonstrate the following: |
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Knowledge of the jazz idiom, traditional and modern,
at
various tempos;
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Proficiency in the rock, funk, and fusion
styles;
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Familiarity with Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian, and world
styles;
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Soloing in various settings: trading fours, filling, and
improvising over an ostinato;
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Chart reading in various styles |
A visit to campus, if
possible, is highly encouraged to give the prospective student the best
idea of what the Drumset Program has to offer. This also allows
you to get to know the faculty and students personally. These
visits do not have to occur on scheduled audition days, the best days to
come are Thursday and Friday. If you wish, your audition can occur
during your visit if you have passed the prescreening requirement and
been approved to audition, but you must have submitted both the university
application and the Frost School of Music application.
Please contact Professor
Steve Rucker, srucker@umiami.edu,
if you want to schedule a visit/audition or if you have any questions.
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Regional Auditions:
Jazz drumset auditions are not
possible at regional sites. Please contact Professor Steve Rucker for
further information.
Recorded Audition: Video/DVD preferred.
Perform each of the following:
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One jazz piece in a trio or quartet setting with
a walking
bass line. Short solos ('fours') should be included.
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One contemporary fusion or rock piece, played with an
appropriate rhythm section.
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One selection with an Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian or world
rhythm.
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One big band excerpt. |
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Since musical interaction is essential, please use a live rhythm
section for your recording.
SNARE DRUM, MALLETS, AND TIMPANI ARE NO LONGER
PART OF THE DRUMSET CURRICULUM AND ARE NOT
REQUIRED FOR THE DRUMSET AUDITION.
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Prescreening - Requirements are the same as listed below.
On-Campus Audition
Please prepare a variety of selection and bring a list of audition
pieces. Include improvisation on all selections. Your audition
will be performed on acoustic piano. Please prepare at least
one from each of the following categories: |
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Ballad in tempo (standard, solo piano)
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Swing tune (standard or jazz tune) |
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Latin tune (standard or jazz tune) |
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Also, you may be asked to sight-read a
piece.
Bring a DVD or videotape which demonstrates your accompaniment abilities.
Include a piece with at least one additional soloist: saxophone, trumpet,
etc. (5 minutes). In addition, feel free to include any other material
on this recording which you feel showcases your abilities in styles
other than those represented at the audition (arrangements, compositions,
electric keyboard selections, etc.).A bass player will be
supplied for on campus auditions. Please be prepared to play
both with a bass player (rootless voicings) and in the solo piano
format.
A visit to campus, if possible, is highly encouraged to give the
prospective student the best idea of what the Jazz Piano department
has to offer. This also allows you to get to know the faculty
and students personally. These visits do not have to occur on
scheduled audition days, the best days to come are Thursday and
Friday. If you wish, your audition can occur during your
visit, but you must have submitted both the university application
and the Frost School of Music application.
Please contact Professor Doug Bickel,
doug@dougbickel.com, if you
want to schedule a visit/audition or if you have any questions.
Recorded/Regional Audition
Include the following on acoustic piano with improvisation on
all selections:
1. Solo piano in ballad tempo, for example, Rainy Day, Stella
by Starlight, etc. (4 minutes).
2. One or two trio selections (with bass and drums),
preferably one swing tune and one Latin tune (5-7 minutes).
3. To demonstrate your accompaniment abilities, include a
piece with at least one additional soloist: saxophone,
trumpet, etc. (5 minutes). In addition, feel free to include
any other material on this recording which you feel show
cases your abilities in styles other than those represented
at the audition (arrangements, compositions, electric
keyboard selections, etc.).
At the regional audition, item 1 should be performed live. Bring
a DVD or videotape containing items 2 and 3. All recorded auditions
must be submitted on DVD or videotape.
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Prescreening - DVD preferred, but CD is
acceptable. Requirements
are the same as listed below.
The audition will consist of four (4) prepared
selections as listed below:
Perform two (2) selections from
the traditional jazz or standard repertoire at different tempos; one
medium and one fast swing. One of these selections
should include at least one chorus of jazz improvisation. These
selections should be performed with live piano accompaniment.
Perform one (1) slow tempo ballad from the standard or jazz repertoire (not in a 12/8
time feel). To be performed with live piano accompaniment.
Perform one (1) selection of your choice from the above
or any other style (Latin, Rock, Pop, R&B, Fusion, original
compositions, etc.). This piece may be performed with live,
self or
recorded accompaniment.
You will be asked to demonstrate sight singing ability and
to sing back three sets of four-note interval patterns played on the
piano.
An accompanist will be provided for on-campus
auditions. Applicant
must provide lead sheets prepared in his/her performance keys.
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Regional Auditions:
Bring either an accompanist or your
accompaniment pre-recorded and a play back unit. |
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