Winter/Spring 2018 Jazz Auditions

MU 170/370 - University Jazz Bands

MU 171/371 - Jazz Combos

Director of Jazz Studies - Paul Rinzler
(prinzler@calpoly.edu, 805-756-5792)

Everyone auditioning must commit to enrolling and participating for winter AND spring quarters 2018.

AUDITION SCHEDULE

All auditions take place in bldg. 45, room 122

• Sign up for an audition time by clicking on this link: SignUpGenius.
• If you cannot make one of the audition times above, contact Paul Rinzler for an alternate time.
• Drummers and conga players are encouraged to audition on both instruments if you play both drum set and congas.  Sign up for two audition slots, one for each instrument.
• If you want to audition on more than one instrument (this does not apply to saxes who double on another saxophone, or clarinet, etc.), sign up for more one audition time for each instrument.
• Please arrive 10-15 minutes early for your audition, as you will need to fill out an audition form before your audition.  You will also need to warm-up on your instrument (practice rooms are available in the Music Bldg.).
• Successful auditionees will be placed into either UJB 1 or UJB 2. Whether you are placed into a band or not, you might take a look at How to Look at Not Passing an Audition.

Keeping your schedule available for both ensembles will increase your chances of being able to participate in one of them. Audition results will be emailed to your calpoly.edu email account.

REHEARSAL TIMES

Rehearsals begin Monday January 8.

• UJB 1 - MTWF 11:10 am to noon
• UJB 2 - MW 3:10 to 4:30 pm
• Combos - TBA
  • Students wishing to play in a combo must be placed into UJB 1 or 2. Bring a completed schedule sheet [coming soon] (pdf - if you have trouble with this form, e-mail Paul--it will also be available prior to audition). Indicate the times that you are NOT available to rehearse for the quarter (if you do not know your entire class schedule, it is important to fill out your schedule as completely as possible).

EQUIPMENT TO BRING TO THE AUDITION

Your instrument, except

• drummers: bring sticks only
• vibes players: bring mallets

Electric bassists and guitarists: an amplifier and instrument cord will be provided for you to use

AUDITION CONTENT

You will be accompanied at the audition by recorded piano, bass, and drums (a Jamey Aebersold play-along recording).

Everyone will be asked to do the following:

1. Play something you have chosen and prepared, no longer than 1 minute, such as a transcribed solo, a jazz etude, or playing with an Aebersold or accompaniment recording that you bring with you (no live accompaniment provided).  It should be in the jazz idiom, and preferably something with which you are familiar and that shows off your abilities;
2. Sight-reading;
3. Strongly recommended (but not absolutely required): improvise on a blues tune and/or an easy II-V-I tune, such as "Take the A Train" (except drummers).

In addition, the musicians below will be asked to do the following:

• Bassists:
  • Walk a bass line to a blues tune and/or an easy II-V-I tune.
• Pianists, Guitarists, and Vibes Players:
  • Play chords in jazz comping fashion to a blues tune and/or an easy II-V-I tune.
• Drummers:
  • Play time and improvise fills to moderate tempo swing and Latin tunes.
  • Trade fours with piano.
• Vocalists:
  • Sing one verse of "It's a Great Great Pleasure" a cappella. You should use the recording by Louis Jordan as a broad stylistic model (although you may interpret the song individually within that broad model: see Paul for further details). You may change the key from the original to suit your range.
    • Recording for the one verse of "It's a Great Great Pleasure" (mp3)
    • Sheet music for the one verse of "It's a Great Great Pleasure" (pdf)
    • You'll need to e-mail Paul for a login and password to access these files.

PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE

Please check your schedule to ensure that you will be available for the following performances.

All times include set-up, sound check, performance, tear-down, and travel time.