| AUDITIONS & INTERVIEWS |
 |
|
Undergraduate Requirements and Dates
 All applicants will demonstrate their skills in mainstream jazz according to the guidelines listed below. Applicants who also have original compositions, or who are involved in creative areas that may not fall within the categories listed below, are strongly encouraged to present this work at the time of their audition.
Degrees Available to Guitar Applicants
The only jazz degree options for guitarists are the BFA Jazz Studies degree and the BFA Jazz and Contemplative Studies degree. Because we do not offer classical guitar, the Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation degree and the BMA Jazz Studies degrees are not available to guitarists.
Jazz Voice Applicants
The University of Michigan does not offer a program of study in jazz voice. Students in other programs, such as voice performance, are able to perform with jazz combos and ensembles by audition.
Classical Audition
A classical audition, along with the jazz audition, is required for Jazz and Contemporary Improvisation and for the B.M.A. degree . You must indicate a classical as well as a jazz repertoire on your comprehensive repertoire list as well as your audition repertoire. The classical audition will be played for the appropriate performance faculty, following the audition parameters set forth for each instrument on the website.
Improvising Skills
All applicants (except drums, see separate requirements) will select one piece from each of the following three categories in order to demonstrate their improvising skills. Accompaniment will be provided at the audition.
- Category 1
- F blues
- B-flat Rhythm Change
- Category 2
- There Will Never Be Another You
- Lover Man
- All the Things You Are
- Category 3
- Little Sunflower
- A Night in Tunisia
In addition, all applicants (except drummers) are expected to have knowledge of, and may be called upon to perform, all major and minor scales, and the II V7 I progression in arpeggiated format (all chords up to the 9th). Applicants on all instruments (except bass and drums) will play from memory a bebop head (e.g. Donna Lee, Four Brothers, Ornithology, Scrapple from the Apple) to demonstrate their jazz phrasing and articulation skills.
Bassists will walk bass lines in addition to improvising on the selections they have chosen from the above list and should prepare the theme of a ballad or standard (Body and Soul, Round Midnight, In a Sentimental Mood, My One and Only Love) either arco or pizzicato.
Applicants auditioning by tape/CD must demonstrate improvisational skills on their recorded audition.
Drumset
Drumset players will be asked to demonstrate proficiency in the following areas: Brushes (slow, medium and fast swing), trading 4's and 8's, Afro-Cuban and Brazilian grooves – such as the mambo, cha cha chá, songo, 12/8, partido alto, samba, and teh bossa nova. In addition, playing contemporrary styles such as rock, funk adn fusion as well as odd meters may be requested. Students will also be asked to do simple hand/foot timing and coordination exercises as well as some sight-reading. In addition, the performance of scales or melodies of jazz tunes on any mallet keyboard instrument such as vibraphone, marimba or piano is encouraged. All students are welcome to perform pieces outisde the areas listed above including but not excluded to multiple percussion, snare drum adn electronic pieces.
Audition Schedule and Application Deadline Dates
Audition Date |
Application Deadline |
Notes |
11/21/2008 |
09/15/2008 |
|
01/16/2009 |
11/01/2008 |
|
02/06/2009 |
12/01/2008 |
|
03/06/2009 |
12/01/2008 |
|
03/27/2009 |
01/15/2009 |
|
Having trouble printing...? |
