AUDITIONS & INTERVIEWS

Undergraduate Requirements and Dates

All applicants will demonstrate their skills in mainstream jazz according to the guidelines 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.

Improvising Skills

All applicants (except drums; see separate requirements) should be ready to perform an F blues and B-flat Rhythm Changes tune of their choice.  In addition, they should select one piece from each of the following three categories:

• Category 1
  • All the Things You Are
  • There Will Never Be Another You
  • Autumn Leaves
• Category 2
  • Body and Soul
  • Lover Man
  • In A Sentimental Mood
• Category 3
  • Impressions
  • So What
  • Little Sunflower

It is highly recommended that all selections be memorized, including tune melodies and chord changes.  All applicants will be asked to perform the melodies and improvise over the progressions for each piece they select.  Pianists and guitarists will be asked to comp changes and bassists will be asked to walk the bass lines in addition to soloing and performing melodies.  Bassists should prepare the melody to the Ballad they choose and perform it arco if possible. 

Accompaniment will be provided at the audition.

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 the bossa nova.  In addition, playing contemporary styles such as rock, funk and 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.  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 limited to multiple percussion, snare drum and electronic pieces.

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 classical as well as jazz repertoire on your comprehensive repertoire list as well as in your audition repertoire. The classical audition will be played for the appropriate performance faculty, following the standard audition parameters.

Degrees Available to Guitar Applicants

The two 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 B.M.A. 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. 

Audition Schedule and Application Deadline Dates

Audition Date	Application Deadline	Notes
11/20/2009	10/01/2009
01/29/2010	11/01/2009
02/19/2010	12/01/2009
03/12/2010	12/01/2009
03/26/2010	01/15/2010	date is after scholarship deadline

General Undergraduate Audition and Interview Information