Jazz Reqs

Jazz Ensemble Audition Requirements

For Instrumentation please see the Jazz Program Page
Email Dan Gabel, Director of Jazz for more information.

For all horn players (sax, clarinet trumpet, trombone)

1) 2 Scales (1 major, 1 minor) with Arpeggios

2) Two Prepared Jazz Excerpts of contrasting style. This could be a Big Band arrangement, lead sheet/head, or written solo. Contrasting styles (Swing, Ballad, 1920s Hot Jazz, BeBop, Latin, Waltz, etc).

3) (optional) demonstrate ability to improvise over a Jazz Standard or Big Band tune (example: "Honeysuckle Rose")

Reed players: doubling is encouraged (though not required) on Bb Clarinet, and occasionally Flute. Please let us know what you may double on.

A sight reading excerpt will be given at the time of your audition

For guitar/piano players:
1) 2 Scales (1 major, 1 minor) with Arpeggios and chords

2) One Prepared Jazz Excerpts of contrasting style. This could be a Big Band arrangement, lead sheet/head, or written solo. Contrasting styles (Swing, Ballad, 1920s Hot Jazz, BeBop, Latin, Waltz, etc).

3) Display ability to "comp" in two contrasting styles on a Jazz Standard (example: "Honeysuckle Rose" or "Embraceable You")

A sight reading excerpt will be given at the time of your audition

Vocalists:

1) Two Prepared Jazz Excerpts of contrasting style. This could be a Big Band arrangement, lead sheet/head, or written solo. Contrasting styles (Swing, Ballad, 1920s Hot Jazz, BeBop, Latin, Waltz, etc).

2) (optional) prepare a repertoire list and approximate vocal range.

For Bass players

1) 2 Scales (1 major, 1 minor) with Arpeggios

2) One Prepared Jazz Excerpts of contrasting style. This could be a Big Band arrangement, lead sheet/head, or written solo. Contrasting styles (Swing, Ballad, 1920s Hot Jazz, BeBop, Latin, Waltz, etc).

3) Display ability to "Walk" a bass line on a medium swing tune (example: Duke Ellington/Billy Strayhorn "Take the 'A' Train), and on a contrasting style on a Jazz Standard (ballad, latin, etc)

A sight reading excerpt will be given at the time of your audition

For Drummers:

Prepare three "grooves" on the Drum Set from the following list Big Band styles:

-medium swing (example: Glenn Miller "String of Pearls")

-uptempo swing (example: Count Basie "Kid From Red Bank")

-ballad with brushes (example: Duke Ellington "Mood Indigo")

-Latin style: rhumba or samba (example: Xavier Cugat, "Brazil")

-Jazz Waltz (example: "Bluesette")

A sight reading excerpt will be given at the time of your audition

For Pitched Percussion players

1) 2 Scales (1 major, 1 minor) with Arpeggios

2) Two Prepared Jazz Excerpts of contrasting style. This could be a Big Band arrangement, lead sheet/head, or written solo. Contrasting styles (Swing, Ballad, 1920s Hot Jazz, BeBop, Latin, Waltz, etc).

3) (optional) demonstrate ability to improvise over a Jazz Standard or Big Band tune (example: "Honeysuckle Rose")

A sight reading excerpt will be given at the time of your audition

Online Audition Form

School Participation Policy:

WYO ensemble and performance opportunities are intended to compliment school music programs. It is the policy of the Worcester Youth Orchestras that each student musician participates in his/her/their school music program, if offered at the musician’s school as part of the school day curriculum and/or as an after/before school activity or club.

NOTICE OF NONDISCRIMINATORY POLICY AS TO STUDENTS

The Worcester Youth Orchestras School admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, gender preference, religion, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminated on the basis of race, color, sexual orientation, gender preference, religion, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and other school administered programs.