Jazz Ensemble Audition Information 2011-12

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE PAGE FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE 2011-2012 AUDITIONS.

Auditions will occur on the evening of Wednesday, August 31st, 2011.  Specific audition times will be emailed to everyone who has signed up prior to that night.

All players interested in being placed into a jazz ensemble in either fall 2011 or spring 2012 semesters must audition in the fall.  

NOTE: Auditions for 2011-12 are complete.  Please contact Mike Titlebaum if you have any questions!

OVERVIEW OF JAZZ AUDITION PROCESS:

Auditions for jazz ensemble will consist of three parts:

1. Playing a prepared piece
2. Improvising
3. Sight-reading 

ADDITIONAL NOTES:

Placement into the jazz ensembles or lab bands is based on multiple criteria, including:

• Basic musical elements (good tone, intonation, dynamics, instrumental control)
• Jazz style (articulation, vibrato, authenticity)
• Swinging time feel (both solo and as related to the rest of the group)
• Improvisation
• Woodwind doubling (for saxophonists, the ability to play flute and clarinet)
• Section lead playing

PART 1: WHAT TO PRACTICE FOR THE PREPARED PORTION

Please prepare the original piece "Lifelong Membership" which is based on the chord progression to Frank Loesser's "Brotherhood of Man."  For the head (melody) you will be playing solo, without rhythm section accompaniment (for the improvisation section, you WILL be playing with a rhythm section). 

Download the sheet music for your instrument here:

• PDF of Lifelong Membership for Guitar, Piano and Vibes
• PDF of Lifelong Membership for Alto and Bari Sax
• PDF of Lifelong Membership for Flute (for saxophone/WW doublers only)
• PDF of Lifelong Membership for Trombone and Acoustic Bass
• PDF of Lifelong Membership for Trumpet, Tenor Sax and Clarinet (for saxophone/WW doublers)

NOTE TO SAXOPHONISTS: Saxophonists are not required to play flute or clarinet, but strong flute/clarinet/saxophone doublers will be significantly more likely to be seated in the top (Tu/Thu) IC Jazz Ensemble.  If you do play flute and/or clarinet, you MUST also download the flute and clarinet parts above, and perform the song on these instruments at the audition. Improvisation on doubles is not required, but if you DO improvise on flute or clarinet, it would be helpful to hear you do it at the auditions.

NOTE TO DRUMMERS: Please bring sticks, brushes, and mallets for vibes if you also play them.  A drum set, cymbals and vibes will be provided.  If you play vibes, you should prepare to play "Lifelong Membership" on vibes.  On drums, we'll have you play "Lifelong Membership" and have you trade 4s with other soloists.  You will be playing with other rhythm section players, and backing up other sections and soloists.  You will also sight-read some selections (on drums and vibes if you play vibes).  In addition to playing with a group, you may be asked to play a few other grooves, possibly to include (but not limited to) a "walking" ballad time feel with Brushes (at quarter note=80) and a Bossa Nova or Samba.  

NOTE TO BASSISTS: We will be playing acoustic bass unamplified.  Please prepare the head (melody) to Lifelong Membership and be ready to play both walking basslines and a 2-feel for other players.  Also, plan on taking a solo on the same changes.

NOTE TO PIANISTS: Prepare the head (melody) to Lifelong Membership and be ready to play the melody and comp on the changes.  Also, plan on taking a solo on the same changes.

NOTE TO GUITARISTS: Prepare the head (melody) to Lifelong Membership and be ready to play the melody and comp on the changes, and play "Freddie Green" style for the changes.  Also, plan on taking a solo on the same changes.

HOW TO PREPARE THE SONG:

If you would like to work with a play-along recording to practice Lifelong Membership, please download the following files:

• MP3 of MIDI-rendered play-along of "Lifelong Membership"
• MP3 demo of Mike playing along with the, uhhh, "playalong."  It's not fantastic, but this will hopefully give you an idea of what we'll be listening for in the audition (time feel, style, articulation, phrasing, improvisation, phrasing in the improv, etc.).

For purposes of additional preparation, you should listen to a few recordings of the original song:

• "Brotherhood of Man" as performed by Clark Terry and Oscar Peterson
• "Brotherhood of Man" sung by Robert Morse from the film "How to Succeed in Business"
• "Brotherhood of Man" performed by trumpeter Al Hirt

PART 2: WHAT TO PREPARE FOR THE IMPROVISATION SECTION

If you improvise, you will play on the chord changes to Lifelong Membership (same as "Brotherhood of Man"), ALONG WITH a rhythm section. The changes are included in the same PDF lead sheets as above.  Also, you are encouraged to use the MP3 above for improvisation practice.  

Please make note that the song is quite bluesy and constructed in four 4-bar phrases, and that the best improvisations will not only effectively utilize the chord progression and guide tones, but make use of that phrase structure, too (where each phrase would end with some rests to prepare for the next phrase).  Make sure to practice arpeggiating the chords and embellishing the guide tone lines, which should help in constructing effective melodic solos.  Another recommendation is to write out a solo that sounds improvised, so you can get the idea of what a good improvised solo might sound like.

PART 3: SIGHT READING

Every auditionee will sightread one (if not more than one) sight-reading excerpt.  The sight-reading may include playing solo and may include playing along with a section.

NOTE FOR INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES

Individuals with disabilities requiring accommodations should contact jazz director Mike Titlebaum at mtitlebaum@ithaca.edu. We ask that requests for accommodations be made as soon as possible.