Jazz Ensemble Auditions

Auditions for fall semester 2012 will take place during the first week of classes.  Check back for the specific dates and times.

Membership in the West Liberty Jazz Ensemble is by audition only, although students of all majors are encouraged to audition.  Auditions for Fall semester 2012 will take place on Monday, August 27 and Tuesday, August 28 from 2-5 PM. Interested students may sign up for an audition time on the bulletin board in the music wing of the Fine Arts building.  If you are also auditioning for Wind Ensemble, please sign up for a second time slot for your jazz audition.

Audition Instructions

See below for audition music and instructions for your specific instrument:

Saxophones:

1. Play “The White Whale”

download PDF Alto Saxophone

download PDF Tenor Saxophone

download PDF Baritone Saxophone

2.  Sight-Reading (required)

3. OPTIONAL: Improvise two choruses of blues in Bb Concert

download Bb blues accompaniment

Trumpets:

1. Play “The White Whale”

download PDF Trumpet

2.  Sight-Reading (required)

3. OPTIONAL: Improvise two choruses of blues in Bb Concert

download Bb blues accompaniment

Trombones:

1. Play “”The White Whale”

download PDF Trombone

2. OPTIONAL: Improvise two choruses of blues in Bb Concert

download Bb blues accompaniment

Piano and Guitar:

1. Play ”The White Whale”

download PDF Piano

download PDF Guitar

2.  Sight-Reading (required)

3.  Comp two choruses of Bb Blues (swing, quarter note = 120)

download PDF Bb Blues Changes

4. OPTIONAL: Improvise two choruses of blues in Bb Concert

download Bb blues accompaniment

Bass:

1. Play ”The White Whale”

download PDF Bass

2.  Sight-Reading (required)

3.  Comp two choruses of Bb Blues (swing, quarter note = 120)

download PDF Bb Blues Changes

4. OPTIONAL: Improvise two choruses of blues in Bb Concert

download Bb blues accompaniment

Drum Set:

1. Play ”The White Whale”

download PDF Drum Set

2.  Sight-Reading (required)

3. Styles: Demonstrate 8 bars each of the following styles

a.    Medium-Up Swing (quarter note = 180)
b.    Bossa (quarter note = 132)
c.    Samba (half note = 104)
d.    Funk/Rock (quarter note = 120)
e.    Ballad (with brushes, quarter note = 60)

4. Trading/Soloing:  Play 32 bars of Medium Swing (quarter note = 120), alternating 4 bars of time with 4 bars of soloing.

Vocalists:

Check back soon for information about possible vocal jazz opportunities with the WLU Jazz Ensemble in spring 2013.