Jazz auditions are a live, scheduled audition at one of the MMEA audition sites. It is a proctored audition where a neutral person will record and oversee the audition. Audition recordings are then forwarded to a jazz specialist for each instrument, who will will score the recorded auditions using the MMEA rubric. The jazz specialist judge will not have access to student information. 

Each brass and woodwind will perform the jazz etude, prepared scales, sight-reading, and improvisation. Rhythm section components differ for some instruments. That information is included below.

JAZZ ETUDE 

The MMEA All-State Jazz Etudes (set #1) are being written during Fall 2012. We expect to post them mid to late November. Students should provide their own copy from which to play. Judges will have their own copy. The etude does not need to be memorized, and is performed without accompaniment.

Performers should bring their own instruments and amps. Bass players are reminded to bring both acoustic and electric bass for their audition. Vibes or Auxiliary Percussionists need to bring their own congas, bongos or timbales (any one of these pairs). Acoustic piano will be provided.

It is recommended that bass players play the swing portion of the etude on acoustic bass and the funk portion on electric bass. The vibes or auxiliary percussion etude requires congas in the funk portion.

SCALES

Students will prepare scales at the tempo indicated. The scales are available for download. Note that the jazz scales are not the same as those for the brass-wind auditions. Scales are not prepared for drum set auditions. Scales are prepared for auxiliary percussion (vibes).

SIGHT-READING

Each student will sight-read in swing style.

IMPROVISATION 

A compact disk background will be provided from Jamey Abersold's Volume 1 "How to Play Jazz and Improvise". Students can choose either "Bb Blues" or "F Blues."

Students auditioning on drum set will improvise without the CD background and will play a one-minute solo including swing, funk, rock, and Latin with the emphasis on swing. The transitions between each style should be seamless and should be done so by an appropriate fill.