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Jazz Studies, Entrance Requirements

Undergraduate


Saxophone
Scales - all 12 keys in at least two octaves

  1. Major

  2. Dominant

  3. Minor (Dorian preferred)

  4. Blues scales

Play the following - all selections can be found on Aebersold Volume 54 - “Maiden Voyage”

  1. blues in either Bb or F

  2. a tune of their choice - melody and improvisation
    Good choices include:

    • Autumn Leaves
    • Summertime
    • Maiden Voyage
    • Satin Doll

  3. a classical selection of your choice, length not important

  4. a jazz transcription, if possible, by a saxophone master (i.e. Charlie Parker, Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, etc.)


Sight reading

  1. Melody and improvise over the chord changes


All scale and chord possibilities can be found in any Aebersold volume, Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop handout or contact for material.
Jazz saxophone experience at UofL is geared toward achieving a greater proficiency in ensemble playing. Your primary performing opportunities will be in jazz ensemble and combo.

All undergraduate students must meet University and School of Music entrance requirements.

Trumpet
Scales - all 12 keys in at least two octaves

  1. Major

  2. Dominant

  3. Minor (Dorian preferred)

  4. Blues scales

Play the following - all selections can be found on Aebersold Volume 54 - “Maiden Voyage”

  1. blues in either Bb or F

  2. a tune of their choice - melody and improvisation
    Good choices include:

    • Autumn Leaves
    • Summertime
    • Maiden Voyage
    • Satin Doll

  3. a classical selection of your choice, length not important

  4. a jazz transcription, if possible, by a trumpet master (i.e. Miles Davis, Clifford Brown, Dizzy Gillespie, Chet Baker, etc.)


Sight reading

  1. Melody and improvise over the chord changes


All scale and chord possibilities can be found in any Aebersold volume, Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop handout or contact for material.
Jazz trumpet experience at UofL is geared toward achieving a greater proficiency in ensemble playing. Your primary performing opportunities will be in jazz ensemble and combo.

All undergraduate students must meet University and School of Music entrance requirements.

Trombone
Scales - all 12 keys in at least two octaves

  1. Major

  2. Dominant

  3. Minor (Dorian preferred)

  4. Blues scales

Play the following - all selections can be found on Aebersold Volume 54 - “Maiden Voyage”

  1. blues in either Bb or F

  2. a tune of their choice - melody and improvisation
    Good choices include:

    • Autumn Leaves
    • Summertime
    • Maiden Voyage
    • Satin Doll

  3. a classical selection of your choice, length not important

  4. a jazz transcription, if possible, by a trombone master (i.e. J.J. Johnson, Slide Hampton, etc.)


Sight reading

  1. Melody and improvise over the chord changes


All scale and chord possibilities can be found in any Aebersold volume, Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop handout or contact for material.
Jazz trombone experience at UofL is geared toward achieving a greater proficiency in ensemble playing. Your primary performing opportunities will be in jazz ensemble and combo.

All undergraduate students must meet University and School of Music entrance requirements.

Piano
Scales - all 12 keys in at least two octaves

  1. Major

  2. Dominant

  3. Minor (Dorian preferred)

  4. Blues scales

One Hand voicings

  1. Right hand guide tones / Left hand root

  2. Three and/or four notes rootless voicings (guides and one or two color tones) in either Right or Left hand

Play the following - all selections can be found on Aebersold Volume 54 - “Maiden Voyage”

  1. blues in either Bb or F
    Right hand - melody and improvisation / Left hand - voicings (2 or 3 notes)

  2. a tune of their choice - melody, left hand voicings and improvisation
    Good choices include:

    • Autumn Leaves
    • Summertime
    • Maiden Voyage
    • Satin Doll

  3. a classical selection of your choice, length not important

  4. a jazz transcription if possible


Sight reading

  1. basic chord progression - Right hand voicings / Left hand root

  2. Melody with/ or without voicings


All scale and chord possibilities can be found in any Aebersold volume, Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop handout or contact for material. Jazz piano experience at UofL is geared toward achieving a greater proficiency in ensemble playing. Your primary performing opportunities will be in jazz ensemble and combo.

All undergraduate students must meet University and School of Music entrance requirements.

Guitar
Scales - all 12 keys in at least two octaves

  1. Major

  2. Dominant

  3. Minor (Dorian preferred)

  4. Blues scales

One Hand voicings

  1. Right hand guide tones / Left hand root

  2. Three and/or four notes rootless voicings (guides and one or two color tones) in either Right or Left hand

Play the following - all selections can be found on Aebersold Volume 54 - “Maiden Voyage”

  1. blues in either Bb or F
    Right hand - melody and improvisation / Left hand - voicings (2 or 3 notes)

  2. a tune of their choice - melody, left hand voicings and improvisation
    Good choices include:

    • Autumn Leaves
    • Summertime
    • Maiden Voyage
    • Satin Doll

  3. a classical selection of your choice, length not important

  4. a jazz transcription if possible


Sight reading

  1. basic chord progression - Right hand voicings / Left hand root

  2. Melody with/ or without voicings


All scale and chord possibilities can be found in any Aebersold volume, Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop handout or contact for material. Jazz guitar experience at UofL is geared toward achieving a greater proficiency in ensemble playing. Your primary performing opportunities will be in jazz ensemble and combo.

All undergraduate students must meet University and School of Music entrance requirements.

Bass
Scales - all 12 keys in at least two octaves

  1. Major

  2. Dominant

  3. Minor (Dorian preferred)


Chords - arpeggios

  1. Major

  2. Minor


Play the following - all selections can be found on Aebersold Volume 54 - “Maiden Voyage”

  1. blues in either Bb or F - bass line in both 2 beat and walking

  2. a tune of their choice - bass line and improvisation, melody optional
    Good Choices include:

    • Autumn Leaves
    • Summertime
    • Maiden Voyage
    • Satin Doll

  3. a classical selection of your choice, length not important

  4. a jazz transcription if possible


Sight reading

Basic chord progression

  1. 2 beat

  2. walking

  3. latin


All scale and chord possibilities can be found in any Aebersold volume, Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop handout or contact for material. Jazz bass experience at UofL is geared toward achieving a greater proficiency in ensemble playing. Your primary performing opportunities will be in jazz ensemble and combo.

All undergraduate students must meet University and School of Music entrance requirements.

Drums
Demonstrate the following styles in either 32 or 12 bar form

  1. Swing

  2. Bossa Nova

  3. Rock (any style)

  4. Afro-Cuban


Be able to play time in either 32 or 12 bar form

  1. 4/4

  2. 3/4

  3. 6/8


Demonstrate the ability to play with brushes

Trade

  1. 8's over a 32 bar tune

  2. 4's over a 12 bar blues


Demonstrate proficiency on two of the following: Mallets, Timpani, Snare

All scale and chord possibilities can be found in any Aebersold volume, Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop handout or contact for material. Jazz drums set experience at UofL is geared toward achieving a greater proficiency in ensemble playing. Your primary performing opportunities will be in jazz ensemble and combo.

All undergraduate students must meet University and School of Music entrance requirements.


Graduate


Masters Audition Requirements
Major Instrument Requirement:
You will be asked to play the melody and improvise from memory selected pieces. You will be accompanied by a faculty rhythm section or, if a rhythm section player, with the reminder of the rhythm section and a faculty soloist.

  1. Select one tune from three of the five categories.

Ballad BeBob Standard Contemporary Rhythm
Body and Soul
In A Sentimental Mood
Lover Man
Peace
‘Round Midnight
You Don’t Know What Love Is		 A Night In Tunisia
Confirmation
Donna Lee
Daahood
Half Nelson
Joy Spring		 All The Things You Are
Stella By Starlight
There Is No Greater Love
There Will Never Be Another You
What Is This Thing Called Love		 Dolphin Dance
ESP
Five Hundred Miles High
Giant Steps
Moment’s Notice
Recorda Me’
Speak No Evil
Witch Hunt		 Anthropology
Eternal Triangle
I’ve Got Rhythm
Oleo
Rhythm-a-ning
Serpent’s Tooth

  1. Select a blues of your choice.

  2. Sight read a piece.

  3. Play a transcribed solo of your choice. Transcription should be at least one chorus of a ballad, two of a standard/contemporary/rhythm tune, and four of a blues.


Keyboard Requirement:
You will be asked to demonstrate your jazz keyboard skills. The selection will not be required of piano applicants. Special consideration will be given to percussionists.

  1. Play at least one hand voicings (at least three notes other than the root) in either left or right hand with Aebersold volume 3 (II V7 I) track 1. (major II V7 I)

  2. Play at least one hand voicings (at least three notes other than the root) in either left or right hand with Aebersold volume 3 (II V7 I) track 4. (minor ii V7 i)

  3. Play at least one hand voicings (at least three notes other than the root) in either left or right hand with Aebersold volume 1 (Jazz: How To Play and Improvise) track 7 or 8. (blues in Bb or F)

  4. Improvise over Aebersold volume 1 ((Jazz: How To Play and Improvise) track 7 or 8. (blues in Bb or F)

  5. Play at least one hand voicings (at least three notes other than the root) in the left hand and the melody


Note: Courses in addition to degree requirements may be added to address any deficiencies. These courses include Improvisation 340 and Jazz Piano Ensemble 519.