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Audition Requirements

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• Conservatory Admissions
• Jazz Studies Department

Jazz Studies

Jazz composition and jazz performance applicants must fulfill different audition requirements.

Jazz Composition

Applicants must submit recordings and scores of three original compositions and one arrangement of a pre-existing composition for some combination of five or more instrumentalists, including a rhythm section.

Jazz Performance General Information

All applicants can download the jazz accompaniment recorded by the Oberlin Jazz Faculty Quintet.

  • Applicants performing on-campus auditions must submit a screening recording. The screening recording should be submitted using the same guidelines as a recorded audition. Additionally, on-campus auditions will be performed with a live accompaniment.
  • Applicants who perform regional auditions should practice with the background recording in the manner outlined below; and they must bring a CD or mp3 player, along with their own playback equipment (CD player with speaker(s), "boom box" etc.) to the regional audition site.
  • Recorded auditions must include a recording of the applicant playing with the background recording as instructed below. The applicant should check that the background recording is played at an appropriate volume.

Note: The recording must be clearly marked to indicate whether it is a screening or a recorded audtion.

If an applicant is unable to download the accompaniment, contact the Conservatory Admissions Office by e-mailing Conservatory.Admissions@oberlin.edu or by calling (440) 775-8413 and a CD will be mailed to the applicant. When requesting a CD, be sure to include a name, address, telephone number, the intended major, and the date and location of the audition.

Jazz Screening

Applicants in jazz are required to submit a screening CD, DVD, audiotape or videotape prior to being invited to audition on campus (early review deadline: November 1 or regular review deadline: December 1). If you do not want to be invited to audition on campus, you may submit an audition on DVD or VHS. For further instructions, refer to the sections below for audition requirements. Indicate on the recording if it is an on-campus-screening or audition recording. You will receive email notification of an invitation decision and confirmation of your audition on campus. Screenings received after the deadlines will be reviewed and considered at the discretion of the jazz department and the admissions office. Regional Auditions DO NOT require a screening recording.

Jazz Performance Audition Requirements

Specific audition requirements for individual instruments are listed below. The recorded tuning note for all instruments is concert A. The following chords are used for the blues and "rhythm changes" for all instruments.

Blues:
//F7/B-flat7/F7/F7/B-flat7/B-flat7/F7/D7/G-7/C7/F7/(G-7 C7)//

Rhythm Changes:
//B-flat G7/C-7 F7/B-flat G7/C-7 F7/B-flat B-flat7/E-flat Edim/B-flat G7/C-7 F7/

//B-flat G7/C-7 F7/B-flat G7/C-7 F7/B-flat B-flat7/E-flat Edim/B-flat G7/C-7 F7/

/D7/D7/G7/G7/C7/C7/F7/F7//

//B-flat G7/C-7 F7/B-flat G7/C-7 F7/B-flat B-flat7/E-flat Edim/B-flat G7/C-7 F7//


  The accompaniment music files can be found below under the audition requirements for the respective instruments. Applicants are asked to download the files and rehearse with them as instructed below.
To download the files:
  • PC: Right click on the link, and choose "Save Target As"
  • Mac: Hold down the "control" button and click on the link, then choose "Download Linked File"

Horns/Guitar

In addition to the numbered requirements, guitarists must "comp" on the
F Blues and Body and Soul of the piano audition.

  1. F Blues, four choruses. Play an appropriate blues head (Billie's Bounce, Au Privave, Straight No Chaser, etc.) and then improvise three choruses to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Tuning Note
    MUSIC LINK: F Blues
  2. Body and Soul (D flat), two choruses. Play the entire melody on the first chorus. On the second chorus, improvise over the first two A sections and the bridge, and then play the melody on the last A section to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Body and Soul
  3. Ladybird(C), four choruses. Play the melody one time and then improvise three choruses to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Ladybird
  4. Rhythm Changes (B flat), three choruses. Play an appropriate melody (Oleo, Anthropology, etc.), and then improvise two choruses to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Rhythm Changes

Piano (guitar "comp" on F Blues and Body and Soul)

  1. F Blues, four choruses. Play an appropriate blues head (Billie's Bounce, Au Privave, Straight No Chaser, etc.), improvise two choruses, and then "comp" the last chorus to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Tuning note and F Blues
  2. Body and Soul (D flat), two choruses. Play the entire melody on the first chorus. On the second chorus, improvise over the first two A sections and the bridge, and then play the melody on the last A section to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Body and Soul
  3. Ladybird (C), four choruses. Play the melody one time, improvise two choruses, and then "comp" the last chorus to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Ladybird
  4. Rhythm Changes (B flat), three choruses. Play an appropriate melody (Oleo, Anthropology, etc.), and then improvise two choruses to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Rhythm Changes

Double Bass (auditions must be on acoustic, double bass; electric bass auditions are not acceptable)

  1. B flat Blues, four choruses. Walk for the first two choruses, then improvise two choruses to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Tuning Note
    MUSIC LINK: B flat Blues
  2. Body and Soul (D flat), two choruses. On the first chorus, play the entire melody (bow if possible). On the second chorus, improvise over the first two A sections and the bridge, and then play the melody on the last A section to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Body and Soul
  3. Ladybird (C), four choruses. Play the melody one time, improvise one chorus, and then walk two choruses to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Ladybird
  4. Rhythm Changes (B flat), three choruses. Walk all three choruses.
    MUSIC LINK: Rhythm Changes

Drums (on-campus auditions only)

  1. F Blues, four choruses. Play time for four choruses to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: F Blues
  2. Body and Soul (D flat), two choruses. Play brushes for two choruses to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Body and Soul
  3. Ladybird (C), four choruses. Play time on the first chorus, catching rhythms of the melody. Play time on the second chorus. On the third and fourth chorus trade "fours" with piano. On the fifth chorus, play melody to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Ladybird
  4. Rhythm Changes (B flat), three choruses. Play time with brushes for two choruses. Improvise with the bass and piano accompaniment for the third chorus to the ending.
    MUSIC LINK: Rhythm Changes
  5. Blue Bossa (c minor), four choruses plus tag. This should have a bossa nova feel. Play time on all four choruses, catching the melody and tag (ending).
    MUSIC LINK: Blue Bossa

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