revised September 13, 2010
The JAZZ AUDITION OPEN REHEARSAL -- Tuesday,
September 14, 2010. Anyone interested in auditioning for
either of the two Wayland Middle School jazz group should
plan on coming to the open rehearsal. We will go over the music
in detail so that you will know exactly how to practice it
and we will go over all of the other audition requirements.
Auditions begin Monday, September 20. Jazz Band auditions
are Monday, Sept. 19 - Friday, Sept. 23. Students auditioning for only Stage Band, auditions run
through Wednesday, September 28. If you audition for Jazz Band and don't make it, but play well enough to be in Stage Band, you will automatically be placed in Stage Band; you don't have to audition a second time.
- Anyone on any instrument (yes, including strings!) may play in Stage Band if you are skilled enough.
- Jazz Band instrumentation is the standard "Big Band" instrumentation that the charts are written for: alto, tenor & bari sax, trumpet, trombone (with occasional exceptions), rhythm section: piano, drumset (must read music), upright bass (bass guitar is used occasionaly, but the student must play upright), and sometimes we use guitar and/or vibes.
- Stage band
will have auditions in the fall, and then again in December, right after our concert, and new members may join at that time.
- Jazz band has auditions only once and the list is final as of the end of fall auditions; we do not add students later in the year.
- Students who were in Stage Band last year do NOT need to audition for stage band this next year (but do pick up the music and practice it so you aren't behind the others!).
- Eighth graders may be in Stage Band without auditioning.
- Everyone interested in jazz band must audition - there are no carry-overs from prior years and no one is guaranteed a seat. Priority will be given to former members, assuming they prepared for the audition and didn't just blow it off (but knowing you guys, you wouldn't do that!).
THE FIRST JAZZ BAND REHEARSAL will be Tuesday,
September 27 from 2:30-3:30. Rehearsals are Tuesdays,
2:30-3:30, and Friday mornings from 6:45-7:30.
THE FIRST STAGE BAND REHEARSAL will be Monday, September 26 from 2:30-3:15. Rehearsals are either Mondays from
2:30-3:15 OR on some weeks we meet on Thursday
mornings, from 6:45-7:30 instead of the Monday. A schedule will be given out and is posted on the website. (The first
Monday of the month is a faculty meeting & we always
move to Thursday AM on those weeks. We also rehearse on
Thursday morning for weeks where there is no school on Monday.)
Drum set auditions are 20 minutes; all others are 10
minutes.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Winds, Piano, Guitar and Bass:
- Chromatic
scale, one octave, memorized
- Scales and Arpeggios in two
keys, memorized (those auditioning for jazz band: 4
keys)
- Assigned audition piece: Teddy the Toad: learn the following sections: -- beginning to 42, then 80 to the end -- This Count Basie tune is swing and a moderate tempo. Set your metronome for about 116. Dyanmics, accents and accurate rhythms are tricky and VERY important to having a successful audition! Be careful!! Get the difference between the staccatos (dit), accents (dah), unaccented or tenuto (du)! We added a crescendo in measure 23. Details matter A LOT!!!!!!!! Listen to the soundfile on the band website to get into the groove of the piece. Play along with the recording.
- Sight-Reading (a short section of music in swing
style)
- Auditioning for Jazz Band?
- You must also learn Ain't Misbehavin' from the beginning through measure 40.
- Hints on the piece: This is the classic Fats Waller swing tune, tempo (104-112 ish). Get dynamics, accents, etc. (both written and implied), COUNT!
- Listen to the soundfile on the band website to get into the groove of the piece. Play along with the recording.
Drum Set:
- long snare roll - steady and unwavering
- long snare roll - crescendo for 16 beats, decrescendo
for 16 beat ppp - fff - ppp. Get
earthshakingly loud and so soft it almost disappears.
(CONTROL!)
- Assigned audition piece: Teddy the Toad: learn the following sections: beginning to 42, then 80 to the end -- This Count Basie tune is swing and a moderate tempo. Set your metronome for about 116. Dyanmics, accents and accurate rhythms are tricky and VERY important to having a successful audition! Be careful!! Your fills should be swing style, don't get too carried away. We added a crescendo in measure 23. Details matter A LOT!!!!!!!! Listen to the soundfile on the band website to get into the groove of the piece. Play along with the recording.
- Sight-reading (I will be looking for stability of the
beat, correct rhythm reading in the horn cues and being
able to come in on the downbeat after a fill).
- Improvisation (You will be asked to listen to a tape
of a jazz ballad and then play along with the tape. You
will hear the tape three times: two for listening and
practice and one for your performance. I will be looking
for stability of beat & playing that fits with the
ballad style.
- Auditioning for Jazz Band?
- You must also learn Ain't Misbehavin' from -- the beginning & go to 53 (note it changes to "Dixie Style")
- Hints on the piece: This is a classic Fats Waller swing tune, tempo (104-112 ish). Get dynamics, accents, etc. (both written and implied), COUNT! Stay off of the bass drum. "Click" is a rim click - if you aren't sure what that means, see me or ask your private teacher (but don't ignore it!)
- Listen to the soundfile on the band website to get into the groove of the piece. Play along with the recording. Remember - JAZZ SWING style, not rock style.
HINTS...
- Sign up for your audition time right away (signup sheets will be up by Thursday.
- Come to the open rehearsal! That's where you will learn what I am looking for!!
- No show for your audition - no jazz group for you!!!
I will not be reminding you. This is a test of your
responsibility!
- Check the audition sheets to see what I am looking
for in your playing.
- If you need help, ask! You don't have to prepare
alone!
- Don't forget the arpeggios as well as the
scales!!!!
GOOD LUCK!!!!!
ARPEGGIO
The arpeggio is 1 3 5 1 5 3 1 of the scale. If the scale is C major:
C D E F G A B C, then the C major arpeggio is: C E G C G
E C
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 ---------------------------------- 1 3 5 1(high) 5 3 1
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