Jazz Voice

BM Prescreening Requirement: By December 1, all applicants in jazz voice must upload a series of pre-screen video recordings. Your selections should be recorded with accompaniment — acceptable accompaniment options include: in-person accompanist (preferred), a high-quality piano accompanying app (iReal Pro, etc)/pre-recorded accompaniment tracks (ideally from an accompanist you have worked with), or self-accompaniment. Please use your judgment and select the best accompaniment option that is available to you. Record each of your selections in a separate, unedited videos.

Jazz Voice Pre-screen video recordings should include:

• One (1) short introduction in which you state your name, the recording date (or dates), and list the selections recorded. Optional: you may also share your favorite musician, how you would define jazz, and why music is important to you.
• One (1) selection of your choosing from the traditional swing or jazz standard repertoire songbooks
  -Medium (90 to 110bpm) or medium uptempo (110 to 130bpm) swing.
  -Featuring at least one chorus of scat improvisation AND one chorus of text-based improvisation (same lyrics, while embellishing or creating an entirely new melody).
• One (1) jazz ballad of your choosing from the jazz standard repertoire songbook
  -Once through the form
• One (1) a cappella, wordless chorus of Charlie Parker’s Confirmation at 190bpm or faster.
• One (1) a cappella scale of your choosing: dominant, blues, or harmonic minor

Helpful hints: Be sure that the audio in your recording is well balanced, and that you (the auditioning musician) can be heard clearly above any other accompaniment. Videos recorded specifically for prescreen are preferred, however live performance videos are acceptable if audio and video meet requirements stated above. Repertoire ideas can be found at jazzstandards.com/compositions

 

BM Final Audition Requirements:

All applicants welcomed to participate in a second audition will either do so in person, or via video. In-person auditions will take place in February in Rochester, with a student rhythm section (piano, bass, and drums). Come prepared with three copies of each of your songs, in your key, and plan to talk through song form and endings with the accompanying musicians.

For video auditions: your selections should be recorded with accompaniment — acceptable accompaniment options include in-person accompanist (preferred), a high-quality piano accompanying app (iReal Pro, etc), pre-recorded accompaniment tracks (ideally from an accompanist you have worked with), or self-accompaniment at the piano. Please use your judgment and select the best accompaniment option that is available to you. Record each of your selections in a separate, unedited track.

BM Group Audition:

• There Will Never Be Another You
  -Medium (90 to 110bpm) or medium uptempo (110 to 130bpm) swing.
  -4 choruses (minimum)
  -First chorus primarily as written
  -Second chorus with text-based improvisation (same lyrics, while embellishing or creating an entirely new melody)
  -Third chorus with a scat based solo
  -Fourth/final chorus/head out, with 3x tag ending.
• I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good)
  -Jazz ballad (50 to 70 bpm)
  -One chorus with ending of your choice.
• One (1) other selection of your choosing from the traditional swing or jazz standard repertoire
  -Up-tempo (swing 190bpm to 220bpm)
  -3 choruses (minimum)
  -First chorus primarily as written
  -Second chorus with a text-based OR scat based solo
  -Third/final chorus/head out, with ending of your choice.
• One (1) song of your choice featuring another style of music (original composition, fusion, Bossa Nova, etc)

Individual Audition: Finalists will also be scheduled for an individual audition and conversation with the professor of jazz voice. For this appointment, applicants should prepare to discuss any questions, concerns, or individual ideas they might like to bring to this portion and should also prepare the following:

• Two (2) a cappella scales
  -Blues Scale (key of C)
  -Dominant Bebop Scale (key of C)
• Skills assessment (ear training, improvisation, call and response, jazz vocabulary, etc).

Helpful hints: Come prepared with any questions you might have. In your group and individual auditions, take your time, and remember that all panelists and musicians are there to support you. Repertoire ideas can be found at jazzstandards.com/compositions