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BM Jazz Studies Auditions

To be considered for entry, all applicants must:
  1. Complete the University of North Florida Application form.
  2. Complete the UNF School of Music Supplemental Application located in your application portal. The Supplemental Application will allow you to select your desired audition date. 
  3. The UNF SOM Office will send you an email with the audition schedule approximately 2-3 weeks before your requested audition date. Once on campus, applicants will be required to sign in and register on the morning of their audition.*
  4. Complete your audition. Audition requirements are listed below.

*If you have an extenuating circumstance and need to schedule an alternate audition date or request to submit an audition video, please reach out to the auditions coordinator via email at schoolofmusic@unf.edu.

 

  • Audition Requirements
    1. Auditionees should prepare six scales: Major (C, C# and D) and Minor (Eb natural minor, E harmonic minor and F melodic minor).
    2. Auditionees should prepare a transcription or etude, medium swing or up, at least 16 bars long.
    3. Auditionees may be asked to improvise one F or Bb blues (one head and two solo choruses, medium tempo) and one American Songbook or jazz standard; performed with a rhythm section or play along.
    4. Students who play multiple instruments should demonstrate their proficiency on the secondary instrument. One brief prepared piece or étude on each secondary instrument is sufficient.
  • Audition Requirements
    1. Auditionees should prepare six scales: Major (C, C# and D) and Minor (Eb natural minor, E harmonic minor and F melodic minor).
    2. Auditionees may be asked to improvise one F or Bb blues, walking basslines, head and soloing optional; American Songbook or jazz standard walking basslines, head and soloing optional; performed with a rhythm section or play along. 
    3. Auditionees who play acoustic and electric bass should demonstrate their proficiency on each instrument. One brief prepared piece or étude on each instrument is sufficient.
    4.  Auditionees who are bass players must demonstrate proficiency in various styles such as Swing, Bossa Nova, Samba, and Funk. Please perform brief excerpts of these styles.
  • Audition Requirements

    The UNF jazz drum set audition will be a live audition. Students should prepare the following:

    1. Choose a 12 Bar Blues, such as Billie’s Bounce, Now’s The Time, or a jazz standard, such as Solar or All The Things You Are and be prepared to play the selection with a rhythm section, and take a 1 chorus drum solo on the song form.
    2. Perform 30 seconds (each) in the following styles
      • Slow swing (90 BPM)
      • Medium swing (160 BPM)
      • Fast Swing (220 BPM)
      • Bossa Nova (120 BPM)
      • Samba (240 BPM)
      • Funk/Rock
      • Latin Cascara
      • Songo
      3. Be prepared to sight read a big band chart excerpt in swing style, performing the selection as though you were playing in a big band.

    For helpful audition tips, please view the full version of Professor Gottlieb’s “Ace The School Audition” video for Drum! magazine.

  • Audition Requirements

    All jazz guitar applicants are required to submit a video recording. The recording must include all of the repertoire listed below. Recordings may be mailed or uploaded to DropBox or an equivalent cloud sharing platform. It is not required that the format be a professional or studio recording, however, the sound quality must be good as possible. Students must demonstrate the ability to improvise and play with a rhythm section, using a live band or play-along recording.

    1. Required piece (must be first on the recording): the 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie’s Bounce in medium tempo (minimum of four improvised choruses).

    2. Perform three other selections (one must be a ballad) in different jazz styles, moods and tempos (minimum of two improvised choruses for each selection).
    3. Demonstrate “comping” on a standard song of your choice.
    4. Original compositions should not be included.
  • Audition Requirements
    1. Auditionees should submit six scales: Major (C, C# and D) and Minor (Eb natural minor, E harmonic minor and F melodic minor).
    2. Auditionees must perform one 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie’s Bounce or Now’s the Time in medium tempo (play the melody once and improvise a minimum of three choruses).
    3. Auditionees must play one American Songbook or jazz standard; performed with a rhythm section or play along. Tunes such as Solar, Blue Bossa, All the Things You Are or other jazz standards are acceptable; play the melody and improvise over the chord changes.
    4. Auditionees must demonstrate one chorus of “comping” on a standard song of your choice. It is fine to comp on the American Songbook song you have selected.