Frost School of Music | University of
Miami
Voice Audition Information
Prescreen
is required for Regular Decision applicants in the following areas:
contemporary/CAM, jazz, flute, keyboard, tuba/euphonium, viola, and violin
Jazz Bass
Prescreening
- Swing Four - with a walking bass line (5
minutes - most important) and improvise a solo
- Latin - Samba, Bossa, or Afro-Cuban (3
minutes) and improvise a solo
- Rock Feel - anything from funk to Corea,
etc. (3 minutes) and improvise a solo
- A Legitimate Piece - selections from Baroque
or Classical literature. Need not be a piece composed solely for bass; may
be an etude (3 minutes).
We will
be looking especially for a solid time feel and sound bass lines. State the theme
in any or all of the first three categories. In addition, you must solo on all of them. The first three selections should be
with drums, guitar and/or piano; additional instruments are acceptable as are
synthesized or pre-recorded backgrounds.
On-Campus Audition
- Play a walking bass line, over
changes at sight and improvise a solo
- Sight-read a Classical piece
- Sight-read something
with swing feel and improvise a solo
- Answer questions on theory and
background
If there
are any questions about repertoire, please contact Professor Chuck Bergeron.
Jazz Drumset
Prescreening
Perform
each of the following:
- One jazz piece in a trio or quartet setting
with a walking bass line. Short solos ('fours') should be included.
- One contemporary fusion or rock piece played
with an appropriate rhythm section
- One selection with an Afro-Caribbean,
Brazilian or world rhythm
- One big band excerpt
Since
musical interaction is essential, please use a live rhythm section for
your recording.
Snare drum, mallets, and timpani
are no longer part of the drumset curriculum and are not required for the
drumset audition.
On-Campus Audition
On-campus
auditions are preferred. You will be asked to demonstrate:
- Knowledge of the jazz idiom, traditional and
modern, at various tempos
- Proficiency in the rock, funk, and fusion
styles
- Familiarity with Afro-Caribbean, Brazilian,
and world styles
- Soloing in various settings: trading fours,
filling and improvising over an ostinato
- Chart reading in various styles
If
there are any questions about repertoire, please contact Professor Steve Rucker.
Jazz Guitar
Audition Guidelines
- The pieces must have either
On-Campus rhythm section accompaniment (preferred)
or pre-recorded (Jamey Aebersold play-a-longs are acceptable)
- All selections (except the
unaccompanied "solo piece") should feature the applicant playing
the melody (at least once) and improvising. Soloing by the other musicians
should be strictly minimal. Edit your selection if necessary to keep it to
a minimum.
- The selections should all be
common standards and jazz tunes. Please, no "originals" at this
time.
- The total length of each of the 3
small group pieces should be between 3 and 5 minutes each.
- Please do not include additional
pieces beyond what is listed in the requirements below.
- All music performed (except, of
course, for the improvisation sections) needs to be played from memory, in
other words, no "reading" lead sheets, fake books, etc.
Prescreening & On-Campus Auditions
- Solo Piece - a standard or jazz ballad (e.g.
Misty). Present the melody harmonized "chord-melody"
unaccompanied (2-3 minutes). Improvisation is allowed within the time
limits but is not mandatory.
- Small group selections - guitar, bass,
drums, optional piano and/or horns.
- A medium tempo 12 bar "jazz"
blues.
- A medium or medium-up tempo standard jazz
tune; the harmonic rhythm (number of beats per chord change) should be
primarily whole notes or half notes.
- A standard ballad or jazz ballad.
On-Campus Audition
- In addition to all or part of
the material listed above, you will be asked to sight-read a brief
selection, as well as play and answer questions about scales
and chords. The accompaniment will be provided by the faculty member
conducting the audition. If your selections are unusual, please bring a
lead sheet.
If there
are any questions about repertoire, please contact Professor John Hart.
Jazz Piano
Prescreening
Prescreening
selections must be performed on acoustic piano, with bass and drums
accompaniment. Please include one song from the standard jazz repertoire for
each of the following categories. Improvisation should be included on all
selections.
- Ballad-must be performed solo
piano
- Medium tempo Swing tune
- Up tempo Swing tune
- Latin/Straight eighth tune
- At least one selection should
include accompanying (comping) for a bass or other instrument solo.
On-Campus Audition
Your
audition will be performed on acoustic piano, with bass accompaniment (provided).
Please include one song from the standard jazz repertoire for each of the
following categories. Improvisation should be included on all selections.
- Ballad
- Medium tempo Swing tune
- Medium up/Up tempo Swing tune
- Latin/Straight eighth
tune
Your audition
will also include a sight-reading component.
Please bring lead sheets for all prepared songs. Prepare at least one song to
perform solo piano.
You are highly encouraged to bring a CD/DVD/Flash Drive including any other
material you feel showcases your abilities (arrangements, compositions,
recordings/videos of playing in other styles, accompanying, organ/electric
keyboard selections, etc.).
If there
are any questions about repertoire, please contact Professor Martin Bejerano.
Jazz Saxophone
Prescreening
- Three short songs (standards, jazz
standards, originals) in contrasting styles with rhythm section
accompaniment (On-Campus preferred, or play along tracks acceptable).
Please include the melody of each song and several choruses of
improvisation.
- Supplemental material such as
minor instrument pieces, classical pieces, big band recordings, etc. is
welcome but cannot substitute for the basic saxophone and rhythm format.
- Video is preferred, audio
acceptable.
On-Campus Audition
- Applicants should prepare a
minimum of five standard songs/jazz standards representing a variety of
key centers, tempos, and rhythmic format. Applicants will be evaluated on
improvisational skills, melodic interpretation, and instrumental
proficiency. Basic piano accompaniment will be provided; in some cases,
applicants will perform with a rhythm section. Performance of jazz
repertoire by memory is strongly encouraged.
- In addition to prepared
selections, you may be asked to demonstrate technical devices (scales,
articulations), theoretical knowledge (chord scale relationships), aural
skills, and sight-read written music and/or chord changes.
- Optional, but encouraged- a
concert piece or etude (non-jazz). Applicants will be judged on technique, accuracy, phrasing, articulation,
tone, and intonation, etc. as related to the interpretation of a written
piece of music. May be submitted as a supplemental recording.
- Optional, but encouraged- an
etude, concert piece, or jazz performance demonstrating skills
on secondary instrument(s) such as clarinet, flute, or piano. May be
submitted as a supplemental recording.
- Supplemental audition materials
such as original compositions and arrangements are welcome and encouraged,
but may not be substituted for the listed audition requirements.
If there
are any questions about repertoire, please contact Professor Gary Keller.
Jazz Trombone
Prescreening & On-Campus Auditions
- Two or three short tunes in a
small group setting with drums, bass, guitar, and/or piano that
demonstrate your improvisational skills.
- Please include a variety of rhythmic feels or tempos (swing, Latin, rock,
ballad, etc.)
- You may include big band
selections on which you are a featured soloist (tape only).
- Optional - Original compositions
or arrangements.
On-Campus Audition
- In addition to prepared
selections, you may be asked to demonstrate technical devices (scales,
articulations), theoretical knowledge (chord scales) and sight-read for
rhythmic accuracy, time feel, and phrasing.
If there
are any questions about repertoire, please contact Professor Dante Luciani.
Jazz Trumpet
Prescreening & On-Campus Auditions
- Two or three short tunes in a
small group setting with drums, bass, guitar, and/or piano that
demonstrate your improvisational skills. Include a variety of rhythmical
feels or tempos (swing, Latin, rock, ballad, etc.).
- You may include big band selections in which you are a featured soloist
(recording only).
- Optional - Original compositions
or arrangements.
On-Campus Audition
- In addition to prepared
selections, you may be asked to demonstrate technical devices (scales,
articulations), theoretical knowledge (chord scales) and sight-read for
rhythmical accuracy, time feel, and phrasing.
If there
are any questions about repertoire, please contact Professor Brian Lynch.
Jazz Voice
Prescreening
The
audition will consist of four (4) prepared selections as listed below:
- Perform two (2) selections from
the traditional jazz or standard repertoire at different tempos: one
medium and one fast swing.
- One of these selections should
include at least one chorus of jazz improvisation. To be performed with
live accompaniment (piano alone or rhythm section).
- Perform one (1) slow tempo ballad
from the standard or jazz repertoire (not in a 12/8 time feel).
- To be performed with
live accompaniment (piano alone or rhythm section).
- Perform one (1) selection of your
choice from the above or any other style (Latin, Rock, Pop, R&B,
Fusion, original compositions, etc.).
- This piece may be performed with
live, self, or recorded accompaniment.
On-Campus Audition
- Perform two (2) selections from
the traditional jazz or standard repertoire at different tempos; one
medium and one fast swing.
- One of these selections should
include at least one chorus of jazz improvisation. To be performed with
live accompaniment (piano alone or rhythm section).
- Perform one (1) slow tempo ballad
from the standard or jazz repertoire (not in a 12/8 time feel).
- To be performed with
live accompaniment (piano alone or rhythm section).
- Perform one (1) selection of your
choice from the above or any other style (Latin, Rock, Pop, R&B,
Fusion, original compositions, etc.).
- This piece may be performed with
live, self, or recorded accompaniment.
- Applicants are encouraged, but not
required, to perform different material from the pre-screening selections
- Applicants will be asked to
demonstrate sight-singing ability and aural memory. A short theory
assessment will also be required at the audition.
- An accompanist will be provided
for on-campus auditions. Applicants must provide legible lead sheets
prepared in his/her performance keys.
If there
are any questions about repertoire, please contact Dr. Kate Reid.
Updated on 09/03/2018