Oberlin College Conservatory
Oberlin College and Conservatory
Jazz Studies Audition Information
Jazz Studies (BM)
Jazz Trumpet, Trombone, and Saxophone
Screening Recordings and Recorded Auditions must be audio/video recordings. Audio only recordings will not be accepted.
General Audition Information
l On campus auditions will be performed with a live accompaniment. Applicants should be prepared to perform the pieces required for
screening, but may have the opportunity to perform other jazz standards during the audition.
l Applicants who perform regional auditions should practice with the background recording in the manner outlined below. Regional auditio
will be performed with a background recording provided by the Oberlin Conservatory admissions staff.
l Recorded auditions must include a recording of the applicant playing with the background recording as instructed below. The applicant shou
ld check that the background recording is played at an appropriate volume. Submit recordings via the Audition and Screening Dropbox on
your Applicant Portal.
Screening and Final Audition Requirements
Specific information for each required piece and the accompaniment music files, recorded by the Oberlin Jazz Faculty Quintet, can be found below. The recorded tuning note is concert A.
The following chords are used for the blues and “rhythm changes”:
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//
If you are unable to download the accompaniment, contact the Office of Conservatory Admissions via e-mail at Conservatory.Admissions@oberlin.edu or by calling (440) 775-8413 and a CD will be mailed to you. 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 Guitar
General Audition Information
l On campus auditions will be performed with a live accompaniment. Applicants should be prepared to perform the pieces required for screening, but may have the opportunity to perform other jazz standards during the audition.
l Applicants who perform regional auditions should practice with the background recording in the manner outlined below. Regional auditio
will be performed with a background recording provided by the Oberlin Conservatory admissions staff.
l 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. Submit recordings via the Audition and Screening Dropbo
on your Applicant Portal.
Screening and Final Audition Requirements
Specific information for each required piece and the accompaniment music files, recorded by the Oberlin Jazz Faculty Quintet, can be found below. The recorded tuning note is concert A.
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.
The following chords are used for the blues and “rhythm changes”.
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//
If you are unable to download the accompaniment, contact the Office of Conservatory Admissions via e-mail at Conservatory.Admissions@oberlin.edu or by calling (440) 775-8413 and a CD will be mailed to you. 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 Double Bass
Screening Recordings and Recorded Auditions must be audio/video recordings. Audio only recordings will not be accepted.
General Audition Information
l On campus auditions will be performed with a live accompaniment. Applicants should be prepared to perform the pieces required for screening, but may have the opportunity to perform other jazz standards during the audition.
l Applicants who perform regional auditions should practice with the background recording in the manner outlined below. Regional auditions will be performed with a background recording provided by the Oberlin Conservatory admissions staff.
l 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. Submit recordings via the Audition and Screening Dropbox on your Applicant Portal.
Screening and Final Audition Requirements
Specific information for each required piece and the accompaniment music files, recorded by the Oberlin Jazz Faculty Quintet, can be found below. The recorded tuning note is concert A.
The following chords are used for the blues and “rhythm changes”.
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//
If you are unable to download the accompaniment, contact the Office of Conservatory Admissions via e-mail at Conservatory.Admissions@oberlin.edu or by calling (440) 775-8413 and a CD will be mailed to you. 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 Piano
Screening Recordings and Recorded Auditions must be audio/video recordings. Audio only recordings will not be accepted.
General Audition Information
l On campus auditions will be performed with a live accompaniment. Applicants should be prepared to perform the pieces required for screening, but may have the opportunity to perform other jazz standards during the audition.
l Applicants who perform regional auditions should practice with the background recording in the manner outlined below. Regional auditio
will be performed with a background recording provided by the Oberlin Conservatory admissions staff.
l 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. Submit recordings via the Audition and Screening Dropbox on your Applicant Portal.
Screening and Final Audition Requirements
Specific information for each required piece and the accompaniment music files, recorded by the Oberlin Jazz Faculty Quintet, can be found below. The recorded tuning note is concert A.
The following chords are used for the blues and “rhythm changes”.
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//
If you are unable to download the accompaniment, contact the Office of Conservatory Admissions via e-mail at Conservatory.Admissions@oberlin.edu or by calling (440) 775-8413 and a CD will be mailed to you. 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 Drums
Screening Recordings and Recorded Auditions must be audio/video recordings. Audio only recordings will not be accepted.
General Audition Information
On campus auditions will be performed with a live accompaniment. Applicants should be prepared to perform the pieces required for screening, but may have the opportunity to perform other jazz standards during the audition.
Screening and Final Audition Requirements
Specific information for each required piece and the accompaniment music files, recorded by the Oberlin Jazz Faculty Quintet, can be found below. The recorded tuning note is concert A.
The following chords are used for the blues and “rhythm changes”.
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//
If you are unable to download the accompaniment, contact the Office of Conservatory Admissions via e-mail at Conservatory.Admissions@oberlin.edu or by calling (440) 775-8413 and a CD will be mailed to you. 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 Voice
Screening Recordings and Recorded Auditions must be audio/video recordings. Audio-only recordings will not be accepted.
Screening and Final Audition Requirements
Two pieces of contrasting tempo including a ballad (e.g., “Body and Soul,” “Angel Eyes,” “When I Fall In Love,” etc.) and something more up tempo, either swing or straight eighth feel (bossa, or samba feel, etc.). (E.g., “I Could Write a Book,” “My Shining Hour,” “It Could Happen to You,” etc.). Both selections should be accompanied by a background track.
On Campus
When auditioning on campus, prospective jazz vocal students will be required to provide 4 copies of sheet music (in the proper key) for the accompanying rhythm section and faculty present.
Regional
For off-campus auditions, applicants are expected to provide a recorded backing track for whatever they choose to sing. Please bring your own bluetooth-enabled, portable playback device for backing track (ex. phone, iPod, etc) or playback device with standard 3.5mm headphone jack (such as a portable CD player). We will provide a Bluetooth-enabled speaker with line-in.
Updated on 04/13/2019