Audition for the Yale Jazz Ensembles
Source: https://bands.yale.edu/audition-for-the-yale-concert-band/audition-for-the-yale-jazz-ensembles Parent: https://bands.yale.edu/
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Audition for the Yale Jazz Ensembles
Yale Jazz Ensembles (MUSI 1193) 2025-26
The Yale Jazz Ensembles Big Band rehearses Wednesday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:30pm in the Keith L. Wilson Band Room, Room 301, Hendrie Hall in the Adams Center for Musical Arts, 165 Elm Street.
The Yale Jazz Ensembles Combos rehearse on select Tuesday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:30pm in the Keith L. Wilson Band Room, Room 301, Hendrie Hall in the Adams Center for Musical Arts, 165 Elm Street.
Auditions are held in Room 316, Hendrie Hall in the Adams Center for Musical Arts, 165 Elm Street
I. BIG BAND
Ten-minute auditions for saxes and brass – prepare the appropriate parts from the pdfs provided; optional – you may improvise to a backtrack that you provide or to blues in a key of your choice. Rhythm instruments should prepare the listed parts and all sign up for the same timed audition slot.
- Download and prepare your parts for the required audition pieces. Pick the part that fits your range and technical level.
- Be prepared to sightread.
- Optional improvisation. Professor Escoffery will provide a backing track via IReal B app to be played through the Band Room speakers. Piano accompaniment is also an option if needed.
Vocals:Prepare a standard song of your choosing and bring music or a backtrack.
II. COMBOS
If you are auditioning for a Combo only, you will be expected to perform three songs (15 minutes in total) demonstrating the ability to improvise over the following:
- 12 bar blues (your choice of key and tempo)
- Song from the standard literature (e.g., All the Things You Are, There Will Never Be Another You, Confirmation, Groovin’ High, Ornithology, Scrapple from the Apple, Cherokee, Woody’n You, etc.)
- Any piece of your choosing
Professor Escoffery will provide a backing track via IReal B app to be played through the Band Room speakers. Piano accompaniment is also an option if needed.
(Priority is given to those students who also would like to play in the Yale Jazz Ensembles Big Band.)
All auditions are judged primarily on the following criteria:
- Knowledge of jazz vocabulary
- Rhythmic feel
- Technique
- Ability to fulfill your specific role in the ensemble
- Musical maturity
- Individual expression