Harper College

Jazz Studies Auditions

Jazz Studies applicants wishing to enroll in the Associate of Fine Arts Degree in Music program may be accepted for study in the Department of Music at one of three levels:

  • 200 Jazz Studies major
  • 100 Non-major
  • Jazz as a secondary instrument

Alternatively, students may be referred to the College's Continuing Education (non-credit) music program for further instruction.

Requirements

See the main Auditions page for important information about all auditions. Jazz Studies auditions require demonstration of basic skills for all instruments, including posture and understanding music notation. Additionally (by instrument):

Jazz Bass

Walk a bass line on a 12-bar blues OR perform the bass line of "Song for My Father" by Horace Silver.

Jazz Brass and Winds: Clarinet, Flute, Saxophone, Trombone, Trumpet

Demonstrate a blues scale and major scale(s) OR perform a piece from Jamey Aebersold's Volume 54: Maiden Voyage.

Jazz Guitar

  1. Demonstrate a blues scale.
  2. Demonstrate the pentatonic scale
  3. Demonstrate dominant 7th chord(s)

Alternatively, perform a piece from Jamey Aebersold's Volume 54: Maiden Voyage.

Jazz Piano

  1. Demonstrate a blues scale.
  2. Demonstrate major and minor triads.
  3. Demonstrate major scales.

Alternatively, perform a piece from Jamey Aebersold's Volume 54: Maiden Voyage.

Jazz Percussion

Play a swing groove and a bossa nova groove.

Jazz Voice

Perform a jazz standard of your choice OR a selection from Jamey Aebersold's Volume 107: Standards for Singers, It Had to Be You.

Last Updated: 3/15/24