Guidelines
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Guidelines Notebook

HS Jazz Band - Audition Guidelines

Page  4-F-2
Updated: Nov. 18, 2000

  1. The Jazz Band is made up of the standard jazz ensemble instrumentation: 5 saxophones, 4-5 trumpets, 4-5 trombones, bass guitar, piano, jazz guitar, and 1-2 percussionists. The variations in sections can be determined by the ability level demonstrated by the audition tapes or by the clinicians request. The music selections may also determine a need for more or less players.

  2. Only 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students are eligible to audition. Students may audition for and participate in both the District Jazz Band and the District Concert Band or Choir since those groups perform on different days.

  3. Auditions will be by tape only. Students are selected by a panel of judges listening to numbered tapes. Other identification of the tapes will be removed or covered. Each tape will contain one audition only and will be for only one instrument.

  4. Each cassette tape will be clearly marked with easily removable labels [We recommend using masking tape] with the following information on the label:
    • Name
    • School
    • Instrument

    REMEMBER TO USE REMOVABLE LABELS!

  5. The tape machine may be stopped after each scale or etude. Stopping the recording machine between sections in permissible, however you cannot stop or pause during a scale or etude for the purpose of correcting errors in the performance.

  6. Swing articulation should be used for the chromatic scale, either slurred or with back accent tonguing. Follow all directions listed in the State Festival Jazz Ensemble requirements listed in the April issue of the Kansas Music Review. Also, improvisation has almost become a necessity.

  7. It is of utmost importance to the students that the audition tape is complete and in proper order. Directors need to be certain that other background noises are not present on the tape. There are to be no verbal sounds recorded on the audition tapes.