Undergraduate Auditions

Audition Requirements for Prospective Undergraduate Students

The following requirements are for all students wishing to become a Jazz Studies major. Unedited online videos may be accepted with prior approval. Ensemble auditions are scheduled separately (see this page) and are open to all students regardless of major.

Jazz Trumpet, Saxophone, and Trombone

1. Play the melody to either Anthropology or Donna Lee (available in the Charlie Parker Omnibook)
2. Improvise over the following tunes (backing tracks will be provided at the audition):
   • Billie's Bounce. Play one chorus of melody improvise a minimum of two choruses.
   • There Will Never Be Another You. Play one chorus of melody improvise a minimum of two choruses.
3. Major Scales and arpeggios.
4. Sight-reading.

Jazz Piano

Prospective piano majors must audition for Hank Hehmsoth (hank@txstate.edu). Incoming freshmen, be prepared to perform the head and improvise from one of the following four styles; transfer students, be prepared to perform the head and improvise from at least two the following four styles:

1. One jazz blues in a standard key (F or Bb, not C).
2. One jazz ballad (to illustrate your lyrical melodic style).
3. One Latin/Jazz or Jazz/Funk straight-eighth tune (samba, bossa, funk/rock, salsa) to illustrate your rhythmic precision and groove.
4. One medium tempo jazz standard or original composition (to illustrate your melodic style over chord changes).

Jazz Bass

Prospective bass majors must audition for Dr. Utah Hamrick (utah.hamrick@txstate.edu) on double-bass, as this will be their main instrument of study. Electric bass auditions must be approved in advance by Dr. Hamrick.

1. Demonstrate Jazz Style by performing one of the etudes below or a solo transcription (transcriptions must be approved in advance).
   • Etudes from 60 Melodic Etudes by John Patitucci (Carl Fischer): Major (C, F, or Eb); Mixolydian (Bb or G)
2. Scales and arpeggios: two-octaves, major and minor.
3. Improvisation. Students will demonstrate improvisational skill by performing one chorus of melody, two improvised choruses, and creating a "walking" bass line on the following two selections:
   • Blues in F or Bb,
   • There Will Never Be Another You
4. Sight reading.

The prospective student should be prepared to discuss previous performance experience, teachers, and method books used in study. If available, the prospective student will have an opportunity to demonstrate the above skills in a performance situation with either a large or small jazz ensemble.

Jazz Guitar

Prospective guitar majors must audition for Carter Arrington (tjx12@txstate.edu).

Scales: Major scales and blues scale through full available range in a minimum of two positions. 

Chord knowledge: Show at least two fingerings for any of the common 7th or 9th chords. For example, you should know at least two fingerings for each of the following: maj7, mi7, mi7b5, 7, mi(maj7), dim7, maj9, mi9, 9, 7b9, 7#9, etc.

Melody/Improvisation: You will be expected to play the melody and demonstrate improvisational skills over a jazz standard based on II_V_I progressions (ex. Autumn Leaves, Blue Bossa, or There Will Never Be Another You), a blues progression, and a tune of your choosing.

Accompaniment: You will be expected to demonstrate several styles of accompaniment including swing, bossa nova, and a style of your choosing.

Solo: Play a chord-melody arrangement of a jazz standard for solo guitar.

Sight reading: melody and chord changes from a lead sheet

Jazz Drum Set

Prospective drum set players must audition for Arthur Latin (al26099@txstate.edu). Jazz drum set auditions consist of the applicant being able to demonstrate rhythmic and “groove” competency in the following: