Audition to Play Jazz at UIndy

Do you play saxophone, trumpet, trombone, piano, guitar, bass, drums, or vibraphone and want to play jazz while you’re at UIndy? Sign up to audition on Friday, August 22 for the UIndy Jazz Ensemble, Latin-Funk Jazz Ensemble, and Jazz Combo.

Never played jazz before?

If you have never played jazz before but are interested in playing in a jazz ensemble, reach out to Mark O’Connor (oconnorm@uindy.edu) for more info. These auditions are mainly for placement in one of the UIndy jazz ensembles.

We’ve got an exciting year coming up for all groups! Throughout the year, these groups get to play with world-class jazz musicians from the Midwest and across the nation!

Audition Requirements

 

Saxophones, trumpets, and trombones

  1. A completed information form (available at the audition).
  2. Locate your instruments’ UIndy Jazz Audition Music, listen to the audition pieces: The Blues Machine and Samba Brassiliero, and perform the excerpts of measure numbers specified on the excerpt master list for your instrument.
  3. Improvise (optional, but preferred) on blues in Bb or F concert, or "Rhythm Changes" in Bb concert. You may also improvise on the chord changes to a standard jazz tune if you wish. A play-along track will be provided.

 

Rhythm section: piano, guitar, vibes, bass, drums*

  1. A completed information form (available at the audition). 
  2. Locate your instruments’ UIndy Jazz Audition Music, listen to the audition pieces: The Blues Machine and Samba Brassiliero, and perform the excerpts of measure numbers specified on the excerpt master list for your instrument.
  3. Improvise (optional, but preferred) on Bb blues, F blues, or Bb rhythm changes chord progressions. A play-along track will be provided. You may also improvise on the chord changes to a standard jazz tune if you wish.
  4. Pianists, guitarists, and vibraphonists will be asked to comp on Bb blues, F blues, or Bb rhythm changes chord progressions. A play-along track will be provided. You may also improvise on the chord changes to a standard jazz tune if you wish.
  5. Bassists and drummers will be asked to play grooves in Swing, Ballad, and either Bossa Nova or Samba styles.

*Note: Bassists and guitarists must bring their own patch cords. Amps will be provided.
Vibraphonists must bring mallets. A vibraphone will be provided.
Drummers must bring sticks and brushes. A drum set will be provided.

 

Vocalists

  1. A completed information form (available at the audition).
  2. Please bring a song to sing in the jazz style. Jazz standards are preferred.

Audition Sheet Music

Download Audition sheet Music for your instrument

If you need an accessible version of the music sheets, please contact Mark O'Connor (oconnorm@uindy.edu)
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