Jazz Program

The Jazz Arts major is open by audition to all musically qualified and interested students age 12-18, making Manhattan School of Music one of the few institutions in the country offering jazz programs at the intermediate, secondary, undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels. The Jazz Arts Program includes private lessons, combos, big band, and studies in improvisation, ear training, theory, composition/arranging, and jazz history/styles/analysis. The program gives talented instrumental students the opportunity to grow as young jazz artists. Students in this program have won numerous national honors including Downbeat, ASCAP, Mingus, and Monk Awards. We do not offer a jazz voice major.

Jazz Audition Material

Wind Instruments, Violin, Viola, Cello

  • Prepared selection: Charlie Parker’s “Billie’s Bounce” — medium tempo with standard or alternate chord changes. Include at least three choruses of improvisation. Accompanists will be provided. To download music in a printable PDF format, click one of the links below:

    Billie's Bounce in C >

    Billie's Bounce in Bb >

    Billie's Bounce in Eb >

  • Improvisation: Play a jazz classic or standard song in any jazz style. You must include at least three choruses of improvisation. The selection is your choice, and composers to consider are Thelonious Monk, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Chick Corea, Pat Metheny, Herbie Hancock, George Gershwin, Tito Puente, Wayne Shorter, etc. Accompanists will be provided.

  • Scales: Concert B-flat and F major. Play scales to highest possible range up and down. Tempo: quarter-note=60 and quarter-note=120. Play one scale staccato and one scale legato.

Piano, Guitar, Bass (acoustic and electric)

  • Prepared selection: Charlie Parker’s “Billie’s Bounce” — medium tempo with standard or alternate chord changes. Include at least three choruses of improvisation. Accompanists will be provided. To download music in a printable PDF format, click one of the links:

    Billie's Bounce in C (Treble Clef) >

    Billies Bounce in C (Bass Clef) >

  • BASS ONLY: WALK at least two choruses of “Billie’s Bounce” as well as improvise.
  • Chords: Demonstrate all basic chords: major, minor, etc.
  • Improvisation: Play a jazz classic or standard song in any jazz style. You must include at least three choruses of improvisation. Accompanists will be provided.
  • Comping (GUITAR): Demonstrate comping: Rhythm guitar style and standard regular comping.

Drum Set

  • Play jazz time: slow, medium, fast on two choruses of 12-bar blues form. Accompanists will be provided.
  • Demonstrate time in: waltz, rock, Latin, ballad, and brushes. Play on song forms (2 choruses) or vamps (at least 2 minutes each style).
  • SOLO (improvisation): different styles: jazz, rock, waltz, Latin, and in all tempos

  • Play the “Billie’s Bounce” blues choruses: 2 choruses of time, 2 choruses of trading 4s, 2 choruses of solo, repeat chorus of time. Accompanists will be provided. To download music in a printable PDF format, click the following link:

    Billie's Bounce in C >

  • Demonstrate on Latin instruments, if possible, including bongos and conga.