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Listed below are the audition procedures as well as the various audition requirements/repertoire for each degree level.

Prescreening Procedures

• All jazz applicants are required to submit a CD (no mini disk) with the application for prescreening purposes, in order to receive an invitation to a live audition in New York City. It is not required that the format be a professional or studio recording, but the sound quality must be as good as possible.
• Repertoire for the prescreening recording must demonstrate the ability to improvise and play with a rhythm section using a live band. Sticks and brushes should be clearly distinguishable on the recording.
  
  1. Required piece (must be first on the recording): the 12-Bar Blues piece, Billie's Bounce in medium tempo. Must include playing time for at least four choruses behind a soloist and at least two choruses of drum solo.
  2. Perform a medium tempo selection or a ballad demonstrating ability to perform with brushes.
  3. Perform two additional selections in different jazz styles, moods, and tempos. Each selection must include at least three choruses of playing time behind a soloist and at least two choruses of trading fours, eights, and/or soloing.

Audition Procedures

• Applicants who pass the prescreening portion of the audition will be invited for a live audition in New York City.
  
• All auditions are approximately 10 minutes in length. Each applicant chooses his/her first work, and the faculty will choose a second and possibly third work from the audition repertoire list provided by the applicant.
  
• Rhythm section, amplifiers, and a drum set (without cymbals) will be provided. Applicants must provide music for the trio. Auditioning students may provide their own rhythm section players if they choose.
  
• Play-along recordings are not acceptable for a live audition.

Undergraduate Audition Requirements

1. Demonstrate ability to improvise and play with a rhythm section.
   
2. Three different selections (one must be a ballad) in different jazz styles, moods, and tempos.
   
3. Sight-reading.

Graduate Audition Requirements

1. Demonstrate ability to improvise and play with a rhythm section at a graduate level of advancement.
   
2. Ten selections (including two ballads) in different jazz styles, moods, and tempos performed from memory.
   
3. Sight-reading.