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As of September 2003 the Manhattan School of Music Precollege Division
has initiated a new jazz performance major. This major is open by
audition to all interested jazz students ages 10–18, making
Manhattan School of Music one of the few institutions in the country
offering jazz programs at the elementary, secondary, undergraduate,
and graduate levels. The new curriculum will include beginning,
intermediate, and advanced classes in performance (big band and
combos), improvisation, history, styles and analysis, and theory
and ear training. The program will give interested and talented
students the opportunity to learn more about the art of jazz performance,
instruction, and history. We do not offer a jazz voice major.
Jazz Audition Material
Wind Instruments
- Prepared selection: Charlie Parker’s
“Billie’s Bounce” — medium tempo with
standard or alternate chord changes. Include at least three choruses
of improvisation. (To download music in a printable PDF format,
click
here.) Accompanists will be provided.
- Solo: Any solo literature excerpt from the
jazz idiom which best demonstrates the student’s ability
and basic knowledge of jazz articulation (improvisation optional).
- 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.
- 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. (To download music in a printable PDF format,
click
here.) Accompanists will be provided.
- Solo: Any solo literature excerpt from the
jazz idiom which best demonstrates the student’s ability
and basic knowledge of jazz articulation (improvisation optional).
- BASS ONLY: WALK at least two choruses of “Billie’s
Bounce” and solo of student’s choice.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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. (To download music
in a printable PDF format, click
here.)
- Demonstrate on Latin instruments, if possible,
including bongos and conga.
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