BACHELOR OF MUSIC - Jazz Performance Studies
*Please note that this option requires a Pre-Screen audition (guidelines below). Fall 2023 deadline is January 7, 2023*
Please send required documents to Jazz Director, Tina Raymond at kristina.raymond@csun.edu by deadline.
- Resume - (school experience, private teachers, ensemble experience, repertoire/tune list, relevant work experience if any, awards, etc.)
- Artistic Statement - What is your musical background and influence? What are your goals as a musician and why is CSUN jazz the right place for you to work toward them?
- Two Letters of Recommendation
Horns/Strings (not bass)/Voice
- Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at CSUN (1-2 minutes).
- Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the melody once and solo for three choruses.
All The Things You Are
There Will Never Be Another You
Billie's Bounce
Oleo
- Perform Body and Soul with live musicians or the provided backing track. Play the head once and solo for one chorus.
- Perform one straight 8th tune listed below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the melody once and solo for two choruses.
Blue Bossa
Footprints
Little Suede Shoes
Triste
Link to Melodic Instrument Backing Tracks: https://mycsun.box.com/s/8jcg6ddlrowvmnt4jqhrjgzpykzs7936
Chordal Rhythm Section Instruments
- Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at CSUN (1-2 minutes).
- Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the melody once, comp for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
All The Things You Are
There Will Never Be Another You
Billie's Bounce
Oleo
- Perform Body and Soul unaccompanied or with the provided backing track (unaccompanied preferred). Play the melody once and solo for the chorus.
- Perform one straight 8th tune listed below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the melody once, comp for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
Blue Bossa
Footprints
Little Suede Shoes
Link to Harmonic Instrument Backing Tracks: https://mycsun.box.com/s/hnu74p6lbqapg50rjdes714niqjtls5b
Bass
- Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at CSUN (1-2 minutes).
- Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the head once, walk for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
All The Things You Are
There Will Never Be Another You
Billie's Bounce
Oleo
- Perform Body and Soul with live musicians or with the provided backing track. Play the head once, walk for one chorus and solo for one chorus.
- Perform one straight 8th tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the head once, bass function for one chorus and solo for two choruses.
Blue Bossa
Footprints
Little Suede Shoes
Link to Bass Backing Tracks: https://mycsun.box.com/s/rf7suelqydzx5zr6fxzpqbxegmtfz93j
Drums/Percussion
- Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at CSUN (1-2 minutes).
- Perform one medium to fast jazz swing tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play time/comp with the head, two choruses of someone else's solo, and solo over the form for two choruses.
All The Things You Are
There Will Never Be Another You
Billie's Bounce
Oleo
- Perform one straight 8th tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play time/comp for the head one time through and one chorus of someone else's solo. Then trade 4's for two choruses.
Blue Bossa
Footprints
Little Suede Shoes
- Demonstrate eight measures of the following styles (feel free to stop in-between): Uptempo Swing, Shuffle, Jazz Ballad Time, 12/8 Afro Cuban, Bossa Nova, 3/4 Jazz Waltz, and Funk.
- Perform one rudimental snare drum solo of your choice.
Link to Drums Backing Tracks: https://mycsun.box.com/s/1dmct623eikj6o29h5earitqukk72816
Applicants will be notified if they are invited back for a live audition/interview on one of the following dates:
Saturday, January 28th
Saturday, February 4th
Sunday, February 12th
MASTER OF MUSIC - Jazz Performance Studies
*Please note that this option requires a Pre-Screen audition (guidelines below). Fall 2023 deadline is January 7, 2023*
Please send required documents to Jazz Director, Tina Raymond at kristina.raymond@csun.edu by deadline.
- Resume - (school experience, private teachers, ensemble experience, repertoire/tune list, relevant work experience, awards, etc.)
- Artistic statement – What is your musical background and influence? What are your goals as a musician and why is CSUN the right place for you to work toward them?
- Two letters of recommendation
Saxophone – Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed. Demonstrate a minimum of one doubling instrument on a selection of your choice.
a: Bebop: melody once and solo for three choruses.
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop: melody once and solo for three choruses.
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Ballad: melody once, solo for two choruses.
Ruby my Dear, Monk’s Mood, Pannonica, Ask me Now, Reflections
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
Trumpet – Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Play the melody once and solo for three choruses. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed.
a: Bebop: melody once and solo for three choruses.
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop: melody once and solo for three choruses.
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Ballad: option to play on flugel horn. melody once, solo for two choruses.
Ruby my Dear, Monk’s Mood, Pannonica, Ask me Now, Reflections
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
e: Demonstrate range and technical skill via one of the following etudes. (to be linked)
Trombone – Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed.
a: Bebop: melody once and solo for three choruses.
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop: melody once and solo for three choruses.
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Ballad: melody once, solo for two choruses.
Ruby my Dear, Monk’s Mood, Pannonica, Ask me Now, Reflections
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
Other winds and/or strings (not bass): Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed.
a: Bebop: melody once and solo for three choruses.
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop: melody once and solo for three choruses.
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Ballad: melody once, solo for two choruses.
Ruby my Dear, Monk’s Mood, Pannonica, Ask me Now, Reflections
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
Piano: Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed.
a: Bebop: melody once, comp for one chorus, solo for two choruses.
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop: melody once, solo for two choruses, comp for one chorus.
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Ballad: play unaccompanied for at least the melody and one chorus of soloing.
Ruby my Dear, Monk’s Mood, Pannonica, Ask me Now, Reflections
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
Guitar: Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed.
a: Bebop: melody once, comp for one chorus, solo for two choruses.
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop: melody once, solo for two choruses, comp for one chorus.
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Ballad: play unaccompanied for at least the melody and one chorus of soloing.
Ruby my Dear, Monk’s Mood, Pannonica, Ask me Now, Reflections
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
Vibes: Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed.
a: Bebop: melody once, comp for one chorus, solo for two choruses.
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop: melody once, solo for two choruses, comp for one chorus.
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Ballad: play unaccompanied for at least the melody and one chorus of soloing.
Ruby my Dear, Monk’s Mood, Pannonica, Ask me Now, Reflections
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
Bass: Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed.
a: Bebop: melody once, solo for two choruses, walk for one chorus.
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop: support melody one time through, walk for one chorus, solo for two choruses.
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Ballad: play melody once arco, walk for one chorus, solo for one chorus.
Ruby my Dear, Monk’s Mood, Pannonica, Ask me Now, Reflections
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
e: a Paul Chambers transcription of your choice. Minimum 32 measures, and do not exceed 5 minutes.
Drums: Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Play behind the melody once, behind a soloist for a chorus, and solo for two choruses (you can play over the form alone or trade). Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed. Demonstrate brushes on at least one selection.
a: Bebop:
Cheryl, Confirmation, Anthropology, Ornithology, Donna Lee
b: Post-bop:
Dolphin Dance, One Finger Snap, Bolivia, Moment’s Notice, Inner Urge
c: Latin jazz:
Con Alma, Spain, Armando’s Rhumba, Recordame, A Night in Tunisia
d: Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.
e: Advanced Snare Drum Etude (concert or rudimental) of your choice.
Voice: Perform one tune from each of the following categories with a backing track or live ensemble. Arrangements encouraged – use of odd time signatures and contrasting styles is welcomed.
a: Bebop: Sing the melody a cappella once, solo for two choruses (your choice if supported by rhythm section).
Au Privave, Cheryl, Confirmation, Donna Lee
b: Standard: Sing the melody once, solo for two choruses.
Just Squeeze Me, Lullaby of Birdland, I Can’t Give You Anything but Love, On Green Dolphin Street
c: Ballad: Sing melody once, solo for one and a half choruses, take the bridge out.
Chelsea Bridge, Prelude to a Kiss, Midnight Sun, You Don’t Know What Love Is
d. Original composition or arrangement that demonstrates your interests: Do not exceed 6 minutes.