Audition Requirements
Double Bass/Electric Bass
Drum Set
Piano
All other instruments
Video Auditions
Get Started
Admission to the Jazz and Improvised Music program is by audition. The number of open slots for new students is limited, and competition is traditionally very high to get into the program. Auditions are held shortly after the new year. For up to date information about audition dates and times please see the UW School of Music Audition information page.
Scholarships are awarded yearly following the January and February auditions. Students who are pursuing degrees in performance will automatically be considered for scholarship at the time of their audition.
Audition Requirements
For live auditions, each applicant will have 15 minutes to perform. Video auditions are also possible, (see below for information on auditioning by video). A drum set, bass amp, guitar amp and piano will be provided for the audition. A CD player with speakers will also be available for backing tracks.
Double Bass/Electric Bass
- Perform walking bass lines based on the following chord progressions: 12 bar blues in 2 keys, Rhythm changes in B-flat, How High the Moon (Ornithology) in G, Cherokee in B-flat.
- Play the following melodies: Any standard based on 12 bar blues, Any melody based on rhythm changes in B-flat, How High the Moon or Ornithology in G, Cherokee in B-flat.
- Be prepared to improvise a solo on above chord changes.
- Prepare 2 octave scales in major, mixolydian, Dorian, diminished and auxiliary diminished.
- Prepare the following arpeggios in at least one octave: Major, minor, diminished, augmented and dominant seventh.
- Perform a written jazz drum solo transcription, examples include; Max Roach, Joy Spring or Jacqui; Philly Joe Jones, Locomotion.
- Demonstrate basic rudiments; double stroke roll, paradiddle rudiments etc.
- Demonstrate Jazz, Latin, and funk styles.
- Improvise over standard 32-bar form in a jazz style.
- Sight-read an excerpt from a big band chart demonstrating the ability to set-up ensemble figures.
- Major scales 3 octaves, hands together.
- Be able to play and improvise 3 jazz standards in solo piano style (e.g., Green Dolphin Street, My Romance, All the Things You Are, Night and Day, Blue Bossa, I Love You, Confirmation, Stella By Starlight).
- Play a “Blues” in the Jazz style
- Sight-read a “lead” sheet.
- Major scales memorized.
- Be able to play and improvise 3 jazz standards in solo style (e.g ., Green Dolphin Street, My Romance, All the Things You Are, Night and Day, Blue Bossa, I Love You, Confirmation, Stella By Starlight), one must be a standard jazz tune in a swing feel, and two can be chosen from Blues, Latin, Funk, Ballad, etc.
- Sight-reading – Material selected by faculty.
Video Auditions
While in-person auditions are highly encouraged, if you live more than 1,000 miles from Seattle, Washington, you will be eligible to audition via video. To submit your audition video in lieu of a live audition, please see the information on the UW Audition Information Page