KMEA All-State Jazz Band
2019-20 Audition Excerpts

Participation Eligibility Requirements

There are three requirements for a student to be eligible to audition for KMEA All-State Jazz Band membership:
  1. The student must first be a performing member of their District's 2019-20 KMEA Band, Jazz Ensemble, or Orchestra.
  2. The student's director must be a member of KMEA, will register each audition online, and send the Audition Invoice with appropriate payment to the KMEA Ensembles Manager. These must be completed by the deadline established by KMEA.
  3. The student must be deemed an eligible freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior in good standing in their high school.
Music Requirements for the Live Audition:

A New Approach to Jazz Improvisation, Volume 43, Groovin' High and Jazz Rhythm Section Workout, Volume 30B by Jamey Aebersold, 1211 Aebersold Drive, New Albany, IN 47150. All auditions will be performed with accompaniment play along recordings.

Horn Auditions

  1. Chromatic scale - Play quarter notes (mm=120). Students are to slur up and tongue down the full range of the instrument.
  2. Groovin' High - Play written melody from the beginning to the double bar after the second ending (32 bars). For optional improvisation audition: Let the recording continue and improvise for one full chorus (32 bars).
  3. A Night in Tunisia - Start playing written melody after the 8 bar introduction beginning at the second line playing through the Swing section and Interlude ending at the 4 bar solo break prior to the solos.
  4. Sightreading
Optional Lead Trumpet Audition (in addition to above material)
  1. Play a one-octave F major scale ascending in quarter notes at quarter note equals MM 80, starting on the top line of the staff.
  2. Play provided lead trumpet part (Download)
Optional Bass Trombone Audition (in addition to above material)
  1. Play a one-octave B-flat major scale, descending in quarter notes at quarter note equals MM 80, starting on second-line B-flat.
  2. Play provided bass trombone part (Download)
Rhythm Section Auditions

Piano
  1. Groovin' High - Using the left channel only (bass & drums), play written melody and provide a chordal accompaniment for one full chorus; then play one full chorus (32 measures) of an improvised solo.
  2. A Night in Tunisia - Using the left channel only (bass & drums), play the written melody with the right hand while providing an appropriate chordal accompaniment with the left hand. Begin on the second line and end after the interlude (fourth line of the second page).
  3. Sight reading
Guitar
  1. Groovin' High - Using the left channel only (bass & drums), play written melody for one full chorus (32 measures); then provide a chordal accompaniment for one full chorus; and finally, play one full chorus (32 measures) of an improvised solo.
  2. A Night in Tunisia - Using the left channel only (bass & drums), play the written melody. Begin on the second line and end after the interlude (fourth line of the second page).
  3. Sight reading
Bass
  1. Groovin' High - Using the right channel only (piano & drums), play written melody only for one full chorus (32 measures); then provide a walking bass line for one full chorus; and finally, play one full chorus of an improvised solo.
  2. A Night in Tunisia - Using the right channel only (piano & drums), play a bass line appropriate to accompany the melody. Play from the beginning to the end of the interlude (fourth line of the second page).
  3. Sight reading
Drums
Using the right channel only of Jamie Aebersold Volume 30B, play the following excerpts:
  1. #3 - Bye, Bye Boston - (31 measures) one time through
  2. #6 - Lady's Bounce - (40 measures) one time through
  3. #7 - Scott's Waltz - (32 measures) one time through
  4. Without recording or metronome, demonstrate 16 measures of a funk pattern
  5. Sight reading