Students and parents: Please review important details about the Roosevelt Jazz Program in the Program Overview. Read on for audition details…
But, first, a word of encouragement from the directors:
The Roosevelt Jazz Program is truly one of the great jazz education traditions in the country; but it’s only great if we have students who are excited about learning, and excited about playing with others. Bring your passion, bring your positivity and GO FOR IT!
Best of luck,
Ms. Hannah Mowry, Mr. Michael Van Bebber, and Ms. Deb Schaaf
HOW
2024-25 Auditions will be in person at Roosevelt High School. Please sign up for auditions using this online registration form. ALL auditioning students (both returning and new) are asked to complete the form in advance.
NOTE – Spring 2024 Auditions are for Jazz Band 1, 2, 3, and 4. There will NOT be Vocal Jazz auditions.
WHEN
Auditions for the Roosevelt Jazz program will be held in late May in 2024 (dates below). Auditions will be held based on section and will be grouped by returning and incoming students.
Schedule:
| Date | Time | Who |
| May 20 | 4:00 PM | Incoming & Returning Rhythm
(if unable to attend, student must make separate arrangements with Ms. Hannah Mowry) |
| May 21 | 4:00 PM | Current High School Saxophones |
| *May 22 | *3:00 PM | Current High School Brass *new date and time |
| May 28th | 4:00 PM | Incoming 9th Grade Horns (Sax & Brass) and returning Horns unable to attend prior week’s auditions |
WHERE
Roosevelt High School Band Room.
WHO
You! We are looking for committed student musicians who are truly interested in learning about and playing jazz music. Once placed in a group, you will be expected to attend rehearsals and performances for the entire year. Please note that extracurricular jazz ensembles (Jazz Bands 2-4) meet after school. While it can be possible to participate in jazz and a school sport, this is not always the case. It is the student’s responsibility to work with their director and their coach to sort out a schedule to allow consistent playing with the ensemble during the sports season.
We will try to place all qualified applicants, but we also keep the size of our bands small in order to provide the best experience for all participants. In 2023-2024 we had four instrumental jazz bands and didn’t turn away any eligible applicant.
WHAT
Here are the FOUR PARTS for your audition.
(Drummers note: your requirements are listed separately, below.)
Part 1: Chromatic Scale
From lowest note, up two octaves and back down. Legato eighth notes at Quarter Note = 72bpm or higher. Strive for even tempo, rich, full sound, smooth, connected and defined articulation, and consistent tone.
Part 2: Choice piece
Pick a Jazz selection that represents your strengths and passions as a musician. This can be a transcription, etude, or jazz standard. It is not in your best interest to play some “jazzed-up” version of a classical, ragtime, or pop tune. We are looking for musicians who are truly interested in Jazz Music. Your choice tells us a lot about where you’re at! It also makes sense to choose something that contrasts in style, feel or tempo from the required piece. Length will not exceed 90 seconds.
Part 3: Sight reading
NEW THIS YEAR – students should be prepared to demonstrate sight reading.
Part 4: Required piece
‘Sandu’ [Download Charts here]
SWING FEEL, quarter note= 132bpm
Remember, improvisation is just creating a new melody that fits with the existing chords. We want to hear your great sound, get a sense of how you can swing, and see how you are doing with improvisation. Don’t worry if it’s not “advanced”; we are all at different levels of experience.
Playing instructions:
- Play one time through the melody, play a little ‘solo break’ in the last two bars, then improvise over the chord changes for one chorus only.
- Do not play the melody as it is written, rhythmically, but rather, swing it in a way that sounds good to you.
- Listen to a variety of recordings, both vocal and instrumental, to give you a better idea of how jazz musicians perform this tune.
- You may add small embellishments and approach tones to the melody as you wish; but be tasteful and don’t overdo it!
- Above all, keep great time, swing like mad, and address the chord changes.
Drummers
- Open-close 5 stroke roll, on snare drum
- Open-close Paradiddle, on snare drum
- Play Medium Tempo SWING FEEL, full kit. Establish a groove, add fills and hits, play for 12 bars (one blues choruses), then solo for one chorus minimum/two choruses maximum and bring it to a strong close. Bonus points if you can keep your hi-hat on two and four, while you solo!
- Play Bossa-Nova feel. Establish the groove, add fills and hits as you see fit. Play for 8 bars.
- Play even-eighth ballad feel using BRUSHES. Play for 8 measures in 4/4 time, Quarter note= 60-72bpm. Add cymbal textures, rolls with mallets, varied hi-hat sounds (in addition to crisp hi-hat on two and four) and create drama.
- Transcription of your choice. Name the artist and recording upon which your transcription is based.
- Kick a Big Band shout chorus! Choose your favorite shout chorus from a Big Band swing tune and demonstrate set-ups and fills as you play the groove. BONUS points if you can SING the shout chorus while you do the set-ups! Be sure to STATE THE TUNE, BAND, and DRUMMER, from which you are doing the shout chorus.
- Drummers should play the Two Rudiments, Swing Feel, Bossa Feel and Ballad feel (brushes), then announce and play your Shout Chorus. We will also be combining rhythm section players into mixed-level groups for the audition.
MORE INFO
Please review the Program Overview and note that incoming 9th grade students who play a BAND instrument, must register for Concert Band.
Other options for band musicians are:
- Symphonic Band (intermediate)
- Wind Ensemble (advanced, by audition)
- Percussion Ensemble
NOTE: 9th grade rhythm section musicians should register for percussion ensemble (bass may choose orchestra).
If you have questions, please contact Jazz Booster Chair Janet Phelps, Ms. Hannah Mowry, Mr. Michael Van Bebber, or Ms. Deb Schaaf. Emails available in the Program Overview document linked above.