Jazz

Yorktown offers two Jazz ensembles, the Big Band and the Jazz Combo. Entry to both groups are by audition only. The Jazz ensembles perform at school and community events.

Audition Date: Monday October, 6

Sign up for an audition slot here (drummers should sign up for 2 back to back slots).

Participation Policy

Student participation in music ensembles is dependent on enrollment in a full-credit music course. Exceptions are only made for those students where there is not a course option for their instrument (e.g. color guard with marching band, and rhythm section instruments for jazz ensembles).

2023-2024 Audition Information

Winds

  1. Play all 12 Major Scales
    1. These must be recorded in advance (on flip) and turned in by October 13.
    2. Perform all 12 major scales, continuous, in the octaves shown on the District 12 Scale Study Guide (Piano/Guitar/Bass/Vibes play all scales 2 octaves) starting on concert C, and moving around the circle of fourths. Scales should be memorized. Tempo for the scales is MM=100 for the quarter note, a metronome may be playing during performance. Tempo should be strictly adhered to. Scales should be articulated with a legato tongue ascending and descending. Scales should be performed in the “district scale pattern:” quarter note on tonic, eight notes in between.
  2. Live audition:
    1. Perform the prepared piece (must be logged into APS Google account; no improvisation on this piece)
      1. These excerpts may include various jazz articulations, including doits, turns, falls, & scoops. For demonstrations of these techniques, check out 17:25 in Inside the Big Band.
    2. Improvise a solo over a second chorus of the prepared piece.

Blues
When soloing over a Blues, follow this form. This sheet may be helpful to you: Chords & Complimentary Scales
I – IV – I – I     or, for example in Bb     Bb7 –  Eb7 – Bb7  – Bb7
IV – IV – I – I                                             Eb7 – Eb7 – Bb7  – Bb7
V – IV –  I – (V)                                          F7 – Eb7 – Bb7 –  F7

Rhythm Section

  1. Guitar, Bass, Piano, & Vibes:
    1. Play all 12 Major Scales
      1. These must be recorded in advance (on flip) and turned in by October 13.
      2. Perform all 12 major scales, continuous, in the octaves shown on the District 12 Scale Study Guide (Piano/Guitar/Bass/Vibes play all scales 2 octaves) starting on concert C, and moving around the circle of fourths. Scales should be memorized. Tempo for the scales is MM=100 for the quarter note, a metronome may be playing during performance. Tempo should be strictly adhered to. Scales should be articulated with a legato tongue ascending and descending. Scales should be performed in the “district scale pattern:” quarter note on tonic, eight notes in between.
    2. Live audition:
      1. Perform the prepared piece (must be logged into APS Google account; no improvisation on this piece)
        1. These excerpts may include various jazz articulations, including doits, turns, falls, & scoops. For demonstrations of these techniques, check out 17:25 in Inside the Big Band.
      2. Comp one of the following real book charts. Bass and Guitar also learn the head. Piano: In addition to comping in the appropriate style, be able to play the melody in the right hand and while providing accompaniment in the left hand. Listen to recordings to gain a better idea of how to phrase the melodies.
        1. Charts: Blue Monk (Treble, Bass) & Oleo (Treble, Bass)

BluesWhen soloing over a Blues, follow this form. This sheet may be helpful to you: Chords & Complimentary Scales
I IV I    I     or, for example in Bb     Bb7 –  Eb7 – Bb7  – Bb7
IV  IV I I                                                     Eb7 – Eb7 – Bb7  – Bb7
V    I V   I   (V)                                                 F7 – Eb7 – Bb7 –  F7

  1. Drums
  • Demonstrate the following styles: Swing Style (slow, medium, and fast) Bossa Nova, Samba, Waltz, Calypso, Rock
  • Play through Comp Example 1, Play the hi-hat on 2 & 4, keep standard ride time, and use either the left hand, or a combination of left hand and bass drum to execute the figures. 
  • Trade 4’s in standard medium swing time
  • Perform the charts School Days, Last Week, and What is this Thing Called with the play along track (minus drums).
  • School Days w/drums; minus drums
  • Last Week w/drums; minus drums
  • What Is This This Called w/drums; minus drums