Jazz Ensemble – MUSC 109

Mid-year enrollees are required to audition in the Spring. Students enrolled in the Fall are not required to re-audition in the Spring.  You must register for the class prior to our audition.  

Auditions take place during the first week of classes each semester. Contact Jazz Ensemble Director Christopher Madsen at cmadsen1@luc.edu to schedule your audition.

For your audition, required excerpts for each instrument will be posted on Sakai. Please contact Christopher Madsen for additional questions.

In addition, please prepare the following based on your instrument:

SAXOPHONE / TRUMPET / TROMBONE / PIANO / GUITAR / VIBRAPHONE

• Chromatic scale spanning the entire range of your instrument (ascending & descending), or at least 2 octaves. A major or minor scale of your choice is also required. (Piano: play scales two-handed)
• Required audition excerpt (to be posted on Sakai by August 14).
• Pianists, guitarists, and vibraphonists should demonstrate ability to play both melodic material and chords.
• OPTIONAL: If you have improvising experience (not required for eligibility to participate!), play a brief improvisation on the blues form in the key of F or Bb. If necessary, a play-along for you to practice with can be supplied to you on request.

BASS

• Chromatic scale spanning the entire range of your instrument is (ascending & descending), or at least 2 octaves. A major or minor scale of your choice is also required.
• Required audition excerpt (to be posted on Sakai by August 14).
• Walk a bass line on the following chord progressions (if needed, sample bass lines can be provided for you).
  • 12 bar blues in the key of Bb or F

DRUMS

• Demonstrate basic time-keeping ability in the following styles at a variety of tempos: swing, bossa-nova, straight 8th latin, rock/funk.
• Required audition excerpt (to be posted on Sakai by August 14).

Any additional audition information will be sent to registered students via their LUC email account a few weeks prior to the beginning of each semester.  Remember to sign up for the class before selecting your audition time. Only those enrolled in the class will be able to audition.

For more information about Jazz Ensemble auditions, view the audition requirements listed here, and please email Director Christopher Madsen at cmadsen1@luc.edu.