Undergraduate Jazz Saxophone

• Perform two contrasting standard tunes, preferably from memory.

• Auditioners should provide their own playalong recordings. Aebersold or LearnJazzStandards is preferred, but iReal is acceptable.

• Auditioners will also be asked to sight-read.

• Some general questions about chord and scale theory may be asked.

Undergraduate Performance or Music Education

• All major scales (full range encouraged).

• Perform approximately 8 minutes of music from standard repertoire showcasing a mix of lyrical and technical playing.

• Etudes or excerpts from All-Region or All-State band are accepted but not encouraged.

Examples of standard repertoire include:

• Demersseman, Jules – Fantasie sur un thème original

• Françaix, Jean – Cinq Danses Exotiques

• Handel, G. F. – Sonata No. 3, arr. Rascher

• Ravel, Maurice – Pièce en forme de Habanera

• Rueff, Jeanine – Chanson et Passepied

• Eccles, Henry – Sonata in G Minor, arr. Rascher

• Bozza, Eugène – Aria

• Ibert, Jacques – Histoires

• Ibert, Jacques – Aria

• Schumann, Robert – Three Romances, arr. Hemke

• Creston, Paul – Sonata

• Heiden, Bernard – Sonata

• Maurice, Paule – Tableaux de Provence

• Milhaud, Darius – Scaramouche

• Gurewuch, Jascha – Concerto

• Tomasi, Henri – Ballade

• Lantier, Pierre – Sicilienne

• Quate, Amy – Light of Sothis

Undergraduate Music Education (Jazz Emphasis)

• Prepare 5 minutes of standard classical literature displaying both technical prowess and lyricism

  • See Undergraduate Performance or Music Education requirements for examples of appropriate repertoire.

• Prepare one medium-tempo jazz standard, preferably from memory.

• Auditioners should provide their own playalong recordings. Aebersold or LearnJazzStandards is preferred, but iReal is acceptable.

MM, AD, and DMA

• Because the graduate studio at the University of Memphis welcomes and intentionally attracts saxophonists with a wide spectrum of expertise and career goals, audition requirements are open-ended.

• Applicants should prepare approximately 15 minutes of repertoire from any genre that best represents their strengths.

• Applicants may also supplement their live audition with up to 5 minutes of submitted recordings.

If you want this styled for a website, audition packet PDF, or catalog layout next, I can knock that out fast.

• All rhythm players will be expected to accompany from a chord chart or lead sheet in the styles of bop, Latin, fusion, or jazz/rock, rock, and pop.
• Drummers
  • Perform four and twelve bar solos.
  • Demonstrate adequate knowledge of percussion rudiments.
  • Examples of the following drum set patterns at various tempi: Bebop and contemporary mainstream (using both sticks and brushes), jazz waltz, bossa nova and samba, salsa or Afro-Cuban fusion, funk, or jazz/rock ballads (brushes and sticks), R&B and shuffle, rock, and pop.
• Graduate applicants will be asked questions pertaining to their knowledge of jazz chord and scale theory.

• Prepare two American ‘popular songbook’ standards: one (1) medium tempo swing and one (1) ballad.  Repertoire from composers such as George Gershwin, Duke Ellington, Cole Porter, Jerome Kern, Rodgers/Hart; preferably from memory.   If auditioners can accompany themselves or have an accompanist, that is encouraged. Auditioners can and need to provide their own play-a-long recordings. Aebersold or LearnJazzStandards is preferred, but iReal is acceptable.  
• Solfège, pitch/scale diagnostic.  If auditioner is more familiar with the number system, that is acceptable. 
• Sight reading

• Submit three (3) scores and recordings (MIDI is acceptable) of three (3) contrasting works: ie, swing, ballad, fusion.  At least one score submitted should be arranged for 6 or more instruments (ie: piano, bass, drums, trumpet, trombone, sax)
• Live audition: perform one (1) medium tempo swing piece.  Repertoire from composers such as Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington, Horace Silver, Benny Golson, Etc.; preferably from memory and improvise over chord progression.   Auditioners should provide their own play-a-long recordings. Aebersold or LearnJazzStandards is preferred, but iReal is acceptable.
• Modes pitch/scale diagnostic (verbal).  
• Sight Reading