Jazz Ensemble - Audition

This is a live audition. You will receive an email before the audition date to confirm your audition time. Auditions will be no longer than 15 minutes.

Jazz ensembles start on the following dates:

• Mon 13 October 6-8pm - tutor Andrew Dickeson

• Tues 14 October 6-8pm - tutor Karl Laskowski

• Wed 15 October 6-8pm - tutor Mariela Mulder

• Thurs 16 October 6-8pm - tutor Michael Bartolomei

Once you have passed your audition you will be emailed a link to enrol in the course. The fee for the 8 week term is $585. If you are a full time student or hold a current pension/healthcare card you will be eligible for a 15% discount - for this to apply, you will need to enter your ID number when you enrol in the course.

Please note: We will only audition positions that are vacant. Current students have first option to re-enrol. If there are no spots available for your instrument, we will inform you and refund your audition fee. There are no drum positions available in Term 4.

Please let us know your instrument when enrolling in the audition. Any woodwind or brass instrument will be considered for the 'horn' positions.

Audition requirements:

• Auditions will be no longer than 15 minutes.

• Candidates should prepare 2 jazz standards and a 12 Blues

• These will be performed in the audition with drum accompaniment - no backing tracks.

• Candidates are expected count off the tempo for each of these and will perform:

1. One chorus melody

2. One or two choruses of improvisation over the form and changes of each standard, and 3-4 choruses of improvisation on the 12 bar Blues.

* Note: a final melody chorus is not required.

These classes are designed for students who wish to develop confident improvisation, aural and sight-reading skills.

They provide an ensemble-based environment for the development of personal jazz skills, along with an understanding of the dynamics at work in a small performance group. Typically there will be drums, electric bass, piano, horns (trumpet, alto, tenor) and guitar as the usual line-up.

Combining improvisation with work on arrangements, students gain skills on their instruments as well as increasing confidence for performing with other instrumentalists. As those various skills develop, students will be able to recognise and produce aspects that make up good ensemble playing.