AUDITION FORM (word doc)    AUDITION FORM (pdf file)

The NCBA Jazz Committee has adopted the following source for all Prepared Etudes:

Jazz Conception: 21 Solo Etudes for Jazz Phrasing,
Interpretation and Improvisation  (Advance Music)  by Jim Snidero

The prepared etude rotation is:
08-09 Father Song

09-10 A Doll

10-11 Total Blues

11-12 Proxy

These books can be ordered online, or from your local music dealer.
Each book comes with a CD. Listed below are the available books:

Alto/Baritone Sax (order #14720)
Tenor Sax (order #14721)
Trumpet (order #14722)
Trombone (order #14723)
Guitar (order #14726)
Piano (Comping, order #14739) DO NOT ORDER PIANO #14727
Bass (Bass Lines, order #14736) DO NOT ORDER BASS #14728
Drums (order #14729)

Note: Students auditioning on piano, bass and drums SHOULD NOT audition from the book, or part of the book, that has the etude melody written out. Instead, students should audition from the book with the "rhythm section" transcriptions. Piano, bass and drum students do not have to perform these transcriptions verbatim. Small variations that are stylistically correct and make musical sense will be allowed without penalty.

Auditions are open to students in grades 9-12 who are currently enrolled in a public or private school in the state of North Carolina, and who are a part of the jazz ensemble/program at their school at least one semester during the school year in which they audition. The student's band director must be a member in good standing in MENC and NCMEA, and is required to attend the audition with their students and be willing to adjudicate during the auditions. Students may audition on one instrument only. Students and directors are strongly encouraged to join the International Association for Jazz Education.

All scales and progressions below are listed in CONCERT PITCH and must be played two octaves where possible and performed from memory. *You may click on the highlighted items to download scale sheets in PDF format.
Instrument	Scales / Other	Solo
Alto/Bari Sax Scale Sheet	Sax, Trumpet, & Trombone: F and Bb Blues Scales, Chromatic, and "ii, V, I" progression in C and Bb. All scales are to be played two octaves where possible and performed from memory.  Students will be expected to be consistent in their performance of the scales - either swing or straight 8ths.	Sax, Trumpet, & Trombone: Etude: "Proxy" Book: Jazz Conception By: Jim Snidero (Advance Music) The brass and woodwind solos will be performed with the CD from the Jazz Conception book, accompaniment only. Sightread two jazz exercises in contrasting styles.
Tenor Sax Scale Sheet
Trumpet Scale Sheet
Trombone Scale Sheet
REQUIRED IMPROVISATION SOLO - All woodwind and brass students will improvise two short (24-measure/2 choruses) blues improvisational solos, one in the key of F and one in the key of Bb.  These will be performed with CD accompaniment.
Instrument	Scales / Other	Solo
Guitar Scale Sheet	Guitar & Bass: F and Bb Blues Scales, Chromatic, and "ii, V, I" progression in C and Bb. All scales are to be played two octaves where possible and performed from memory.   Students will be expected to be consistent in their performance of the scales - either swing or straight 8ths. Piano: will play two octaves, in eighth notes with both hands playing simultaneously in octaves.  Students will be expected to be consistent in their performance of the scales - either swing or straight 8ths.	Guitar, Bass, & Piano: Etude: "Proxy" Book: Jazz Conception By: Jim Snidero (Advance Music) The rhythm section Solo will be performed with a live, professional rhythm section. Sightread two jazz exercises in contrasting styles.
Bass Scale Sheet
Piano Scale Sheet pg 1 Scale Sheet pg 2

REQUIRED IMPROVISATION SOLO - All rhythm section students will perform with a live, professional rhythm section. two short (24-measure/2 choruses) blues improvisational solos, one in the key of F and one in the key of Bb.
Instrument	Scales / Other	Solo
Drum Set	Drum Set: Student will demonstrate time-keeping ability by performing the following exercises - 16 bars of each: Medium Swing; = 112 Shuffle; = 108-112 Bossa Nova; = 132 Ballad with brushes; = 80 Up-Tempo Swing; half note = 112 Funk/Rock; = 100	Drum Set: Etude: "Proxy" Book: Jazz Conception By: Jim Snidero (Advance Music) Sightread two jazz exercises in contrasting styles.
*All percussionists MUST audition on drum set. There is not a separate audition for vibes nor a separate vibe chair/position. REQUIRED IMPROVISATION SOLO - Students will improvise a solo on drum set and/or on vibes. Students wishing to perform on vibes may perform on vibes ONLY for the improv solo. If a student chooses vibes for their improv solo, then they will perform (with CD accompaniment) two short (24-measure/2 choruses) blues improvisational solos, one in the key of F and one in the key of Bb.

Instrumentation

Alto Sax	2 (1 alternate)
Tenor Sax	2 (1 alternate)
Bari Sax	1 (1 alternate)
Trumpet	4 (1 alternate)
Trombone	4 (1 alternate)
Guitar	1 (1 alternate)
Piano	1 (1 alternate)
Bass Guitar	1 (1 alternate)
Drum Set	1 (1 alternate)

*The NCBA Regional Jazz Ensemble Clinics will have two ensembles
if the numbers, quality, and instrumentation warrants.