The Jazzschool Young Musicians Program is a year-round comprehensive music education and performance program designed for instrumental and vocal students between the ages of 11 and 18. The Young Musicians Program has been at the center of the Jazzschool’s educational and artistic goals since 1997. Its curriculum provides students with the opportunity to work with professional jazz artists and educators, strengthening performance skills, expanding knowledge of jazz theory and improvisation, and learning more about the foundations of jazz and related styles of music. Students participate in after-school classes, master classes with nationally known jazz artists, and are featured in public performances in venues throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.

PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

The Jazzschool Young Musician Program ensembles require a commitment of three quarters (fall, winter and spring). Students unable to commit to a full school year are still encouraged to audition, however priority will be given to those who can remain in the program for the entire school year. Students wishing to audition mid-year will be placed in the program based on availability of open spots in ensembles and the student’s ability level. Please note that we may not be able to accommodate all students but it is our mission to find a place for everyone if at all possible.

PLACEMENT AND AUDITION REQUIREMENTS

2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR AUDITION DATES

Studio Band: Aug. 17-18th, 2019

High school and middle school combos: Aug. 24th-26th, 2019

Advanced High School Jazz Workshop: August 25th, 2019

Mid-year small ensemble (combo) auditions: Ongoing throughout the year!

HOW TO SCHEDULE AN AUDITION

To schedule an audition, please fill out the ONLINE APPLICATION. After your application is received, you will be contacted within 1 – 2 weeks with an audition time. Auditions are scheduled on a first-come, first-served basis and will be scheduled at the earliest available time. Students will be contacted with placement information following the audition.

For Advanced High School Jazz Workshop Audition info click here

For Studio Band Audition info click here.

Students that audition for the Studio Band and Advanced High School Jazz Workshops are automatically considered for Jazzschool youth combos as well.

For all other groups’ audition info, please continue reading this page.

AUDITIONS

Entering musicians are asked to prepare a skill-level appropriate jazz standard, improvise over a 12-bar blues (optional) or rhythm changes (for high school students only) and sight-read.

Drummers: please demonstrate your ability to play a swing groove, a Latin or straight 8th groove, and improvise within these grooves.  If able, you can demonstrate your ballad or waltz playing abilities.

AUDITION BY VIDEO (OPTIONAL)

Students have the option of submitting an online video audition rather than scheduling an in-person audition. Students submitting their audition online are still required to fill out an online application (see above). On the application form, please select live audition or video submission. Please note: online video submissions are not available for the Studio Band or Advanced High School Jazz Workshops.

Instructions for Online Video Submission

• Student should be clearly visible (and audible) on the video.
• Perform two skill-level appropriate jazz standards. Please state the name of each piece before you play it.
• Download one of the two improvisation tracks by clicking here for the improvisation portion of your audition. Two choruses required.
• On the video, it is important that your playing is heard louder than anything else, including any accompanying tracks.

Piano and Guitar Players

Follow the above instructions with only one change: after improvising, please demonstrate comping/voicings on a blues or rhythm changes.

Drummers

Please demonstrate the following styles:

• swing, bossa nova, funk/rock
• Demonstrate each style at various tempos (i.e. slow, medium, fast)
• On each style/tempo please “trade fours” with yourself (4 bars of time, 4 bars of solo, etc.) Make sure your different style and trading 4s demonstrations last for at least 16 measures each.

After you have completed your video, upload your audition to YouTube and title the video with your name (Example: John Smith Jazzschool Audition). You should make this a private video (unless you don’t mind it being available to the public). Once the video is uploaded, send a link to erik@cjc.edu. You may also upload the video to a private website and email a link. Please do not email audition videos as attachments.