Please check below for Audition Information on these excerpts. These are just the PDF files of the excerpts. 

• Saxophone/Clarinet
• Flute/Lead Trumpet
• Section Trumpet
• Trombone Section
• Bass Trombone/Tuba
• Guitar
• Piano
• Bass
• Vibraphone (play the "medium swing" written part and comp (2, 3, or 4 mallets) on the "Moderate Swing excerpt. You do not need to play the Mambo or Fast Samba Auxiliary percussion excerpts)
• Drum Set
• Vocalist

Auditions will take place on Tuesday, January 21, 2025, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm Room B12 (basement floor practice room area)

Audition Sign-up Information:

Please sign up for your audition via this link: JMU Jury System

• User accounts are created automatically by clicking the Login link in the main menu and logging in through the JMU portal and Duo two-factor authentication system. Enter your JMU credentials.
• Once logged in, proceed to the Booking Tab.
• Follow the listed instructions to reserve an audition time.
• If you need to change your audition time, please follow the instructions accordingly. You will receive a cancellation code when you register, just in case.

Audition Information:

1. Do not register for either ensemble until rosters have been determined and posted.
2. Download the appropriate audition excerpt (hard copies will be available at the audition).
3. Auditions will also include optional improvisation on a blues (concert Bb or F), including optional scat singing for vocalists.
4. WRITTEN AUDITION EXCERPTS, Instrumentalists: Colorado All-State Jazz Etudes, Set A
   1. It is not necessary to play the excerpts using the slurs indicated on the part—use the tongue/slur style you feel is most appropriate. Short notes should be played marcato.
   2. All saxophonists prepare the same excerpt (do not transpose). Alto and tenor saxophonists prepare the first except only; bari saxophonists prepare both excerpts. (You may be placed on a different saxophone part, depending on the needs of the ensemble.)
   3. Soprano clarinet: prepare the Saxophone Excerpt (first excerpt only). Do not transpose.
   4. Flute: prepare the Lead Trumpet excerpts (as written; do not transpose to concert pitch).
   5. Trumpets may prepare either the Lead Trumpet or Section Trumpet excerpts (it is possible that students auditioning on the Section Trumpet part may be placed in the Lead Trumpet chair, and vice versa).
   6. All tenor trombones prepare the Trombone Section excerpts (there are no separate Lead Trombone excerpts)
   7. Bass trombone and tuba prepare the Bass Trombone excerpts.
   8. Vibraphone: prepare the Vibes excerpts only (you do not need to prepare the Conga or Shaker excerpts).
   9. Drum Set: in addition to the written excerpts, you will be asked to demonstrate medium swing, uptempo swing, jazz waltz, samba, bossa nova, and Afro-Cuban styles, including trading 4’s in each style.
      1. When registering online for your audition time, choose the “Drummer – 12 minute slot” option.
5. WRITTEN AUDITION EXCERPT, Vocalists:
   1. Skylark melody/lyric with iReal Pro backing track; will be provided at audition.
   2. You may transpose the excerpt to any key you wish; we will provide the appropriate iReal Pro backing track at the audition (create your own iReal Pro backing track for audition preparation).

JMU Jazz Chamber Ens. (Combo) Auditions, Spring 2025:

All students interested in playing in a spring semester combo must audition (in person).

Thursday, January 23

Music Building Room 108

7:00-8:00pm

• Bass and guitar amps will be provided (bring a cable); a vocal amp and mic will be provided  
• Combos perform at Clementine Thursday nights between 7:00-9:00 pm. You must be available, in general, at this time (occasional conflicts with performances by other JMU ensembles are okay). If you have an ongoing Thursday evening schedule conflict, you cannot participate in combos.  
• Do not register for the class (MUAP 355) until combo rosters have been posted. Everyone placed into a combo must be registered.  

Contact Prof. Dotas ( chuckdotas@mac.com ) with questions.  

Audition Registration:

YOU MUST REGISTER BEFORE the auditions begin using this link:  Jazz Chamber Ensemble (combo) Spring 2025 Audition Registration Form

You will need access to your class schedule when you fill out the registration form. You will be indicating the meeting time and name of each class you have during the week (M-F). This information will be used to determine each combo’s faculty coaching day/time.  

Audition Process:

1. Have your instrument assembled and ready to play by 7:00 pm.
   1. Guitar/bass amps provided; bring your own cable.   
   2. Drum set provided (bring sticks; use the cymbals already set up).  
   3. Vocal amp and mic provided (bring your own mic if you prefer).
2. Students will be called up from the audience in small groups (complete combos).  The group will play the head for, and improvise/comp on, one of the five standards listed below (students will agree on the piece once they are called up from the audience). There are many recordings of each piece easily accessible on Youtube; auditionees should learn the head and chord progression for each piece.  
   1. Now’s the Time (F maj) [Charlie Parker]  
   2. Mr. PC (C min) [John Coltrane—your tempo can be a bit slower!]  
   3. Bags’ Groove (F maj) [Milt Jackson] NOTE: head sounds like minor, but this is a major key blues—guitarists/pianists: check out the sparse comping by Thelonious Monk on the head for these 2 recs:)  
      1. Miles Davis
      2. Milt Jackson
   4. Blues by Five (F maj) [Red Garland]  
   5. Blues in the Closet (F maj) [Oscar Pettiford] NOTE: Oscar’s original recording is in G; for the purposes of this audition, we’ll do it in F, like Stanley Turrentine’s recording.
   6. Impressions (D min) [ John Coltrane—uses the chord changes of Miles Davis'  So What].
3. Each student will perform two choruses of improvisation (drummers: two choruses of trading 4’s with the horns). If playing Impressions, solos are one chorus each. Singers should scat sing the head and your improvised solo.
4. JMU Jazz Faculty will assign students to combos; results will be communicated via email by Monday, January 27.  AT THAT TIME, STUDENTS WHO HAVE AUDITIONED INTO A COMBO SHOULD REGISTER FOR THE CLASS (MUAP 355, register for your faculty coach’s section #).  

Jazz Chamber Ensemble (MUAP 355): Membership is open to all JMU students by audition. Ensembles are student-run with weekly faculty coaching. Repertoire includes all styles of small-group jazz with an emphasis on creative improvisation. Performances are held at various local establishments.

Meeting Times:

TBD upon combo placement and availability

Jazz Combo Spring Performance Dates:

Thursdays, 7pm @ Clementine Cafe

Jazz Band (MUAP 348): The JMU Jazz Band, founded in 1979, is a select group of approximately 20 students per semester. Membership, determined by audition at the beginning of each semester, is open to all JMU students and typically includes students from majors across campus. Students study repertoire that includes all major styles of big band jazz, as well as student arrangements and compositions. The ensemble has performed with a variety of well-known jazz artists. Recent guests include NEA Jazz Master Sheila Jordan, Joe Sullivan, Mike Titlebaum, Jim White, and Steve Wilson.

Meeting Times:

Tu/Th - 3:55-5:10pm

Forbes 1115

Jazz Band Spring Concert Dates*:

• February 25, 7:30pm
• April 30, 7:30pm

*please review your syllabus for dress rehearsal dates for these concerts.

Jazz Ensemble (MUAP 347): Membership is open to all JMU students by audition. The James Madison University Jazz Ensemble was founded in 1971 and is the premier jazz group in the School of Music at James Madison University. The ensemble has performed at the Kennedy Center’s Millennium Stage in Washington, DC, the Montreux International Jazz and Blues Festival, the North Sea Jazz Festival, and the Virginia Music Educator's Association annual convention. The JMU Jazz Ensemble has been featured with the United States Navy Commodores Jazz Ensemble, the United States Air Force Airmen of Note Jazz Ensemble, and at the East Coast Jazz Festival in Rockville, Maryland.

The ensemble has performed with many well-known jazz artists, including Dick Oatts, John Clayton, Greg Gisbert, Nate Smith, Shelia Jordan, Mike Holober, Joseph Eckert, Clay Jenkins, John D’Earth, Chris Merz, Mike Titlebaum, and Jim White.

Meeting Times: 

Monday - 5:20-6:10pm, Music Building 108

Tuesday/Thursday - 3:55-5:10pm, Music Building 108

Jazz Ensemble Spring Concert Dates*:

• February 25, 7:30pm
• April 29, 7:30pm

*please review your syllabus for dress rehearsal dates for these concerts.