B.M. Jazz Studies

Please note: Jazz studies require a pre-screen audition video from all incoming applicants. You will upload your video directly onto our jmcomic漫画N Music audition platform that will be emailed to you after you complete your jmcomic漫画 application. Do not start your music audition without your jmcomic漫画N ID#.听

  • Spring 2026 admission: PRESCREEN is due by 11:59 PM (PST) Sunday SEP 21st.
  • Fall 2026 admission: PRESCREEN is due by 11:59 PM (PST) Friday JAN 9th.

Results of the pre-screen round will be e-mailed to students by January 31. At that time, those who passed the pre-screen round will be able to schedule their on-campus final round audition on our Audition Days.

  • Spring 2026 admission: FINAL ROUND AUDITION: Saturday OCT 25th, 2025
  • Fall 2026 admission: FINAL ROUND AUDITIONS: Saturdays FEB 7, 21 or 28th, 2026

PRE-SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

Horns/Strings (not bass)/Voice

  • Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at jmcomic漫画N (1-2 minutes).
  • Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or a backing track. Play the melody once and solo for three choruses.
    • All The Things You Are
    • Oleo
    • There Will Never Be Another You
    • Billie's Bounce
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  • Perform听Body and Soul听with live musicians or the provided backing track. Play the head once and solo for one chorus.
  • Perform one straight 8th tune listed below with live musicians or a backing track. Play the melody once and solo for two choruses.
    • Blue Bossa
    • Footprints
    • Little Suede Shoes
    • Triste

Chordal Rhythm Section Instruments

  • Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at jmcomic漫画N (1-2 minutes).
  • Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or a backing track. Play the melody once, comp for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
    • All The Things You Are
    • Billie's Bounce
    • Oleo
    • There Will Never Be Another You
      听
  • Perform听Body and Soul听unaccompanied or with a backing track (unaccompanied preferred). Play the melody once and solo for the chorus.
  • Perform one straight 8th tune listed below with live musicians or a backing track. Play the melody once, comp for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
    • Blue Bossa
    • Little Suede Shoes
    • Footprints

BASS

  • Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at jmcomic漫画N (1-2 minutes).
  • Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or a backing track. Play the head once, walk for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
    • All The Things You Are
    • Billie's Bounce
    • Oleo
    • There Will Never Be Another You
  • Perform听Body and Soul听with live musicians or with a backing track. Play the head once, walk for one chorus and solo for one chorus.
  • Perform one straight 8th tune from the list below with live musicians or a backing track. Play the head once, bass function for one chorus and solo for two choruses.
    • Blue Bossa
    • Little Suede Shoes
    • Footprints

Drums/Percussion

  • Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at jmcomic漫画N (1-2 minutes).
  • Perform one medium to fast jazz swing tune from the list below with live musicians or a backing track. Play time/comp with the head, two choruses of someone else's solo, and solo over the form for two choruses.
    • All The Things You Are
    • Billie's Bounce
    • Oleo
    • There Will Never Be Another You
  • Perform one straight 8th tune from the list below with live musicians or a backing track. Play time/comp for the head one time through and one chorus of someone else's solo. Then trade 4's for two choruses.
    • Blue Bossa
    • Little Suede Shoes
    • Footprints
  • Demonstrate eight measures of the following styles (feel free to stop in-between): Uptempo Swing, Shuffle, Jazz Ballad Time, 12/8 Afro Cuban, Bossa Nova, 3/4 Jazz Waltz, and Funk.
  • Perform one rudimental snare drum solo of your choice.

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