Pre-Audition Screening Video Requirements - due by January 6.
Applicants have the option of video recording unaccompanied, with live accompaniment, or with a backing track (real instruments/musicians preferred, i.e. Aebersold play-along tracks). Videos do not need to be a professional studio recording, however, please ensure that you can be clearly seen and the bass prominently heard on your video. No other solos besides bass, please.
Please prepare the following:
1) BLUES - "Perhaps" (Charlie Parker), key of C, 200 bpm. Play the melody, walk bass lines for 3 choruses, solo for 2 choruses, play the melody out
2) JAZZ STANDARDS – choose one from the following list. Play the melody, walk for 2 choruses, solo for two choruses, play the melody out
"Moment’s Notice" (Eb, at least 175 bpm)
"Anthropology" (Bb, at least 210 bpm)
"Whisper Not" (Cmin, 110 bpm)
"Alone Together" (Dmin, 150 bpm)
3) BALLAD – a standard jazz ballad of your choice. Play the melody, play appropriate stylistic accompaniment for a chorus (i.e. in 2 or walking), solo for at least 16 bars, then play remainder of the melody
Audition Requirements
We encourage all applicants, if at all possible, to audition in-person.
- Live audition dates are scheduled during the weekends in February. Review list of audition dates by instrument here.
- Recorded video auditions are available by request and must be submitted by February 1 to your Blue Demon Domain (for undergraduates) or your application portal (for graduates/post-masters), in the “edit portfolio" section. To enable the recorded audition submission, contact musicadmissions@depaul.edu.
Please prepare the following:
1) BLUES – "Blues for Alice", key of F, 180bpm. Play the melody, walk bass lines for 3 choruses, solo for 2 choruses, play the melody out
2) JAZZ STANDARDS – be prepared to play the following. You will be asked to play a selection that is different than what you played in your prescreen video. Play the melody, walk bass lines for 2 choruses, solo for at least one chorus
- "Moment’s Notice" (Eb, at least 175 bpm)
- "Anthropology" (Bb, at least 210 bpm)
- "Whisper Not" (Cmin, 110 bpm)
- "Alone Together" (Dmin, 150 bpm)
- "Up Jumped Spring" (Bb, 140 bpm)
3) BALLAD – choose one of the following: "Easy Living" (Eb, 60 bpm), "Central Park West" (75 bpm). Play the melody, play a chorus of appropriate stylistic accompaniment (i.e. behind a soloist), solo for at least 16 bars, play remainder of melody out
Recorded Interview Questions (only applicable to those who select a recorded submission to audition)
Please upload a video that is no longer than 2-3 minutes and responds to the below questions:
- What is your musical background?
- Why are you applying to DePaul?