Auditions: Undergraduate - Jazz Saxophone 

We encourage all applicants to audition in person if possible. Audition registration will be available after prescreen results are sent. Register for a live audition by January 15. 

Prescreen Repertoire - Due Dec. 1 

A prescreen is required for all applicants who list jazz saxophone as their primary instrument. Please review our Prescreen Information page carefully before submission. 

Keys for required repertoire are listed in concert pitch. 

  • Blues: Play the melody and improvise 3-4 choruses on "Billie’s Bounce" (Parker, key of F).

  • Jazz Standard (medium tempo): Play the melody and improvise 2 choruses on one of the following compositions:  "Take The A Train" (C), "Autumn Leaves" (G minor ), "There Will Never Be Another You" (Eb), "Recorda Me" (Amin), "Scrapple From The Apple" (F), "Oleo" (Bb).

  • Scales: Prepare the following scales.  Keys listed are on your instrument (not in concert pitch):

    • Chromatic scale: Played entire range of the saxophone (low Bb to high F/F#), ascending and descending (slurred).

    • Major scales: Keys of F, Db and E, played  2 octaves, ascending and descending.

Audition Repertoire

Applicants must perform different repertoire than submitted on their prescreen video. Students are encouraged to bring their own play-alongs to the audition, though play-alongs can be provided on request (Jamey Aebersold tracks, YouTube accompaniment, etc.)

Keys for required repertoire are listed in concert pitch. Please prepare all of the following: 

  • Blues: Play the melody and improvise 4 choruses on one of the following tunes (from memory): "Au Privave" (F), "Now’s the Time" (F), "Bloomdido" (Bb), "Tenor Madness" (Bb), "Perhaps" (C), "Sandu" (Eb). 

  • Jazz Standard: Play the melody and improvise 2 choruses on one of the following tunes (from memory): "On Green Dolphin Street" (Eb), "Confirmation" (F), "Take The A Train" (C), "All The Things You Are" (Ab), "Anthropology" (Bb), "There Will Never Be Another You" (Eb), "Have You Met Miss Jones" (F), "Recorda Me" (A minor), "Dewey Square" (Bb).

  • Scales: Be prepared to play the following at your quickest comfortable tempo:

    • Chromatic scale: Played through entire range of the saxophone (low Bb to high F/F#), ascending and descending (slurred).

    • Major scales: All 12 twelve keys, played ascending and descending (two octaves where possible). 

  • Sight-reading: A sight-reading excerpt in the jazz style will be provided at the audition.