Jazz Registration & Auditions

Last Updated: Jan. 2, 2024

Stay up to date with all Division of Jazz Studies announcements, activities, and audition results by joining its Canvas page. 

 


Undergraduates

Are you planning to…

  • Play an instrument in a lab/ensemble (including a vocal jazz ensemble)? Enroll in MULB 1808.500.
  • Play guitar in a guitar ensemble? Enroll in MULB 1817.500.
  • Sing in a vocal jazz ensemble? Enroll in MULB 1820.500.
  • Play viola, violin, cello, harp, or a related instrument in Jazz Strings LabEnroll in MULB 1824.001.
  • Play or sing in Commercial Music LabEnroll in MULB 1808.500.
  • Participate in Jazz Chamber Music*? Enroll in MUCM 3550.500.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*You must be a Jazz Studies major to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. Undergraduates must have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370) or submitted Credit By Exam forms for Improv II (MUJS 2370)**
**If you have previously submitted Credit By Exam forms for Improv II, email the Administrative Coordinator of Jazz Studies for enrollment in Jazz Chamber Music.

 

Graduates

Are you planning to…

  • Play an instrument in a lab/ensemble (including a vocal jazz ensemble)? Enroll in MULB 5174.500.
  • Play guitar in a guitar ensemble? Enroll in MULB 5174.516.
  • Sing in a vocal jazz ensemble? Enroll in MULB 5174.522.
  • Play viola, violin, cello, harp, or a related instrument in Jazz Strings LabEnroll in MULB 5174.529.
  • Play or sing in Commercial Music LabEnroll in MULB 5174.500.
  • Participate in Jazz Chamber Music? Enroll in MUCM 5550.500.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.


Audition Information Based On Instrument

Bass

For Lab Bands/Ensembles: Enroll in MULB 1808.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Enroll in MUCM 3550.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5550.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses.

Jazz Bass Audition Dates : 

  • Wednesday, November 29 - 9:40 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Prof. Seaton's office #279
  • Thursday, November 30 - 9:40 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. in Prof. Seaton's office #279

Required Forms:

Jazz lab auditions take place each semester the week prior to the start of classes in Prof. Seaton's office #279. They consist of sight-reading typical big band charts: reading notes, walking bass lines and soloing. Bring both acoustic and electric basses if you play both. Please be prepared to play (instruments out of the case and tuned) ten minutes before your scheduled audition time. A prepared piece will be sent to your UNT email about two weeks before the first audition date.

 

Drum Set and Vibes

For Lab Bands/Ensembles: Enroll in MULB 1808.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Enroll in MUCM 3550.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5550.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses.

Audition Dates/Information: 

  • Round 1: Thursday, August 17 - 1:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. in MU133 (Prof. Davis' office)
    • Drum Set
    • Vibes
      • Prepared - 1 jazz standard (medium tempo) - Be able to play melody, solo and comp through song
      • Sight Reading - You will be asked to sight read 1 chart: melody, comping and soloing.
      • NOTE: This is the only round of auditions for vibes. Round 2 is only for drum set.
         
  • Round 2: Friday, August 18 (Drum Set only) - 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m., Location TBA
    • 2 to 3 charts of varying tempos and styles will be performed with a band.
    • This audition Score Sheet will be used to objectively score each audition. This should be used as a guide to help pinpoint areas of focus in your preparation.
    • Any prepared charts will be sent to students after Round 1 auditions.
    • Students who pass Round 1 will be notified of their exact audition time, along with any other pertinent information regarding audition requirements.

 

Guitar

For Lab Bands/Ensembles: Enroll in MULB 1808.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Enroll in MUCM 3550.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5550.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses.

Audition Dates: Friday, August 18 | Saturday, August 19

Guitarists will perform a live audition before classes begin for ensemble and lesson or master class placement. This will focus on sight reading of both lines and chord changes and improvising. 

 

Piano

For Lab Bands/Ensembles: Enroll in MULB 1808.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Enroll in MUCM 3550.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5550.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses.

Audition Date: Friday, August 18 in MU272

Students must arrive at least 10 minutes early to their scheduled time. Auditioning students should be prepared to play and improvise over a jazz standard or original composition of their choosing. 

 

Saxophone

For Lab Bands/Ensembles: Enroll in MULB 1808.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Enroll in MUCM 3550.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5550.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses.

Audition Date: Friday, January 12, 2024 from  9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in MU330

There are several changes this year so please read the following information. The audition will consist of sight-reading different Jazz styles, tempos, time signatures, etc. Students auditioning for JCM will additionally sight-read one Jazz standard for improvisation. During the audition, those improvising will be given an option of three different Jazz standards of varying levels of difficulty to choose from. These will help to determine JCM group placement.

 
Strings

For Jazz Strings Lab: Enroll in MULB 1824.001 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.529 (graduates). There is no audition necessary for music majors.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses..

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

 

Trombone

For Lab Bands/Ensembles: Enroll in MULB 1808.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Enroll in MUCM 3550.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5550.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses.

Audition Dates: Monday, December 11 and Tuesday, December 12 | 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

  • Audition Sign-Up Sheet
    • Make sure you are logged into your UNT account on a web browser to be able to sign up for the audition (People have reported issues trying to access it on their mobile device).

Auditions will consist of:

  • Prepared piece
  • Sight reading (2-3 short excerpts)
  • Optional improvisation on a tune of your choice (This will also serve as placement in JCM for Jazz trombone majors enrolled*
    • *Jazz trombone majors auditioning for JCM must select a tune to improvise over
    • For the improvisation segment, students should select from the list of Jazz Chamber Music Audition Tunes listed below. Please arrive with enough time to fill out the Lab Band/JCM Audition sheet.

 

Trumpet

For Lab Bands/Ensembles: Enroll in MULB 1808.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Enroll in MUCM 3550.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5550.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses.

Audition Date: Sunday, January 14 | 10:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. ; 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. in MU262

  • Audition Sign-Up
  • Audition Materials 
  • The audition will contain:
    • A prepared piece (to be made available on January 7th).
    • Scales
    • Sight Reading (both Lead and Section)
    • Improvisation
 
Voice

Enroll in MULB 1820.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5174.522 (graduates) before auditioning.

For Jazz Chamber Music*: Enroll in MUCM 3550.500 (undergraduates) or MULB 5550.500 (graduates) before auditioning.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

*Only Jazz Studies majors who have completed Improv II (MUJS 2370 for undergraduate students) or its equivalent (MUJS 5370.003 for graduate students) are permitted to enroll in Jazz Chamber Music. For graduate students, this requirement only applies to those who have been assigned review courses.

Please click HERE for all the pertinent information you need regarding vocal jazz ensembles and the audition process as well as a link to the online sign-up form (which also contains a link to the online audition form!)

Rhythm auditions will be by recommendation and placement from studio professors.

 

Ensembles

Jazz Lab Band Audition Policy

The integrity of our ensemble audition process is of utmost importance at UNT.  Therefore, after the lab band placements are received from the studio faculty, these placements will be discussed between the Lab Band Coordinator and studio faculty.  The studio faculty and Lab Band Coordinator shall agree on the initial posting via Canvas and the Bulletin Board outside Lab West.  

During the first four days of rehearsal, the faculty lab directors have the flexibility to hear students from adjacent bands in context to find the best section and ensemble placements.  We recognize that auditions are not always perfect, so we must do what is in the best interests of the ensembles and, of course, the students.  

Changes to the original posting of results, which are subsequently proposed by the jazz faculty lab director(s), will be made in consultation with the studio faculty, the faculty director of the ensemble, and the Lab Band Coordinator.  The Lab Band Coordinator will communicate these changes to the jazz division staff to adjust the official postings.  In ensemble placements where a studio faculty member and Lab Band Coordinator cannot agree, all parties will meet and attempt to reach a consensus in the best interest of both the ensemble and the students.  If necessary, the Chair of Jazz may consider and ultimately approve or disapprove any further adjustment of these placements (May 2022 minutes).

 
Latin Jazz Lab

Audition Information: All students wishing to participate in Latin Lab auditions must complete the regular audition process on their instrument (see listing above). Rhythm auditions will be by recommendation and placement from studio professors. Horn challenge auditions will be heard by Prof. José Aponte with approval from studio professors. 

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

 

Commercial Music Lab

Audition Materials: Audition tunes will be chosen approximately one week prior to the audition.

Audition Date(s) / Information:

 

Guide to Jazz Labs:

The following jazz labs count toward the 8 semester credit hours of music laboratory for undergraduates:

  • MULB 1808 - Jazz Lab Band
  • MULB 1817 - Jazz Guitar Laboratory
  • MULB 1819 - Commercial Music Lab
  • MULB 1820 - Jazz Singers Laboratory
  • MULB 1821 - Latin Jazz Lab
  • MULB 1821 - Jazz Strings Lab

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

 

Jazz Chamber Music

This process does not apply to jazz bassists or drummers who will be placed based upon regular audition.

Enroll in the Division of Jazz Studies Canvas page to see audition results.

Instrumentalist Placement Audition Guidelines & Form // Vocalist Placement Audition Guidelines & Form 

At the discretion of each professor, improvisation assessments will be made based on a 50-point system, similar to the one below. The final score will affect the following outcomes:

  1. Solo Chair Placements for Lab Bands
  2. Jazz Chamber Music (JCM) Placements

Higher scores will result in higher Lab Band and JCM placements. 

If you want to be considered for the higher placements, it is recommended that you choose a tune from Level 4 (see below). Be sure you are well prepared.

This process does not apply to jazz bassists or drummers who will be placed based upon regular audition.

There are four categories that will be considered. Again, his process does not apply to jazz bassists or drummers who will be placed based upon regular audition.
1. Sound / Tone | 2. Feel & Time | 3. Harmonic Accuracy | 4. Overall Performance

Categories 1, 2 and 3 will each be rated from 1-10 (a total of 30 points). Category 4 will be on a sliding scale (up to 20 points) based on the difficulty of song selected.
Level 1 songs have a score range from 1-5
Level 3 songs have a score range from 1-15
Level 2 songs have a score range from 1-10
Level 4 songs have a score range from 1-20

Choose only ONE of the following songs. Backing tracks and sheet music available here. Saxophone sheet music is here. 

LEVEL 1 LEVEL 2 LEVEL 3 LEVEL 4
5 points available 10 points available 15 points available 20 points available
There Will Never Be Another You Whisper Not Along Came Betty Dolphin Dance
Yardbird Suite Confirmation Ornithology Airegin

***A higher level song does not guarantee a higher score. It is recommended that you choose the appropriate level song that highlights your current strengths and abilities.

 


Lab/Ensemble Meeting Schedule

LAB DAY TIME ROOM
Jazz Strings Lab Tu/Th. 2:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. MUSI 262
The U-Tubes Mon/Wed. 11:00 a.m. - 11:50 a.m. MUSI 263
Commercial Music Lab M/T/W/Th 5:00 p.m. - 5:50 p.m. MUSI 282
UNT Jazz Singers Mon. 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. MUSI 292
  Tu/Th. 12:30 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. MUSI 282
  Fri. 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. MUSI 263
Avenue C Tu/Th. 2:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. MUSI 263
Third Street Mon/Wed. 7:00 p.m. - 7:50 p.m. MUSI 263
  Fri. 12:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m.     MUSI 263
West End Mon/Wed. 5:00 p.m. - 6:40 p.m. MUSI 263
Jazz Vocal Techniques Mon/Wed. 12:00 p.m. - 12:50 p.m. MUSI 282
L-5 (Guitar) Mon/Wed. 2:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. MUSI 262
Super 400 (Guitar) Mon/Wed. 5:00 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. MUSI 262
Latin Jazz Lab Band Mon/Wed. 12:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. MUSI 262
One O'Clock Lab Band M/T/W/Th 1:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. MUSI 282
Two O'Clock Lab Band Mon/Wed. 2:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. MUSI 282
Three O'Clock Lab Band Mon/Wed. 2:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. MUSI 263
Four O'Clock Lab Band Tu/Th. 2:00 p.m. - 3:50 p.m. MUSI 282
Five O'Clock Lab Band Mon/Wed. 12:00 p.m. - 1:50 p.m. MUSI 263
Six O'Clock Lab Band Tu/Th. 5:00 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. MUSI 262
Seven O'Clock Lab Band Tu/Th. 5:00 p.m. - 6:50 p.m. MUSI 263