Jazz Ensembles Auditions
Fall 2025
Auditions are only for placement in Big Band (Jazz Ensemble) & Jazz Combo. There are no auditions necessary for Jazz Workshop – simply register for Jazz Workshop CFA MU 096/196 A1 (the zero-credit option is only available to students at/over their credit limit).
To Audition for Big Band (Jazz Ensemble) & Jazz Combos:
Step 1: Complete the Join Form
(REQUIRED) Complete the Join Form so that we can notify you throughout the summer about auditions, etc. There’s no need to register for either group on your transcript until you are placed in one at the end of the first week of classes.
Step 2: Prepare for Auditions/Placements
A few notes about video auditions:
- Auditions are meant to be enjoyable and stress-free. We just want to hear you play! Have fun with these, and simply show us what you’ve got.
- All students will first audition via video (videos due by August 15 at 11:59 PM – see below for details).
- Potential New Members will then receive info about attending live auditions after video auditions are submitted (we will be in touch between August 16-26). Live auditions will occur on campus in the first week of September and be comprised of the same material – it’s just a chance to get to know you in person!
- Veteran students who were enrolled in Big Band or Jazz Combos in the ’24-’25 academic year will not need to audition live. Your video will count as your audition.
- All placements will be announced by the end of the first week of classes.
- Students may audition for multiple ensembles with a single audition video recording. Just state which ensemble(s) you’re auditioning for.
- For Big Band, improvisation is optional and not required.
- For students who wish to solo/improvise in Big Band, please include improvisation in your audition video.
- For students who want to be considered for lead trumpet or lead trombone in Big Band, please demonstrate your high range.
- For students who want to be considered for bass trombone in Big Band, please demonstrate your low range.
How to submit your video audition:
- Video auditions should be emailed to jazzband@bu.edu by 11:59 PM, August 15, 2025. If the attachment is too large to email, it may be shared via Google Drive with Aaron Goldberg (agold@bu.edu) and Warren Levenson (levenson@bu.edu).
- Potential New Members will then receive info about live auditions by August 26 (live auditions will occur on campus in the first week of September for potential new members only).
- Please title both your email and video file with your name, instrument, and ensemble(s) you’re auditioning for.
- Example: “Jerry Walters, Trombone audition, Big Band”
- If your audition includes the use of a backing track (see below), both you and the backing track must be heard clearly in your video.
- If you have questions, please contact us at jazzband@bu.edu. We’re always happy to hear from you!
SAXOPHONE
Auditioning for Big Band only:
Two-octave F-Major scale
(to assess tone quality and intonation)
The Blues Machine (choose any part for the audition) measures 33-60 (Bari Sax, choose an Alto part)
Moose the Mooche (choose any part for the audition) measures 41-57
Auditioning for Jazz Combo only:
Choose two (2) tunes from the lead sheet list (below)
Perform the head and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing tracks provided)
Auditioning for Both Ensembles:
Two-octave F-Major scale (to assess tone quality and intonation)
The Blues Machine (choose any part for the audition) measures 33-60 (Bari Sax, choose an Alto part)
Moose the Mooche (choose any part for the audition) measures 41-57
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheet list (below)
Perform the head and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing track provided)
TRUMPET
Auditioning for Big Band only:
Two-octave F-Major scale (to assess tone quality and intonation)
The Blues Machine (choose any part for the audition) measures 45-60
Moose the Mooche (choose any part for the audition) measures 25-33, and 73-81
If auditioning for 1st trumpet, demonstrate your high range via scale or lick of your own.
Auditioning for Jazz Combo only:
Choose two (2) tunes from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing tracks provided)
Auditioning for Both Ensembles:
Two-octave F-Major scale (to assess tone quality and intonation)
The Blues Machine (choose any part for the audition) measures 45-60
Moose the Mooche (choose any part for the audition) measures 25-33, and 73-81
If auditioning for 1st trumpet, demonstrate your high range via scale or lick of your own.
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing track provided)
TROMBONE
Auditioning for Big Band only:
Two-octave F-Major scale (to assess tone quality and intonation)
The Blues Machine (choose any part for the audition) measures 45-60
Moose the Mooche (choose any part, 1-3, for the audition) measures 25-33, and 73-81
If auditioning for 1st trombone, demonstrate your high range via scale or lick of your own.
If auditioning for bass trombone, demonstrate your low range via scale or lick of your own.
Auditioning for Jazz Combo only:
Choose two (2) tunes from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing tracks provided)
Auditioning for Both Ensembles:
Two-octave F-Major scale (to assess tone quality and intonation)
The Blues Machine (choose any part for the audition) measures 45-60
Moose the Mooche (choose any part, 1-3, for the audition) measures 25-33, and 73-81
If auditioning for 1st trombone, demonstrate your high range via scale or lick of your own.
If auditioning for bass trombone, demonstrate your low range via scale or lick of your own.
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing track provided)
GUITAR
Auditioning for Big Band only:
Moose the Mooche – Top to measure 41
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head for a chorus, comp for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses (optional)
(Backing track provided)
Auditioning for Jazz Combo only:
Choose two (2) tunes from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head for a chorus, comp for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing tracks provided)
Auditioning for Both Ensembles:
Moose the Mooche – Top to measure 41
Choose one (1) tune from the list
Perform the head for a chorus, comp for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing track provided)
PIANO
Auditioning for Big Band only:
The Blues Machine – Measures 9-33 (solo 9-20, then just comp 21-33)
Moose the Mooche – Top to measure 41
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head for a chorus, comp for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses (optional)
(Backing track provided)
Auditioning for Jazz Combo only:
Choose two (2) tunes from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head for a chorus, comp for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing tracks provided)
Auditioning for Both Ensembles:
The Blues Machine – Measures 9-33 (solo 9-20, then just comp 21-33)
Moose the Mooche – Top to measure 41
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head for a chorus, comp for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing track provided)
BASS
Auditioning for Big Band only:
Moose the Mooche – Top to measure 41 (consider playing your own bass line instead of the printed one, if possible)
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head for a chorus, walk for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses (optional)
(Backing track provided)
Auditioning for Jazz Combo only:
Choose two (2) tunes from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head for a chorus, walk for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing tracks provided)
Auditioning for Both Ensembles:
Moose the Mooche – Top to measure 41 (consider playing your own bass line instead of the printed one, if possible)
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform the head for a chorus, walk for a chorus, and improvise for a couple of choruses
(Backing track provided)
DRUMS
Auditioning for Big Band only:
Moose the Mooche – Top to measure 41 (reference the recording for interacting with horn parts)
Perform 20-30 seconds each of the following styles:
– Slow soft “ballad” style, even 8th-notes (w/brushes if possible)
– Fast swing – and “trade 4’s with yourself” (to assess how you solo in this style)
– Latin (any style) – and “trade 4’s with yourself” (to assess how you solo in this style)
– Funk – and “trade 4’s with yourself” (to assess how you solo in this style)
– Rock – and “trade 4’s with yourself” (to assess how you solo in this style)
Auditioning for Jazz Combo only:
Choose one (1) tune from the lead sheets list (below)
Perform 20-30 seconds each of the following styles:
– Slow soft “ballad” style, even 8th-notes (w/brushes if possible)
– Fast swing – and “trade 4’s with yourself”
– Latin (any style) – and “trade 4’s with yourself”
– Funk – and “trade 4’s with yourself”
– Rock – and “trade 4’s with yourself”
Auditioning for Both Ensembles:
Moose the Mooche – Top to measure 41 (reference the recording for interacting with horn parts)
Perform 20-30 seconds each of the following styles:
– Slow soft “ballad” style, even 8th-notes (w/brushes if possible)
– Fast swing – and “trade 4’s with yourself”
– Latin (any style) – and “trade 4’s with yourself”
– Funk – and “trade 4’s with yourself”
– Rock – and “trade 4’s with yourself”
VOCALS
Vocalists are primarily used in Jazz Combos, but are sometimes featured in Big Band.
Vocalists should sing “My Funny Valentine” with the Backing Track.
The backing track will be provided at the audition.
If you have any questions, please contact us at jazzband@bu.edu. Thank you!
