Admission Auditions
The admissions requirements linked below are for admission to the Jazz Studies major.
The new College of Music application enables applicants to upload videos as part of the application. If your instrument requires a pre-screening video (not all instruments do) or you are auditioning by video, you will be able to use this feature.
The pages linked below refer to our bachelor's and master's programs.
For information on admission at the doctoral level, please see the page on the local concentration in Jazz Studies within the DMA in Performance.
Admission to the Graduate Artist Certificate in Music Performance program is an option for jazz performers with exceptional qualifications. For more information, see http://music.unt.edu/admissions/graduate-degree-specific.
Drumset and Vibraphone Auditions for Admission
UNDERGRADUATE
In addition to auditioning on the drumset, ALL undergraduate jazz drumset applicants MUST ALSO audition for admission to the College of Music in the following areas:
Snare Drum: A rudimental and/or orchestral snare solo or etude; rolls, flams, and associated rudiments.
Marimba / Vibes: Scales and arpeggios: major, harmonic minor, and chromatic; an etude or jazz improvisation.
These two auditions will take place in two separate rooms at two separate times from your drumset audition.
Please direct all questions regarding drumset auditions to Professor Quincy Davis. If you have a question regarding your snare or mallets audition, please contact Professor Mark Ford. Click here for more general information regarding all percussion auditions.
Live Drumset Audition:
You will be asked to:
- Play a roll from piano to forte on the snare drum.
- Sightread a big band chart
- Perform one Medium Tempo Swing OR one Up Tempo Swing. It is your choice which swing standard you choose from the list. A play-a-long will be provided at the time of the audition.
- Perform one Latin standard OR a composition from the Alternative Style category.
TO BE CLEAR: You will be performing TWO songs total for your audition: one from either the SWING category and another from either the LATIN or ALTERNATIVE STYLE category.
Video Drumset Audition:
In your video, please:
- Play a roll from piano to forte on the snare drum.
- Perform ONE medium tempo swing OR up tempo swing standard from the song list below with a play-a-long or a live band. It is your choice which swing standard you choose from the list.
- Perform one Latin standard OR a composition from the Favorite Style category.
TO BE CLEAR: You will be performing TWO songs total for your audition: one from either SWING category and another from either the LATIN or ALTERNATIVE STYLE category.
PDF of Song List and More Information
Jazz Vibraphone
1. Perform a published solo vibraphone etude or a standard jazz ballad chord solo.
2. Play melody and improvise at least two choruses on a medium tempo jazz standard (swing or bossa) performed to a pre-recorded track (Jamey Aebersold recording or the equivalent).
3. Sight read a jazz style melody.
4. Snare Drum: A rudimental and/or orchestral snare solo or etude; rolls, flams, and associated rudiments.
We prefer that you audition in person, especially for scholarship consideration. If that is not possible, you can upload videos of your drumset, mallet, and snare playing here.
GRADUATE
Drumset
Prescreening Video (Required)
A pre-audition screening video is required. Please upload your videos here as either one long video or multiple shorter videos that clearly demonstrate the following skills:
⁃ Advanced triplet and duplet coordination abilities
⁃ A good and consistent feel authentic to the style
⁃ The ability to improvise in a variety of styles (e.g. jazz, Afro-Cuban, funk, Brazilian, etc.) melodically and rhythmically
Live Audition
The live audition will involve:
- Playing rudiments
- Sight reading two or three big band-like charts
- Playing melodies and soloing using sticks and brushes in a variety of styles (swing, bossa nova, salsa, samba, etc.) and tempos without accompaniment
- Playing with drum-less tracks
- Demonstrating at least perfunctory skills and understanding of harmony on the piano by playing basic scales, chords, melodies, soloing over chord changes or playing a fully prepared composition
- A short interview
Jazz Vibraphone
1. Perform a published solo vibraphone etude or a standard jazz ballad chord solo.
2. Play melody and improvise at least two choruses on a medium tempo jazz standard (swing or bossa) performed to a pre-recorded track (Jamey Aebersold recording or the equivalent).
3. Play melody and improvise at least two choruses on an up tempo standard (swing or samba) performed to a pre-recorded track (Jamey Aebersold recording or the equivalent).
4. Sight read a jazz style melody.
Doctoral Information on doctoral auditions on drumset is found here. Further information For information on percussion auditions, see the Percussion audition page. Specific drumset questions should be directed to Prof. Quincy Davis at quincy.davis@unt.edu.