Junior Level Auditions

Please Click Here for a summary of audition etudes and material for district auditions.

Please Click Here for ILMEA Junior Jazz Etude, Cycle 1 Play Along Tracks.

1. Required Selection (Winds & Rhythm)

2. Improvisation (if applicable)

Senior Level Auditions

Please Click Here for a summary of audition etudes and material for district auditions.

Please Click Here for ILMEA Senior Jazz Etude, Cycle 1 Play Along Tracks.

1. Required Selection (Winds & Rhythm)

1a. Additional Required Selection (Drumset Only)

In addition to the  Required Selection above, drumset players will be asked to demonstrate a functional approach to a variety of rhythmic studies:

  • Swing (fast or slow)

  • Latin (samba or bossa)

  • Brushes (medium swing or ballad tempos)

  • Funk

2. Improvisation (Winds & Non-Drumset Rhythm)

Districts will use Jamey Aebersold Jazz, Inc., Vol 6, Track 2 - Billie’s Bounce for the improvisation portion of the District Audition. Students will perform 3 choruses.

Purchase Jamey Aebersold "All Bird" Play-along

Purchase Jamey Aebersold "Now's The Time/Billie's Bounce" mp3

Billie's Bounce - Piano Improv

Billie’s Bounce - Bass Improv

Billie's Bounce - Sax, Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, Vibes Improv

Click here for the transposed lead sheets for Billie's Bounce. These are for study and rehearsal only - melody is not part of the audition assessment.

2a.  Improvisation (Drumset)

Drumset players will demonstrate improvisational ability by playing a medium fast swing drum solo in a 12 bar blues format.  The student should play four measures of swing followed by four measures of solo, going through three choruses. 

Click Here for detailed information on each section of the district audition and scoring.