<p>Are these typically a little more laid back than classical auditions? I have a few Jazz bass auditions coming up. I know one will be more lax than the other one, because it's the program's inaugural year and they are desperate for people. My other one is probably at the second best jazz school in the state, but I've been talking to the bass guy a lot and he says I should be fine. </p>
<p>Any tips or anything?</p>
<p>I must say I am pretty conflicted about going to a lesser academic institution... but I am trying to rationalize it. "This music school is like the Princeton of music..." Haha. It stinks that a lot of the better academic schools don't have decent music programs. Especially jazz...</p>
<p>Oh well. </p>
<p>Oh, and which schools offer jazz studies in the doctorate level? I am pretty sure I want to pursue it all the way to that level.</p>
<p>While I can't offer comparisons, I will say that in S's case, his auditions were fairly relaxed. The first one, at State U, was a one-on-one situation, with he and the professor going through several jazz and classical selections. The second was the more typical setting--playing before a three-person panel with a combo. The panel chatted with him afterwards. The third one required a 20-minute theory test prior to the audition and there wasn't a lot of interation with the panel. But somehow he did learn that one of the members of the combo had done his undergraduate work at the state u in audition one; I'm not sure whether that was discovered in the audition or afterwards. S was nervous almost to the point of illness before going into this last audition, but he came out pretty much at ease, so although it was the more formal of the three, I think it was fairly relaxed as well.</p>
<p>I know MSM, where my son is, has a doctoral program in jazz and I think Northwestern does also.</p>
<p>I think UNT and Eastman also offer doctorate in jazz studies.</p>
<p>Knowing friends who have gone through the process, and having auditioned for things like all state (where the judge for me was a jazz drum instructor at NEC) and NEC prep, jazz auditions will be more relaxed, but also much more unconventional. This is probably because where most of a classical musician's strengths and weaknesses can be shown in one or two pieces, it really can't in jazz. </p>
<p>I would suggest first of all knowing your pieces, and scales and such (duh)... Also, as a bass player, your time/tempo is probably the most important thing to pay attention to (I play guitar in a jazz trio and our ens. coach is constantly riding on the bassist about that, saying that "tempo is everything"). Of course, I'm not your teacher, so I'm really in no position to tell you how to play or anything like that. You may also want to learn blues progressions in all keys, because you'd be surprised at how weird jazz teachers will randomly say, "let's jam on a blues in F#." </p>
<p>And also, the auditions in jazz will most likely be more focused on communication between individuals and how well you do that, rather than how well you play your instrument (of course, you should still obviously play well).</p>
<p>Good luck to you, it sounds like you'll be fine if you're "in" with the bass teacher at one of the good jazz schools in your state.</p>
<p>Ahhhh guys, I just got accepted at UCF. I'm really excited. I went in, didn't have the best audition, but I guess they still liked me. They asked me to go outside for a minute, then called me back and told me I was accepted into the jazz studies program. I know it's a new program and all, but the faculty is going to be great. Richard Drexler (the piano player for the Jeff Berlin trio) is going to be the bass teacher there. He was there for the audition, and my God, he's an amazing pianist. It was really fun.</p>
<p>Point is, I'm extremely excited that this is all coming together and I'm going to be able to pursue my dream of being a professional musician. I have my UNF audition next saturday, but I'm leaning towards UCF right now. There is a much bigger music scene here in Orlando... UCF is paying me 5k a year more than UNF. My bass teacher said I'd be a fool to pass up a chance to study under Drexler.</p>