Juilliard jazz audition heads-up

I’m putting this out there as a heads up for future Juilliard applicants. I didn’t find a lot of public info before hand and the process is quite different from the other schools where my son is auditioning. So, we didn’t have a clue and, well, it’s taken us for a bit of a loop. I’m hoping I can save someone else from the stress we’re going through.

IF you’re a jazz saxophone applicant, and possibly specific to alto saxes, be aware that if you get past the pre-screens and are invited to audition, you’re basically expected to be prepared to double and play the soprano at the audition.

They do tell you that you’ll be receiving big band excerpts two weeks prior to the audition, which he did. Exactly two weeks. Keep in mind that you’re probably leaving a few days before the audition, so you may not actually have two weeks. The excerpts included soprano sax and clarinet parts. My son recently picked up the clarinet and while he can play the soprano, he doesn’t own one. He emailed to ask whether all of the parts were required; answer was “yes”. We’re scrambling to find a soprano sax today. He’ll only have a week at most with it before we leave… the whole month with the clarinet now seems like a luxury!

I don’t have an issue at all with the expectation that he needs to be a quick-study and flexible. That said, it’s really tough on mom here, who’s contemplating having to pull out her credit card to buy yet another saxophone today… not something I had planned at all.

College visits, prescreen recordings, application fees, two new instruments and traveling to auditions… we have now exceeded a year’s in-state tuition!

Very kind and thoughtful of you to post, @ScreenName48105. I hope it helps someone. Best of luck to your son!

Oh my gosh, how stressful! I don’t know…it really seems like that should have been made clear on the website page for live audition requirements. I was extremely frustrated with how weirdly specific yet vague Juilliard’s requirements were, and it took many many emails to try to get clarification before we just gave up and winged it for the pre-screens. S didn’t pass that round, and while disappointed, he was also frankly relieved to not have to deal with the new charts, essay and “mystery project”! I can not even imagine adding two less familiar doubles on top of all that!

It is definitely a kindness for you to post that info here, and hopefully spare someone else that kind of last minute stress.

Best of luck to your son, (and to you!), at his audition!

Screenname if it is any consolation my son is a college senior in Jazz. He did not apply to Juilliard because he was advised against it by his teachers. They felt the teaching style and the program was not a good match for our son. Fast forward. Our son is now a senior and decided at the last minute to apply to grad programs. He had talked about applying to Juilliard but not because he wanted to go there but because he wants to be in NYC and felt that Juilliard credentials are nice to have. I gather he looked at the prescreen and audition information and decided, “NO WAY. It is just not worth my time to do that.”

I can’t speak for what specifically makes Juilliard different from NEC or MSM or Eastman or Oberlin, but two years ago my son played on a prescreen for a musician who was admitted and went to Juilliard. Our son is still in touch with him. Our son repeatedly says he is very glad he did not even consider Juilliard.

Well, I’m sure Juilliard isn’t the right fit for everyone but my son didn’t decide to apply because of it’s fame/reputation or because it’s on some “best” list. The sax teacher there is a former teacher of the jazz director at my son’s high school and came to the school to do a masterclass. My son played during the masterclass, attended a separate performance, finagled a private lesson, and just really liked him, both as a performer and a teacher. That was the deciding factor to apply more than anything else. When we visited schools in NYC, the same teacher arranged a lesson with one of the grad students, so my son got a better feel for what the school was like from a student’s perspective. We also talked to Dr. Flagg and sat in on a forum class with the whole jazz dept and Wynton Marsalis. The experience made a strong impression. It’s a small program, and more than just a bunch of kids who practice a lot. So much intelligence and purpose in their playing. Later, we ran into one of the students gigging at one of the better-known jazz venues in NYC.

Overall, what we saw (which, admittedly, is limited), didn’t match the criticisms one often hears about Juilliard (which my son and I’ve talked about.) The teacher he wants to study with doesn’t fit the picture, either. But, regardless of whether he would choose to go there if accepted, I think he wants the affirmation that he can compete with those who are competing for the top spots. Frankly, I didn’t think he’d get past the prescreens so, as far as I’m concerned, he’s gotten that affirmation and I’m happy for him. The auditions are what they are and, well, he’ll get through them. I think there will be a sense of accomplishment having managed to jump through all the hoops regardless of the outcome. If he doesn’t get in, he’ll be disappointed but it won’t be the end of the world. He’ll have other good options.

The music store we’ve used since he first started playing loaned him a good soprano sax for the audition. Whew! At least that problem is solved.

Our impression was that Juilliard cared about character, how strong a will a person has, how flexible and willing to try even if feeling foolish, things like that- all of which may be relevant to ScreenName son’s situation. I think that his willingness to take the time he does have and make the most of it in terms of preparation, is exactly what they are looking for. It may matter less how polished his performance is than how he acts, and enjoying the music may be a plus too. This is conjecture but I hope it helps.

Well, I sure hope so, because this is a tough one! He had to write yet another essay plus submit an art project. And they wanted a recommendation from an English/language arts teacher, and his teacher made him put a portfolio together before she’d write one. For playing, he has 4 jazz tunes which have to be memorized, plus an etude, plus 8 big-band excerpts (4 songs, 2 parts for each.) He’s had the excerpts for a week and he’s been practicing… and I mean bloody lips a la ‘Whiplash’ practicing.

If they want character, he’ll give it his best shot!

What … no fiery hoops?

That would be between the first round of auditions and the evening call-backs, but after the theory test…

We received a more detailed audition day schedule today. At the end of the email, it says “Auditioning at Juilliard is a special experience that we don’t want you to forget.” As if. (LOL)

Good luck! If he gets in, yay! If not, you can learn to snort, roll your eyes and say J-tard…you wouldn’t believe what you have to do to get rejected. Either way a win!

I imagine in retrospect it will all seem like a great experience, (if not necessarily a fun one), and the crash course in doubling will be useful wherever he ends up. Are you doing the New School audition that week as well? I hope it goes really well for him!