<p>My son is a rising senior, and will be applying to jazz programs (saxophone) this fall. I've searched the forums for info about the pre-screening process, but haven't found much. For those of you who've been through this, I have a few questions. Some schools specify the recording should be with a live rhythm section or play-a-long, but some don't say -- how did you deal with this? And if with a rhythm section, do you think the level of those players matters much, or will they primarily listen to the applicant? I'm also interested in the outcome of the pre-screening. Does it seem to be a formality, so that students who clearly have decent skills are invited for the live audition, or are lots of applicants cut at this point?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for sharing your experiences and wisdom!</p>
<p>Musicmom, when my son went through this a few years ago, we looked at ALL the pre-screen requirements, and then selected songs to be recorded based on those requirements - e.g., some had specific songs, most specified songs of varying tempo. Then my son got a combo together and recorded about 8 songs that would fit the requirements. </p>
<p>Our impression was that the pre-screen was pretty important. While schools are looking at a competency benchmark, if someone can’t perform to their requirements under these controlled circumstances, they’re definitely cut.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>I don’t know where your son is applying, but with regard to competive programs, this
is more than a formality. My son had some very accomplished aquaintences denied<br>
auditions at MSM, Eastman, etc.</p></li>
<li><p>Pay very careful attention to what each school asks for and give them what they<br>
want, (tunes, accompaniment, format) no exceptions.</p></li>
<li><p>If you can surround yourself with a live rhytm section do so, and assemble the best
available. There are a lot of sax players out there and anything you can do to
distinguish him should be taken advantage of. (I know this sounds like an expensive
pain in the neck, but think about what you’ve got invested in this endeavor so far
in terms of time, lessons and instruments. Do you really want to start cutting corners
now?) </p></li>
<li><p>If you do get prescreened out from a school, don’t slit your wrists. It could very well
be that there is limited or no room for the instrument in that year. Doesn’t mean he’s
a bad player, it just means he was born in the wrong year. The school my son was
prescreened from accepted zero applicants on his instrument the year he applied. </p></li>
</ol>
<p>I agree with all of the above. You definitely need to take the pre-screens seriously. They are far more than a formality. For example, my S passed the pre-screen at Eastman, but not at Oberlin. However, as halcyon noted, it could be that it was just not the right year. He was applying for the regular audition date, and we knew that someone on his instrument had already been accepted and was planning to attend based on the early audition date, so it could be that they were not even looking for anyone else on his instrument.</p>
<p>Follow all of the instructions exactly, and find the best rhythm section players you can. If the school doesn’t specify rhythm section or play along, I’d go with the rhythm section if it’s a school that really matters to him.</p>
<p>I also wanted to second what the two above posters said. My son’s teacher insisted we hire other teachers to play along with our son (a double bass player) for his prescreening tape. What my son’s teacher told me is that if somebody makes a mistake, that then makes your son sound “off” those listening to the tape don’t necessarily take the time to analyze what happened with the recording. They have too many tapes to go through to do that. Yes it was additional money at a time when money is very tight, but as others said we had invested so much to get to this point. Also we paid to have our recording done at a school that had recording equipment, so the quality of the tape was good. It is nice to have the recording he made as part of his prescreening. </p>
<p>Many of the schools list what percentage of students are invited for live auditions. Eastman says that for their Jazz applicants out of 120-140 prescreening applications only 40 are invited for live auditions.</p>
<p>Another bit of advice. Try to wait as long as you can do to the recording. Again this was advice that the guy who runs the preparatory program at NEC gave us. I was nervous waiting, but he was so right. Our son sounded much better in early December than he did in early September or October. He said this is true for all 17-18 year old musicians. If they are serious then they are constantly improving and every week makes a difference.</p>
<p>We had the same experience with the jazz prep @ NEC. The teachers worked with us on the prescreen; they specifically advised against using student musicians. The recording turned out very professional and D passed all her prescreens. In addition, it was a great learning experience.</p>
<p>Thanks so much, everyone, for this great advice! I honestly had not thought of hiring pros for the rhythm section, but I will now. If anyone knows stats for passing the pre-screen at schools in addition to Eastman, I’d be really interested.</p>