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MHS Swing Machine/Jazz Band

Audition form and instructions (download and print or pick up in band room)

MHS Swing Machine/Jazz Band Audition

MHS Jazz Bands meet 3 days a week as a 0-hour class during second and third trimesters and receives 1 credit. The days you meet will be determined by which jazz band you are in and what instrument you play. Jazz is a different than most other performance ensembles in that every individual is on their own part all by themselves. This means that all students who make the bands are required to be at all of their rehearsals and performances baring any emergencies. We will be performing at various concerts, the Band’s Chili Cook-Off, and the end of the year Jazz Night. We will also have opportunities to perform at festivals and elementary schools throughout the year. These will be based on the band’s availability and costs. 

Audition Requirements 

· Winds (Trumpets, Bones, Saxes), Piano, Bass

o Prepare audition music selection (Download 1st part on your instrument from the music folder below)

o Prepare full range chromatic scale (your lowest to Highest note that you can play well) 

o Prepare Blues and Dorian scales starting on Concert Bb 

· Percussion

o Prepare audition music selection (Download your part on your instrument from the music folder below)

o Prepare to play in any given style

o Prepare Blues and Dorian scales starting on Concert Bb 

· Vocal

o Prepare a Jazz song to sing in a Jazz Style 

  § YouTube is a great resource(Ella Fitzgerald)

o Prepare to be able to match any pitch given in the audition 

  § i.e. we play a c you sing a c, we play an f you sing an f 

Music Folder 

God Rest Ye Mambo Gentlemen Audio

Scale formulas

Dorian scale formula

​1-2-b3-4-5-6-b7-8 i.e. C-D-Eb-F-G-A-Bb-C

​Blues scale formula

1-b3-4-b5-5-b7-8 i.e. C-Eb-F-Gb-G-Bb-C

​Now take your starting note and key for the Bb scale and apply the above formulas.