Audition to get into Las Vegas Academy of the Arts with a major in World Jazz Studies

CLICK HERE to fill out a CCSD Magnet School Application and to schedule your audition for World Jazz Studies. If there are still seats available after the winter auditions, there will be late auditions in the spring.

Audition Requirements:

Brass, Winds, Guitar, Bass, Piano, and Vibraphone

1. Sight Reading

2. Scales

   • Director will choose one of the following scales: Concert Bb Major, Concert F Major, and Concert Eb Major Scales at a tempo of quarter note equals 144 beats per minute

   • Chromatic scale of your choice at a tempo of quarter note equals 120 beats per minute in 8th note triplets

3. Perform ONE of the following three choices:

• Standard jazz piece and solo over two choruses of changes OR

• Jazz transcription of a major performer with the head and two choruses of solos OR

• LVA Optional Jazz Audition

Drummers

1. Sight Reading

2. Demonstrate Latin, Jazz, and Afro-Cuban styles

3. Trade fours in a Swing style

Audition to get into an LVA Jazz big band once you have been accepted to LVA

Auditions for big band placement takes place during Jazz Camp, typically 1-3 weeks before school begins. Jazz Camp is MANDATORY for all newly enrolled and returning Jazz majors and minors. It is not required for Elective Jazz students.

Audition Requirements:

Brass, Woodwind, Guitar, Bass, Vibes, and Piano

1. Sight Reading

2. Scales memorized (in concert key): D Major, C Major, G Major, Bb, A Dorian (1 2 b3 4 5 6 b7 8 9), ascending (Staccato) and descending (Slurred) in eighth notes at 120 beats per minute

3. Improvisation: Brass and Woodwinds: Play through the melody once, then improvise two choruses. Piano, Guitar, and Vibes: Play the head, comp second chorus, then improvise third chorus. Bass: Play the melody, walk one chorus, improvise one chorus

4. Solo Transcription

Drummers

1. Sight Reading

2. Demonstrate various styles and tempos

3. Solo Transcription

Audition to get into a Jazz Combo once you have been accepted to LVA (with approval from Mr. Bowen)

Advanced Instrumental Studies is an elective course at LVA for jazz combos. Students do not audition for a jazz combo unless they plan on taking this elective course and have received approval to audition from Mr. Bowen. The first round of auditions for Jazz Combos typically takes place in the spring.

Audition Requirements:

• Mr. Bowen will announce a list of Jazz Standards that may be called at the spring auditions

If you pass the first round of auditions, you will be enrolled in the Advanced Instrumental Studies class and placed in a combo for the following school year.  Auditions for combo placement will take place either during Jazz Camp or the first week of school.