Jazz audition info
All applicants must apply to the University of Colorado Boulder and complete a College of Music admission application. Auditions will not be scheduled until both applications have been received.
Undergraduate jazz studies
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Audition requirements
In-person live: Prepare at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles and recommended songs listed below.
- 12-bar blues: Play the melody and then improvise over the form over a jazz blues of your choice such as: Blues for Alice, Au Privave, Blues Walk, Now’s The Time
- Medium up-tempo swing: Play the melody and then improvise over the form of a jazz “standard” tune of your choice such as: Green Dolphin Street, All the Things You Are, Have You Met Miss Jones?, Lady Bird, Autumn Leaves, My Romance, Stella by Starlight, Days of Wine and Roses
- Bebop: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a bop tune such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Ornithology, Oleo
- Latin/Bossa: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Girl From Impanema, Triste, Wave
- Ballad: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: In a Sentimental Mood, Body and Soul, What’s New?, My One and Only Love, Misty, My Foolish Heart
- Jazz waltz: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: Someday My Prince Will Come, Up Jumped Spring, All Blues, Bluesette
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
The recording should include at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles listed below. You can submit more than 3 if you like. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Note: For accompaniment on your recorded audition, students can record with a live band or use play-along tracks such as iReal Pro, Aebersold recordings or “Learn Jazz Standards” on YouTube.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Audition requirements
Prepare at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles and recommended songs listed below.
- 12-bar blues: Play the melody and then improvise over the form over a jazz blues of your choice such as: Blues for Alice, Au Privave, Blues Walk, Now’s The Time
- Medium up-tempo swing: Play the melody and then improvise over the form of a jazz “standard” tune of your choice such as: Green Dolphin Street, All the Things You Are, Have You Met Miss Jones?, Lady Bird, Autumn Leaves, My Romance, Stella by Starlight, Days of Wine and Roses
- Bebop: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a bop tune such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Ornithology, Oleo
- Latin/Bossa: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Girl From Impanema, Triste, Wave
- Ballad: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: In a Sentimental Mood, Body and Soul, What’s New?, My One and Only Love, Misty, My Foolish Heart
- Jazz waltz: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: Someday My Prince Will Come, Up Jumped Spring, All Blues, Bluesette
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
The recording should include at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles listed below. You can submit more than 3 if you like. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Audition requirements
Prepare at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles and recommended songs listed below.
- 12-bar blues: Play the melody and then improvise over the form over a jazz blues of your choice such as: Blues for Alice, Au Privave, Blues Walk, Now’s The Time
- Medium up-tempo swing: Play the melody and then improvise over the form of a jazz “standard” tune of your choice such as: Green Dolphin Street, All the Things You Are, Have You Met Miss Jones?, Lady Bird, Autumn Leaves, My Romance, Stella by Starlight, Days of Wine and Roses
- Bebop: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a bop tune such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Ornithology, Oleo
- Latin/Bossa: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Girl From Impanema, Triste, Wave
- Ballad: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: In a Sentimental Mood, Body and Soul, What’s New?, My One and Only Love, Misty, My Foolish Heart
- Jazz waltz: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: Someday My Prince Will Come, Up Jumped Spring, All Blues, Bluesette
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
The recording should include at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles listed below. You can submit more than 3 if you like. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Note: For accompaniment on your recorded audition, students can record with a live band or use play-along tracks such as iReal Pro, Aebersold recordings or “Learn Jazz Standards” on YouTube.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Audition requirements
Prepare at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles and recommended songs listed below.
- 12-Bar Blues: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate comping (i.e., chords) over a jazz blues of your choice such as: Blues for Alice, Au Privave, Blues Walk, Now’s The Time
- Medium Up-Tempo Swing: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate comping over a jazz tunes of your choice such as: Green Dolphin Street, All the Things You Are, Have You Met Miss Jones?, Lady Bird, Autumn Leaves, My Romance, Stella by Starlight, Days of Wine and Roses
- Bebop: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate comping on a bop tune such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Ornithology, Oleo
- Latin/Bossa: Play the chords to a Latin tune (or chord melody arrangement) of your choice such as: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Girl From Impanema, Triste, Wave
- Ballad: Play a ballad of your choice in chord melody style, such as: In a Sentimental Mood, Body and Soul, What’s New?, My One and Only Love, Misty, My Foolish Heart
- Jazz Waltz: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate comping on a jazz waltz such as: Someday My Prince Will Come, Up Jumped Spring, All Blues, Bluesette
In addition to the jazz requirements listed above, jazz piano applicants must also play one classical excerpt (three minutes in length) .
The classical piece can be of a style period of your choice (Baroque, Classical or Romantic for example). Additionally, please provide a list of any other classical repertoire you have studied or performed.
Some suggestions for appropriate audition repertoire include:
- J.S. Bach—Invention in A minor, No. 13
- F. Kuhlau —Sonatina in C Major, Op. 55, No. 1
- F. Mendelssohn —“Venetian Gondolier,” Op. 19, No. 6
- F. Chopin —Prelude in E minor, Op. 28, No. 4
- D. Kabalevsky —Sonatina Op. 13, No. 1
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
The recording should include at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles listed below. You can submit more than 3 if you like. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Note: For accompaniment on your recorded audition, students can record with a live band or use play-along tracks such as iReal Pro, Aebersold recordings or “Learn Jazz Standards” on YouTube.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Audition requirements
In-person live: Students will be asked to play music meeting the repertoire requirements listed below.
- 12-bar blues: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate comping (i.e., chords) over a jazz blues of your choice such as: Blues for Alice, Au Privave, Blues Walk, Now’s The Time
- Medium up-tempo swing: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate comping over a jazz tunes of your choice such as: Green Dolphin Street, All the Things You Are, Have You Met Miss Jones?, Lady Bird, Autumn Leaves, My Romance, Stella by Starlight, Days of Wine and Roses
- Bebop: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate comping on a bop tune such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Ornithology, Oleo
- Latin/Bossa: Play the chords to a Latin tune (or chord melody arrangement) of your choice such as: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Girl From Impanema, Triste, Wave
- Ballad: Play a ballad of your choice in chord melody style, such as: In a Sentimental Mood, Body and Soul, What’s New?, My One and Only Love, Misty, My Foolish Heart
- Jazz waltz: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate comping on a jazz waltz such as: Someday My Prince Will Come, Up Jumped Spring, All Blues, Bluesette
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
The recording should include at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles listed below. You can submit more than 3 if you like. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Note: For accompaniment on your recorded audition, students can record with a live band or use play-along tracks such as iReal Pro, Aebersold recordings or “Learn Jazz Standards” on YouTube.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Audition requirements
In-person live: Prepare at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles and recommended songs listed below.
- 12-bar blues: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate walking a bass line over a jazz blues of your choice such as: Blues for Alice, Au Privave, Blues Walk, Now’s The Time
- Medium up-tempo swing: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate walking a bass line over a jazz tunes of your choice such as: Green Dolphin Street, All the Things You Are, Have You Met Miss Jones?, Lady Bird, Autumn Leaves, My Romance, Stella by Starlight, Days of Wine and Roses
- Bebop: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate walking a bass line on a bop tune such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Ornithology, Oleo
- Latin/Bossa: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate walking a bass line on a tune such as: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Girl From Impanema, Triste, Wave
- Ballad: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate walking a bass line on a tune such as: In a Sentimental Mood, Body and Soul, What’s New?, My One and Only Love, Misty, My Foolish Heart
- Jazz waltz: Play the melody, improvise over the form, and demonstrate walking a bass line on a jazz waltz such as: Someday My Prince Will Come, Up Jumped Spring, All Blues, Bluesette.
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
The recording should include at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles listed below. You can submit more than 3 if you like. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Note: For accompaniment on your recorded audition, students can record with a live band or use play-along tracks such as iReal Pro, Aebersold recordings or “Learn Jazz Standards” on YouTube.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Audition requirements
In-person live: Students will be asked to play music meeting the rep. requirements listed below.
- Med. swing: metronome marking (mm)=140
- Bright/fast swing: mm=240+
- Samba, Bossa, or salsa groove: mm=your choice
- Jazz waltz: mm=130
- 12/8 Afro Cuban groove: mm=120
- Funk or hip hop groove: mm = your choice
- “Straight No Chaser” (blues by Thelonious Monk): mm=140
- For this selection, you’ll play the melody 2x; play two 12-bar chorus of time; play two 12-bar choruses of a solo; and finish with one chorus of the melody again for a total of seven continuous 12-bar choruses. When playing the melody, you’ll play the rhythm of the melody along with outlining the melodic shape on the drums as best you can. (Low notes on lower sounding drums, high notes on higher sounding drums and cymbals.)
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
If you choose to submit a recorded audition, then record an example of all the grooves/styles listed above. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Note: For accompaniment on your recorded audition, students can record with a live band or use play-along tracks such as iReal Pro, Aebersold recordings or “Learn Jazz Standards” on YouTube.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
Degree sheets
Undergraduate application instructions
Graduate application instructions
Audition requirements
Pre-screening: Please note: NO pre-screening is required for jazz voice. (A pre-screening IS required for opera or musical theatre.)
Audition Requirements: Prepare at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles and recommended songs listed below. Lyrics/ words optional. You are welcome to write your own lyrics if you wish to use songs that don’t have lyrics. Improvise in a jazz/scat singing style that demonstrates your knowledge of the form and harmony of the song.
- 12-bar blues: Sing the melody and then improvise over the form over a jazz blues of your choice such as: Blues for Alice, Au Privave, Blues Walk, Now’s The Time.
- Medium up-tempo swing: Sing the melody and then improvise over the form of a jazz “standard” tune of your choice such as: Green Dolphin Street, All the Things You Are, Have You Met Miss Jones?, Lady Bird, Autumn Leaves, My Romance, Stella by Starlight, Days of Wine and Roses
- Bebop: Sing the melody and improvise over the form on a bop tune such as Donna Lee, Confirmation, Ornithology, Oleo
- Latin/Bossa: Play the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: Black Orpheus, Blue Bossa, Girl From Impanema, Triste, Wave
- Ballad: Sing the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: In a Sentimental Mood, Body and Soul, What’s New?, My One and Only Love, Misty, My Foolish Heart
- Jazz waltz: Sing the melody and improvise over the form on a tune such as: Someday My Prince Will Come, Up Jumped Spring, All Blues, Bluesette
Applicants may choose to audition in-person or remotely. To audition remotely, applicants must complete both of the following:
- Submit a recording
- Register for a Zoom interview with faculty.
The recording should include at least 3 selections of your choice from the styles listed below. You can submit more than 3 if you like. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.
Note: For accompaniment on your recording, students can record with a live band or use play-along tracks such as iReal Pro, Aebersold recordings or “Learn Jazz Standards” on YouTube.
More information about the audition process and recording specifications can be found here.
Essay prompt
A short music essay is required with your application. Upload the essay on your status page. Please choose one of the following prompts:
- Tell us why you would like to be a music major, describe your most powerful musical experience and list your future goals as a musician. Comment on your musical background and share anything else you would like us to know.
- “Music lets you rediscover your humanity, and your connection to humanity.” -Hans Zimmer. In what ways do you believe music can or should connect people across difference?
For questions please contact John Gunther, John.gunther@colorado.edu
Degree sheets
Graduate jazz studies
Graduate (MM) jazz applicant requirements
Options: Jazz bass, jazz drum set, jazz guitar, jazz piano, jazz saxophone, jazz trombone, jazz trumpet and jazz voice.
Pre-screening recording
A pre-screening recording is required for all graduate jazz performance and pedagogy applicants. Live auditions will be granted to applicants chosen from these recordings. Applicants will be notified of the faculty decision no later than one month prior to any live audition.
Pre-screening recording requirements
- Three to five different jazz tunes (applicant’s choice), representing five contrasting styles and tempos. Examples of styles include Latin jazz, Blues, Ballads, Bebop, Funk, ECM, Free Jazz, Jazz Standards (Monk, Ellington, Mingus, etc.) and Great American Songbook/Standards (Porter, Gershwin, etc.).
- For all instruments, you should record the melody followed by at least one chorus of improvisation. For rhythm section instruments, include an additional chorus of accompaniment (comping, walking bass, etc.).
- Vocalists may sing wordless vocals or compose their own lyrics for songs without lyrics.
- Applicants can also upload and submit any additional materials (e.g. arrangements, compositions, copies of recitals or other recordings, written articles, etc.) along with their pre-screening recordings online.
Applicants are required to upload their additional materials along with their recordings to the Graduate Application by Dec. 1.
In-person audition requirements
A live rhythm section will be provided.
Please prepare:
- Three to five different jazz tunes (applicant’s choice), representing five contrasting styles and tempos. Examples of styles include Latin jazz, Blues, Ballads, Bebop, Funk, ECM, Free Jazz, Jazz Standards (Monk, Ellington, Mingus, etc.) and Great American Songbook/Standards (Porter, Gershwin, etc.).
- Please bring lead sheets for any tunes that may be more unusual or less known for your rhythm section.
Graduate degree sheets
Graduate (DMA) jazz applicant requirements
Options: Jazz bass, jazz drum set, jazz guitar, jazz piano, jazz saxophone, jazz trombone, jazz trumpet and jazz voice.
Pre-screening recording
A pre-screening recording is required for all graduate jazz studies applicants. Live auditions will be granted to applicants chosen from these recordings. Applicants will be notified of the faculty decision no later than one month prior to any live audition.
Pre-screening recording requirements
- Three to five different jazz tunes (applicant’s choice), representing five contrasting styles and tempos. Examples of styles include Latin jazz, Blues, Ballads, Bebop, Funk, ECM, Free Jazz, Jazz Standards (Monk, Ellington, Mingus, etc) and Great American Songbook/Standards (Porter, Gershwin, etc.).
- For all instruments, you should record the melody followed by at least one chorus of improvisation. For rhythm section instruments, include an additional chorus of accompaniment (comping, walking bass, etc.).
- Vocalists may sing wordless vocals or compose their own lyrics for songs without lyrics.
- Applicants can also upload and submit any additional materials (e.g. arrangements, compositions, copies of recitals or other recordings, written articles, etc.) along with their pre-screening recordings online.
Applicants are required to upload their additional materials along with their recordings to the Graduate Application by Dec. 1.
In-person audition requirements
A live rhythm section will be provided.
Please prepare:
- Three to five different jazz tunes (applicant’s choice), representing five contrasting styles and tempos. Examples of styles include Latin jazz, Blues, Ballads, Bebop, Funk, ECM, Free Jazz, Jazz Standards (Monk, Ellington, Mingus, etc.) and Great American Songbook/Standards (Porter, Gershwin, etc.).
- Please bring lead sheets for any tunes that may be more unusual or less known for your rhythm section.
Graduate degree sheets
For information about the Artist Diploma in jazz studies, please contact John Gunther.