Audition Info

ALTO SAX TENOR SAX BARI SAX TRUMPET TENOR BONE

BASS BONE PIANO GUITAR BASS DRUMSET VIBES

Instructions For South Dakota All-State Jazz Band
As Submitted by John Alpers - Vermillion High School

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TO INSURE QUALITY OF MATERIALS AND AUDITION, DIRECTORS ARE ADVISED TO OVERSEE ALL PARTS OF THE AUDITION.

1. Recording Auditions: Use good quality tape and equipment to record the auditions. Record each of the scales and etudes on the enclosed sheets in order. When you are done recording the audition, please rewind the tape to the beginning. The judges have asked that if a metronome or click track is used during recording the audition, please do your best so that the click can not be heard on the audition tape. They have also asked that background rhythm sections are not recorded except during improvisation section of the audition. They find it difficult to hear the audition completely with the extra sounds. Try using headphones or conducting for your student. The LEAD TRUMPET PART only needs to be played by trumpeters interested in playing lead at the festival. Students may audition on as many instruments as they like.

Each audition needs to be on a separate tape or CD. If the student is selected on more than one instrument, the committee will call and give the student the choice of which instrument will be played.

2. Identify (label) the OUTSIDE of the tape with: STUDENT'S NAME, SCHOOL, INSTRUMENT. DO NOT RECORD ANY IDENTIFICATION INFORMATION ON THE TAPE OR CD!!!. Please make the label easy to remove from the cassette. The best ways are with a sticky note attached to the recording or a piece of paper scotch taped lightly to the recording. Do not use the labels supplied with the recording tape.

3. Fill out REGISTRATION FORM. Make sure to mark the student's name, year in school, years in ASJB and combo preference.

There will also be an additional fee of $30.00 per student that is accepted into the
All State Jazz Band. Please bring this check with you when you arrive for the weekend.
(If 4 students make it in, bring an additional $120.00

4. Send Registration Form, Entry Fee ($10.00 per entry) and Audition Tapes in their storage boxes to:

ALL-STATE JAZZ FESTIVAL FYI
RECORDING: Please use a good recording system and good microphones for the audition. If possible, try not to uses a "boom box" or other equipment with an automatic recording level device. Those things defeat the need for playing dynamics. Use quality tape. ICE TYPE I-NORMAL tape is good and will give you a quality recording. Make sure, though that the tape is new, and again, you're recording on good equipment. Also, please remember to clean the heads of the deck before recording. If you don't have good or any equipment for recording, ask someone in your region that does. Maybe you can borrow, or find out what you need to buy. When recording, try to get away from extra background sounds. A practice room, your office or storage room works well. Try to be in the room with your student helping with the audition, unless the student knows exactly what's going on. Experiment with recording levels and microphone placement. The bottom line is, try to produce the best audition tape possible. Remember also to mail the cassettes in the tape box. During mailing the tape will unwind and get messed up if the wheels spin freely. The exposed tape may also be cut or damaged and not play correctly.

BACKGROUNDS: Backgrounds for the improvisation part of the audition can be purchased. An easy source for recordings is the Jamey Abersold play-a-long series. Vol. 1 contains Bb and F blues tracks that are in a comfortable tempo. Vol. 2 has faster tempos for both Bb and F. You can also buy a play-a-long that is for a specific chart. Contact your music dealer, or Jazz Aids, Jamey Abersold, Box 1244, New Albany, IN 47151-1244, 1-800-456-1388, http://www.jazzbooks.com for details and catalogues. Another excellent source for backgrounds would be the software "Band In The Box." the program can produce rhythm section backgrounds for any set of changes it is programmed for. Check in your region. Many schools own this program, and many directors would be more than happy to help you purchase a copy.

JOIN IAJE: We need to get the South Dakota chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators happening. If you would like to join IAJE, contact http://www.iaje.org, or mark at the bottom of your registration form. We'll send you an application form. Let's get everyone involved. Along with membership, you'll receive the official publication, JAZZ EDUCATORS JOURNAL, and be put on the mailing list for JAZZ AIDS, and other jazz catalogues.