Skip to main content

Jazz Jury Requirements

Requirements by Semester

Jazz-majors are required to prepare appropriate semester-level selections from the Jazz Tune List. Please also refer to the additional requirements for certain program members below.

Unless stated otherwise, students are responsible for at least ten (10) different selections total each semester, consisting of:

  • Seven (7) Tune List selections
  • Two (2) Mingus selections, and
  • One (1) unique selection of your choosing from any source (a.k.a. “Wildcard” selection). Jurors must supply jury trio musicians (piano/guitar, bass, drums) with a basic lead sheet of their “Wildcard” selection to be sight-read; no time will be afforded to rehearse; it must be immediately playable.

During the jury exam, the jazz faculty panel will select one tune from the above semester list, at random, to perform from memory. Guitar, bass, and piano jurors will also be asked to compose or walk a chorus. Scales should not be played fast or “rushed” but demonstrated at an even-eighth note tempo, quarter note=120 bpm. Sight-reading skills are assessed each semester.

Additional Requirements

Jazz/Ed majors, Jazz drum majors, and all non-piano majors are to be aware of additional requirements:

Jazz/Ed Jury Requirements
Drum Major Jury Requirements
Non-Piano Major Jury Requirements

Term 1

UG Sem-1 | Grad Sem-1

  • Perform memorized selection: head-in, solo choruses, any comping, head-out
  • Scales (quarter note=120 bpm) and Chords:
    • Major scale and derived modes in all keys
    • Basic Blues Scales in all keys
    • Outline Basic 4-note chords in all keys (Maj7, 7, m7, m7b5,o7)
  • Sight-reading assessment

 

UG Sem-2 | Grad Sem-1

  • Perform memorized selection: head-in, solo choruses, any comping, head-out
  • Scales (quarter note=120 bpm) and Chords:
    • All scales and chords from previous semesters
    • Dominant 7 Bebop and Maj6 Bebop scales in all keys
  • Sight-reading assessment

Term 2

UG Sem-3 | Grad Sem-2

  • Perform memorized selection: head-in, solo choruses, any comping, head-out
  • Scales (quarter note=120 bpm) and Chords:
    • All scales and chords from previous semesters
    • Harmonic Minor Scales and derived modes in all keys
    • Whole-tone scales in all keys
    • Blues scales with major 3rd in all keys
    • Outline basic four-note chords in all keys: (Maj7b5, Maj7+5, Maj7sus4, Maj6; 7b5, 7+5, 7sus4)
  • Sight-reading assessment

UG Sem-4 | Grad Sem-2

  • Perform memorized selection: head-in, solo choruses, any comping, head-out
  • Scales (quarter note=120 bpm) and Chords:
    • All scales and chords from previous semesters
    • Major (1 2 3 5 6), minor (1 2 b3 5 6), and dominant (1 2 3 5 b7) pentatonic scales in all keys
    • Outline basic four-note chords in all keys continued: (m+7, m6, m7sus4, m7+5, m+7+5; m7b5sus4; o+7)
  • Sight-reading assessment

Term 3

UG Sem-5 | Grad Sem-3

  • Perform memorized selection: head-in, solo choruses, any comping, head-out
  • Scales (quarter note=120 bpm) and Chords:
    • All scales and chords from previous semesters
    • Melodic Minor scales and derived modes in all keys
    • Diminished scales (h/w and w/h) in all keys
    • All Bebop scales as derived from Major scales in all keys
  • Sight-reading assessment
Keyboard Jury Essentials for Non-Piano Majors
  • Prepare to demonstrate the following:
    1. Basic Cadences/Turnarounds:
      • V-I, II-V-I
    2. Semester-level scales and outlines:
      • RH scale with associated LH block chord, ascending and descending, 1-octave minimum
    3. Blues changes
    4. Perform a memorized standard tune (no soloing)
  • For items 1, 2, and 3 above:
    • Prepare in all 12 keys
    • Use Rooted Shell voicings, minimum (see Keyboard Syllabus)
    • Criteria must be performed at an even tempo
    • Refer to Keyboard Syllabi examples

UG Sem-6 | Grad Sem-3

  • Perform memorized selection: head-in, solo choruses, any comping, head-out
  • Scales (quarter note=120 bpm) and Chords:
    • All scales and chords from previous semesters
    • Harmonic Major scale and derived modes in all keys
    • Diminished scales (h/w and w/h) in all keys
    • All Bebop scales as derived from Melodic Minor scales in all keys
  • Sight-reading assessment
Keyboard Jury Essentials for Non-Piano Majors
  • Prepare to demonstrate the following:
    1. Cadences/Turnarounds:
      • I-VI-II-V, and III-VI-II-V
    2. Semester-level scales and outlines:
      • RH scale with associated LH block chord, ascending and descending, 1-octave minimum
    3. Rhythm changes
    4. Perform a memorized standard tune (no soloing)
  • For items 1, 2, and 3 above:
    • Prepare in all 12 keys
    • Use Split-Voicings, minimum (see Keyboard Syllabus)
    • Criteria must be performed at an even tempo
    • Refer to Keyboard Syllabi examples

UG Term 4

UG Semester-7

  • Perform memorized selection: head-in, solo choruses, any comping, head-out
  • Scales (quarter note=120 bpm) and Chords:
    • All scales and chords from previous semesters
    • Altered/Modal Pentatonic scales as derived from Major, Harmonic Minor, Melodic Minor, and Harmonic Major scales in all keys.
    • All Bebop scales as derived from Harmonic Minor and Harmonic Major scales
    • Augmented Scale (+2/m2) in all keys
  • Sight-reading assessment