Check-In and Placements Overview
Refer to this year’s 2025 Sunday Check-In and Placements
Mandatory first-day activities on Sunday include camp check-ins, orientations, Ensemble Placement Screenings, and dinner on us! All camp students are required to be present on Sunday and must complete a placement screening to be considered for ensembles.
About Ensemble Placement Screenings (First Day)
After checking in, students will participate in live placement screenings on Sunday. These screenings help instructors assess students’ reading and improvisation skills to place them in appropriate classes and ensembles for the week. There’s no pressure—just do your best. Placement screenings differ from auditions because all registered students will be assigned to ensembles, regardless of skill level. The results will also guide placements for the RSJI Lab Band, RSJI Big Band, and the RSJI Jazz Orchestra.
What to Expect at Placement Screenings
Each instrument will have a designated screening room with one or two instructors. Students should prepare to perform unaccompanied for most of the session, but for the improvisation/blues portion, they will play along with a provided recording or instructor. Each screening lasts about 10 to 15 minutes and will include:
- Performance of a selected excerpt from a big band arrangement (materials will be provided in advance).
- Improvisation and melody selection over blues chord progressions (materials will be provided in advance).
- Sight-reading a short passage from a big band arrangement
Placement screening materials are found on this year’s Sunday Check-In page and are also emailed to you before the first meeting day.