RSJI Ensemble Placements
Live Placement Screenings (first day of camp)
Students must participate in the live placement screenings on Sunday, which allow instructors to evaluate students’ reading and improvisation proficiency to assess their overall playing ability and experience and help place them in the most appropriate classes and ensembles for the week. There is no pressure – Just do your best, and we’ll take care of the rest.
It’s important to note that placement screenings are not auditions; all registered students will be assigned to ensembles, regardless of their playing ability.
What to Expect at Live Placement Screenings
A screening room for each type of instrument will be available, containing one or two instructors in each, i.e. a room for Trumpets, another room for Drums, etc. Students should plan to perform unaccompanied for most of the screening session and with a play-along recording or instructor accompaniment for the improvisation/blues. (Play-along will be provided by RU staff on site.) Most screenings typically span 10-15 minutes in length. The placement screening will include:
- Performance of a prepared short passage from a big band arrangement (Materials will be provided in advance)
- Improvisation and choice of melodies over Blues Changes (Materials will be provided in advance)
- Sight-reading a short passage from a big band arrangement
Placement screening materials will be posted here and emailed to you prior to the first day of camp.