All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition Procedures and Guidelines
*UPDATED ON AUGUST 11, 2017*
JAZZ ENSEMBLE REGION AUDITIONS
IX. STUDENT ENTRY AND REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
A. Each student must be entered using the online entry process through TMEA (www.tmea.org).
B. Each student must declare an intention to be considered for the State level or the Region level only. If no declaration is made, then it is assumed ATSSB students are auditioning for ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble on the State Jazz Ensemble Track. After the entry to the first audition leading to possible membership in the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble, no change can be made in the Jazz Ensemble track selected, regardless of advancement or loss thereof. Students who are recorded for all-state have officially qualified for area jazz ensemble and will receive an area patch. Furthermore, students who record but do not qualify for the all-state jazz ensemble will remain eligible for all-state consideration in all other ensembles (i.e. concert band, choir, orchestra, etc.). Students who are selected for membership in the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble may not audition for any other All-State Ensemble (ATSSB or TMEA) that school year. If the performance is not recorded with CD accompaniment, the performer will be disqualified and the entry fee will not be refunded.
X. SELECTION AND ASSIGNMENT OF ADJUDICATION PANELS
A. Policies concerning judging panels will remain consistent with Association of Texas Small School Bands All-State Ensemble Tryout Procedures and Guidelines.
B. In addition to the adult monitors in each audition room, each Region should have an adult monitor in the Area/State Recording Room to help maintain decorum in the room, to help the recordings stay on schedule, and to serve as a way for communication to occur between the student and the CD technician. The Region Coordinator or Region Audition Chair shall go over the Monitors’ Instructions with Monitors before auditions begin.
XI. AUDITION PROCEDURES
A. Audition music for the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble will come from the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble Music and the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble CD. This music is available exclusively from Mattei Music Services, 202 Covey Lane, McKinney, Texas 75071. The Set used will conform to the Year designation being used for region and area auditions each year (Set A will be used when the band auditions are using Year A, etc.).
B. Students will perform the audition music for their instrument. In the case of trumpet and trombone where there are two parts for each instrument, students will audition on the first part only.
C. Students will enter the room one at a time and will perform the required Jazz Audition Music Selections (a form on the music stand should have instructions for the allowed warm-up). The winds are allowed a one- breath warm-up. The rhythm section is allowed 15 seconds (to be timed by the Monitor) of the student playing anything they wish. Warm-ups must be completed prior to playing Selection 1 of the Jazz Audition Music; any additional notes played after the warm-up will result in the loss of points.
D. Should the student experience an instrument malfunction during the playing of the warm-up, the student may have the instrument checked for mechanical problems and return to the audition room before the end of the audition. Once a student sounds the first note of the etude, the student must continue to play and be scored.
E. No one except the monitor and the judges may be in the room while each student auditions. Screens must be used to assure that anonymity is maintained. Metronome markings should be closely observed so as to maintain the intent of the music. Inaudible metronomes are allowed in the audition rooms to set tempos, but may not be used while the etudes are being performed.
F. No audible electronic communication devices shall be allowed in the audition room. However, electronic media may be used in lieu of printed music during the audition.
G. Region Jazz Ensemble auditions must take place between and including the first Saturday in September and the first Saturday in October.
XII. RANKING THE STUDENTS
Policies concerning Ranking The Students will remain consistent with Association of Texas Small School Bands All-State Band Tryout Procedures and Guidelines.
All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition Procedures and Guidelines
JAZZ ENSEMBLE AREA CERTIFICATION
XIII. STUDENT ENTRY PROCEDURES
A. No one may audition on an electronic synthesized wind instrument. Each Region Coordinator shall have certified the following maximum number of students to the Area level (CDs to be sent to the State Jazz Coordinator):
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
1 Baritone Saxophone
3 Trumpets - must audition on cornet or trumpet, not flugelhorn
3 Tenor Trombones - must audition on slide trombone, not valve trombone or baritone
2 Bass Trombones - must audition on slide trombone, not valve trombone or baritone
1 Guitar
1 Bass - may use an electric bass guitar, an acoustic bass or a
string bass (also known as double bass or upright bass)
1 Piano - may use an acoustic, digital or electronic piano
2 Drum Sets
B. At the completion of the region auditions for each instrument, students accepting Area certification from their Region shall record an All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition CD per their Region’s recording guidelines. Jazz Ensemble students who are recorded for All-State have officially qualified for Area Jazz Ensemble and will receive an Area patch. Furthermore, students who record but do not qualify for the All-State Jazz Ensemble will remain eligible for All-State consideration in all other ensembles. The All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition CD should be recorded in one take with pauses between tracks. Instruments will play along with the Audition CD which has no demo recordings on it (only accompaniment). If the performer is not recorded with CD accompaniment, that entry will be disqualified and the entry fee will not be refunded. CDs shall contain:
1. Track 1 shall be Selection 1 in its entirety of the Jazz Audition Music from that year’s designated Set.
Track 2 shall be Selection 2 in its entirety of the Jazz Audition Music from that year’s designated Set.
Track 3 shall be Selection 3 in its entirety of the Jazz Audition Music from that year’s designated Set.
Track 4 shall be the Improvised Solo in the prescribed format along with the Improvised Solo Accompaniment track from that year’s Audition CD. Monitor’s Instructions for this Improvised Solo should be read aloud by the Monitor exactly as they appear below (Monitor’s instructions are NOT to be recorded on the CD):
a. For all instruments except DRUM SET - “The student auditioning will not be allowed to have any additional material (no written solos) to assist in the improvisation section. For the improvised solo, Wind Instruments, Piano, Guitar, and Bass will play the lead as written the first time, improvise on the remaining two choruses, then play to the end as provided on the Audition CD.”
b. For DRUM SET ONLY - “For the improvised solo, students should play time on the first chorus, solo on the second chorus, and play syncopated kicks and fills on the third chorus provided on the Audition CD.”
Track 5 shall be the following statement read aloud by the monitor or recording engineer: “This (name of instrument) jazz audition was performed by (name of student) from (name of school).”
2. In any year’s designated Set that includes a ballad, all instruments shall play the solo melodic part only; Drum Set shall play rhythm with brushes.
3. Selections should be played in the above order.
4. CDs with spoken words, recorded out of order or recorded without the accompaniment track may be disqualified from participation in the All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition and, if disqualified, the entry fee will not be returned.
*UPDATED ON AUGUST 11, 2017*
JAZZ ENSEMBLE REGION AUDITIONS
IX. STUDENT ENTRY AND REGISTRATION PROCEDURES
A. Each student must be entered using the online entry process through TMEA (www.tmea.org).
B. Each student must declare an intention to be considered for the State level or the Region level only. If no declaration is made, then it is assumed ATSSB students are auditioning for ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble on the State Jazz Ensemble Track. After the entry to the first audition leading to possible membership in the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble, no change can be made in the Jazz Ensemble track selected, regardless of advancement or loss thereof. Students who are recorded for all-state have officially qualified for area jazz ensemble and will receive an area patch. Furthermore, students who record but do not qualify for the all-state jazz ensemble will remain eligible for all-state consideration in all other ensembles (i.e. concert band, choir, orchestra, etc.). Students who are selected for membership in the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble may not audition for any other All-State Ensemble (ATSSB or TMEA) that school year. If the performance is not recorded with CD accompaniment, the performer will be disqualified and the entry fee will not be refunded.
X. SELECTION AND ASSIGNMENT OF ADJUDICATION PANELS
A. Policies concerning judging panels will remain consistent with Association of Texas Small School Bands All-State Ensemble Tryout Procedures and Guidelines.
B. In addition to the adult monitors in each audition room, each Region should have an adult monitor in the Area/State Recording Room to help maintain decorum in the room, to help the recordings stay on schedule, and to serve as a way for communication to occur between the student and the CD technician. The Region Coordinator or Region Audition Chair shall go over the Monitors’ Instructions with Monitors before auditions begin.
XI. AUDITION PROCEDURES
A. Audition music for the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble will come from the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble Music and the ATSSB All-State Jazz Ensemble CD. This music is available exclusively from Mattei Music Services, 202 Covey Lane, McKinney, Texas 75071. The Set used will conform to the Year designation being used for region and area auditions each year (Set A will be used when the band auditions are using Year A, etc.).
B. Students will perform the audition music for their instrument. In the case of trumpet and trombone where there are two parts for each instrument, students will audition on the first part only.
C. Students will enter the room one at a time and will perform the required Jazz Audition Music Selections (a form on the music stand should have instructions for the allowed warm-up). The winds are allowed a one- breath warm-up. The rhythm section is allowed 15 seconds (to be timed by the Monitor) of the student playing anything they wish. Warm-ups must be completed prior to playing Selection 1 of the Jazz Audition Music; any additional notes played after the warm-up will result in the loss of points.
D. Should the student experience an instrument malfunction during the playing of the warm-up, the student may have the instrument checked for mechanical problems and return to the audition room before the end of the audition. Once a student sounds the first note of the etude, the student must continue to play and be scored.
E. No one except the monitor and the judges may be in the room while each student auditions. Screens must be used to assure that anonymity is maintained. Metronome markings should be closely observed so as to maintain the intent of the music. Inaudible metronomes are allowed in the audition rooms to set tempos, but may not be used while the etudes are being performed.
F. No audible electronic communication devices shall be allowed in the audition room. However, electronic media may be used in lieu of printed music during the audition.
G. Region Jazz Ensemble auditions must take place between and including the first Saturday in September and the first Saturday in October.
XII. RANKING THE STUDENTS
Policies concerning Ranking The Students will remain consistent with Association of Texas Small School Bands All-State Band Tryout Procedures and Guidelines.
All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition Procedures and Guidelines
JAZZ ENSEMBLE AREA CERTIFICATION
XIII. STUDENT ENTRY PROCEDURES
A. No one may audition on an electronic synthesized wind instrument. Each Region Coordinator shall have certified the following maximum number of students to the Area level (CDs to be sent to the State Jazz Coordinator):
2 Alto Saxophones
2 Tenor Saxophones
1 Baritone Saxophone
3 Trumpets - must audition on cornet or trumpet, not flugelhorn
3 Tenor Trombones - must audition on slide trombone, not valve trombone or baritone
2 Bass Trombones - must audition on slide trombone, not valve trombone or baritone
1 Guitar
1 Bass - may use an electric bass guitar, an acoustic bass or a
string bass (also known as double bass or upright bass)
1 Piano - may use an acoustic, digital or electronic piano
2 Drum Sets
B. At the completion of the region auditions for each instrument, students accepting Area certification from their Region shall record an All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition CD per their Region’s recording guidelines. Jazz Ensemble students who are recorded for All-State have officially qualified for Area Jazz Ensemble and will receive an Area patch. Furthermore, students who record but do not qualify for the All-State Jazz Ensemble will remain eligible for All-State consideration in all other ensembles. The All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition CD should be recorded in one take with pauses between tracks. Instruments will play along with the Audition CD which has no demo recordings on it (only accompaniment). If the performer is not recorded with CD accompaniment, that entry will be disqualified and the entry fee will not be refunded. CDs shall contain:
1. Track 1 shall be Selection 1 in its entirety of the Jazz Audition Music from that year’s designated Set.
Track 2 shall be Selection 2 in its entirety of the Jazz Audition Music from that year’s designated Set.
Track 3 shall be Selection 3 in its entirety of the Jazz Audition Music from that year’s designated Set.
Track 4 shall be the Improvised Solo in the prescribed format along with the Improvised Solo Accompaniment track from that year’s Audition CD. Monitor’s Instructions for this Improvised Solo should be read aloud by the Monitor exactly as they appear below (Monitor’s instructions are NOT to be recorded on the CD):
a. For all instruments except DRUM SET - “The student auditioning will not be allowed to have any additional material (no written solos) to assist in the improvisation section. For the improvised solo, Wind Instruments, Piano, Guitar, and Bass will play the lead as written the first time, improvise on the remaining two choruses, then play to the end as provided on the Audition CD.”
b. For DRUM SET ONLY - “For the improvised solo, students should play time on the first chorus, solo on the second chorus, and play syncopated kicks and fills on the third chorus provided on the Audition CD.”
Track 5 shall be the following statement read aloud by the monitor or recording engineer: “This (name of instrument) jazz audition was performed by (name of student) from (name of school).”
2. In any year’s designated Set that includes a ballad, all instruments shall play the solo melodic part only; Drum Set shall play rhythm with brushes.
3. Selections should be played in the above order.
4. CDs with spoken words, recorded out of order or recorded without the accompaniment track may be disqualified from participation in the All-State Jazz Ensemble Audition and, if disqualified, the entry fee will not be returned.
