Audition Information

NJCU Jazz Department Auditions

**We are currently accepting applications and auditions for the Spring 2025 or Fall 2025 semesters

If you are considering NJCU as an option for your music degree, we look forward to having you audition and showcase what you can do. The audition is also a great opportunity for us to think about your potential as you head into college.

Auditions can be in-person on one of our designated audition dates (see below), in-person and scheduled directly with the Jazz Coordinator, or submitted as a video with a live rhythm section, pre-recorded tracks, or unaccompanied.

Audition Requirements

All applying students should prepare as much of the content below as they are able
Improvisation on all selections is encouraged, but not required
Please think about your audition as showcase as wide of a variety of skills as you possess

Please also consider including including something different you have worked on that is a representation of where you are currently at, musically speaking.

Perform three selections of contrasting styles/tempos:

Blues – Billie’s Bounce, Tenor Madness, or a blues head of your choice
Ballad – Body & Soul, What’s New, In A Sentimental Mood, or another ballad of your choosing
Jazz Standard or Classic Jazz Tune – There Will Never Be Another You, There Is No Greater Love, Oleo, Autumn Leaves, or a similar style selection of your choice

Optional – perform a transcription (full solo or a portion of one) to demonstrate your concept inside the Jazz style

**PIANO, GUITAR & VIBRAPHONE – please add an additional two choruses of comping on your blues and an additional one chorus of comping on your jazz standard

**BASS – please add an additional two choruses of bass line walking on your blues and an additional one chorus of bass line walking on your jazz standard

**DRUMS – please add an additional 32 measures of trading (play 4 bars of time, then solo for 4 bars, repeating through the 32 measures) – this can be part of one of your pieces or performed separately on its own

**VOICE – feel free to scat sing the blues with syllables or substitute an additional standard with lyrics for the blues, if that is preferred

In-person Audition Dates

Saturday, December 14, 2024 – 10am-3pm
Saturday, March 15, 2025 – 10am-3pm

**Rhythm sections or accompaniment will be provided for students who visit NJCU for in-person auditions

To set up an audition time on one of the above audition dates, or on a different date that works for you, please contact Jazz Coordinator Nathan Eklund – neklund@njcu.edu

All video submissions should be uploaded to YouTube (as an “unlisted” video) and the link sent directly to Jazz Coordinator Nathan Eklund – neklund@njcu.edu