Auditions

Students must audition for acceptance into the Department of Music.
To apply, please visit /www.vcumusic.org, click on "How to Apply," and follow those instructions. If you have questions, please contact Ms. Racquel Wallace, our admissions specialist, at the VCU Music Office at (804) 828-1167 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday; or e-mail her at wallacerc@vcu.edu.

Once enrolled at VCU, students are encouraged to audition for VCU Jazz's bands and small jazz ensembles. Please see the VCU Jazz Studies Handbook regarding scheduling and policies.

You must arrive at your audition with a completed VCU Jazz Audition Form. Though initially available on the Jazz Bulletin Board, these forms tend to disappear quickly. A printable PDF of this form for Fall 2007 and Spring 2008 is provided online for your convenience

Ensemble audition content is typically as follows:

• Horns: Unaccompanied performance of a melody (and if possible, improvised solo) over a tune of your choice. Potential accompanied improvised solo over a tune of your or the jurors' choice. Possible basic scales to assess range, tone, and/or technique.
• Piano: Performance of a melody and accompaniment (and if possible, improvised solo) over two tunes of your choice. Possible basic scales to assess range, tone, and/or technique. Potential comping of a variety of styles on request, especially swing, bossa, and samba.
• Guitar and Bass: Performance of a melody (and if possible, improvised solo) over a tune of your choice. Potential accompanied improvised solo over a tune of your or the jurors' choice. Possible basic scales to assess range, tone, and/or technique. Potential comping of a variety of styles on request, especially swing, bossa, and samba.
• Drums: Unaccompanied performance of a variety of styles on request, including swing, ballad, waltz, bossa, samba, and Afro-Cuban, plus possibly trading fours. (Bring available sticks, brushes, mallets.)
• Percussion: Unaccompanied performance of styles including bossa, samba, and Afro-Cuban. (Congas, bongos, some hand percussion
  available.)
• All: Rhythmic reading available in advance from the Jazz Studies web site and Jazz Board. Sight-reading as provided by the jurors.
  

Legendary soprano saxophonist Steve Lacy is one of the dozens of jazz artists who have presented workshops or performances at VCU.
(photo credited to Antonio J. García)