And One Time At Band Camp...............

[Audrey]

Well, this summer I'm going to go to a band camp and I have to audition with 2 pieces, one for band and one for jazz band. I'm going to do my NYSSMA solo for reg. band, but I have no idea what to do for the jazz audition. Does anyone have any suggestions of a good piece I can do alone that sounds good and that I can improvise with? Thanks.

[BlockAM]

You could chose something easy off of the Abersold volume "Mayden Voyage" or the Sonny Rollins one, like Watermelon Man, Blue Seven, or St. Thomas. These are my 2 favorite Abersolds, and I have used each of the afforementioned tunes to record for auditions, both for a summer program and college.

[Tonehole]

What instrument are you going to play? What type of jazz are you comfortable playing?
It is a difficult choice I have done quite a few auditions for camps. Do you go for a less challenging piece that you have down pat, or the killer piece that you may not ace but shows your potential and exactly your level of play!
How competitive is the camp? Do they have combo's or bands you don't want to be in? Sometimes your age can work against you as well.

[beth]

have both a trascribed solo (i.e. something out of the omnibook), and an improvisation (like BlockAM mentioned) prepared...that's what i've had to do for various jazz auditions.
just out curiousity...what camp are you auditioning for?

[Audrey]

I'm playing Alto at a camp in NY at SUNY Potsdam. The music school there is Crane. The camp is ages 9-18, and you only have to audition for placement not addmitance in the bands, but I (with my huge ego) want to do well lol.

[markieg]

I think that an ultimate thing for a sax player to do is to reproduce a jazz singer's vocal sound. One of the most challenging, emotional singers in my opinion is Steven Tyler of Aerosmith. I've tried to duplicate this and let me tell you it is very difficult, but possible. It's also very good if you have a better high range, and there is a lot of room for improv when it comes to Aerosmith performences. Maybe even throw in a full improv solo where the guitar bridge normally is. My favorite song to play is "What it Takes". It's the one where the chorus goes "Tell me what it takes to let you go......" It has multiple key changes, starts out with a key signature of 4 sharps, but is still somewhat easy to roll off of your fingers. If you're interested I can help you get this arranged. I already have printed sheet music ready to go. My page has a copy of me playing it just from what I learned by ear. It's posted at:
http://www.angelfire.com/freak/dafrootloop/vs_pics.html

[gary]

Audrey - help us out a little. What tunes can you already improvise on?

Depending on your level, "Autumn Leaves" is a good one. One I don't hear but is a good medium level tune is Sonny Rollins' "Alphie's Theme". There are so many, tell us where you're at.

By the way, LOL "...and one time, at band camp..."
Stay away from the flute players. They'll lead you down the road to ruin =: o

[Audrey]

lol- I'll stay away from the flute players! Well, All I know is what level I am here in NY. In NY there are 6 levels of dificulty w/music (1 easiest 6hardest) at reg playing I'm 6, but at jazz prob 4 or 5 (I juat really started getting into it last year) I know the major,minor, and dominate chords. I could figure the others out, they just aren't reflex yet. I was thinking about Autumn Leaves, but I'm still unsure b/c I've never improvised w/o a background like piano,bass drums, or even a CD at the audition- it's just a one person thing.

[beth]

Crane Youth Music camp :]
i was cosidering working there this summer (i go there as you see by my siggy)...but i dont think i could stand being in potsdam for longer than i have to...
I believe Bret Zvacek has been doing the jazz there the past few summers...he's a great guy...i think you'll really enjoy him and the jazz program. prepare a solo...and improv just incase, for the college auditions he gives us improv to sight read, but im not sure if he'd do that for the camp...and expect sightreading as well...that's probably one of the most important parts.
all the band directors are great as well
Also, im wondering who will be working with the saxes there....
and when you find out, let me know where you'll be dorming :P hehe

[beth]

and BTW....im sure the improv will be backed up, esp if he provides one for everyone to play over (don't worry, if he DOES do that, it'll be simple enough to play over it on a first glance)

[gary]

Audrey - If you can, take a look at Jamey Aebersold's "Maiden Voyage" play-along (I think its volume 54). The tunes in that book should be about right for you. Cheers!

[Audrey]

I have a Jamey Aebersold book, but it's a little confusing because there are 11 tracts on the CD and 10 written in the book. I don't have good enough ears to tell which track is what chord progressions. I've asked my private teacher about a piece, but I won't have a lesson until after my school's spring break ( April 14 - April 21) I bring up some of the suggestions you guys have and see what he says.

[gary]

Hey Audrey...are you sure you have Volume 54 "Maiden Voyage"?
I checked my copy and I have 15 bands on the CD, not 11.

Anyway, regardless of which volume you have, could the first track be tuning notes? If so, then just start counting from track 2; i.e. tune 1=track 2, etc.

Chiao. Gary

[Audrey]

I don't have that book- but a different one that's just practice stuff. I thought it would be set up like that too, but when I started playing the 1st track from the book on the 2nd from the CD etc. it didn't sound quite right.

[gary]

Audrey - unlike some of Aebersold's books, which are for working out different things, Vol 54 "Maiden Voyage" is a book of songs, with the chords and, for the most part, scales/modes that go with the chords. There are very many such books fro Aebersold at various levels. Another one which might be at your experience level is "Time to Play".

You owe it to yorself to take a look at these (if possible) and see if they can be helpful.

[saxguy9345]

Audrey, check for the tuning notes. Jamey usually puts a track of tuning notes on his practice CD's, so that extra track will either be 1 or 11 in your case. Check for it.

[Minatar12]

Or you might be playing in the wrong key, for instance, reading the Bb part instead of Eb.

[Vortex]

What about Ladybird (Tad Dameron)? I know of a few universities that use it as an audition piece for entry, plus it's not too hard to improvise over.