Everett High School

Everett High School Jazz Band will have AUDITIONS in the FALL for the 2022-2023 school year.

Auditions are open to ALL students and instruments.

Jazz Band Auditions will begin Monday September 12th at 6:30am.

All jazz band members must purchase an ASB card at the beginning of the school year.

Students who were a part of Jazz Band in previous years will need to re-audition in the fall. Jazz Band students must be in a co-requisite large ensemble (wind ensemble, concert band, percussion ensemble, orchestra, or choir).

 
“Advanced” Required Materials:
Jamey Aebersold — Volume 17 — Horace Silver
Jim Snidero — Jazz Conception — Medium (bass players get trombone book)
Drummers Only — Big Band Play Along vol. 3 Duke Ellington

All materials are available for purchase at Kennelly Keys or online from jwpepper.com and other retailers.

“Advanced” auditions are intended for students who have been in jazz band before or who feel comfortable in the jazz style.

“Advanced” Audition Requirements:
Wind Players:
1. Chromatic Scale through the range of your instrument
2. Play the melody and improvise over any song of your choice from Jamey Abersold's vol. 17 (Horace Silver). Play the melody one time and then improvise a solo (play with conviction!)
3. Learn any medium tempo swing tune from Jazz Conception by Jim Snidero
focusing on your jazz articulation and swing feel.

Piano/Guitar/Bass
1. All of the above items (wind requirements) plus demonstrating comping for piano/guitar using a lead sheet that will be provided
2. Bass players walk a 12 bar blues bass line in F

Drummers: Please Demonstrate the Following
1. Several Tempos of swing, bossa, samba
2. Trade 4s soloing with themselves over a 12 bar blues form
3. Brush technique
4. Prepare any of the excerpts from Big Band Play Along vol. 3

“Intro” Audition Requirements:

“Intro” auditions are intended for students who have had little to no jazz experience before. Students who have not participated in jazz band at EHS (or in middle school) are encouraged to use this alternate set of audition material instead of the “advanced” materials. ANY student who feels that “Intro” materials are a better fit for them are welcome to use them. ALL instruments and students are welcome in the “Intro” level of Jazz Band this year.

“Intro” audition materials can be found at https://wmea.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/JR-Jazz-Band-2023-No-Logos-Final.pdf and will be posted on Canvas. Flutes can play the Alto Sax audition. Clarinets can play either the Tenor Sax or Trumpet auditions. F Horn can play the Trumpet audition. Tuba or Baritone can play the Trombone audition (tuba can drop notes and octave).

Tips for Success: Play all summer, sign up for a camp, take private lessons, listen to jazz every day, listen to one or two recordings repetitively, go hear live jazz as often as you can.

Students are strongly encouraged to take private lessons on their instrument and will need to attend twice a month sectional rehearsal during LIF time (Fridays at 12:50pm).


Class meets daily at 6:30am. All students are welcome to audition. The focus of instruction is on the uniquely American art form of jazz in the traditional big band instrumentation (2-3 altos, 2 tenors, 1 bari, 4-5 trombones, 4-5 trumpets, and rhythm section). Auditions will be held again at semester time if necessary. Students learn improvisation skills, and are encouraged to explore this aspect of their musicality and to develop their improvisation skills through solo and feature opportunities. The Jazz Band develops an extensive repertoire providing extended length public performances. Participation in Concert Band, Wind Ensemble, Percussion Ensemble, or Choir is required to participate in Jazz Band.