what are universities looking for?

[shmulli]

HI, I have an audition at York University in three weeks to get into their music program. I was told to be prepared to play rhythm changes and a blues. I don't really know much about jazz, that's why I'm going to University.

Is rhythm changes, george gershwin's I've got rhythm?

What do they expect to see at this audition? soloing? lead melody? Are there any professors here, or people with some experience in these matters?
any information would be appreciated? thank you.

[graypencil]

First off, yes .."Rhythym changes refer to the harmonic scheme of I've got Rhythm ..upon which many jazz heads are based ..

I'm a bit concerned by your admission that "you dont know a lot about jazz" ..this may work against you if you are auditioning for a jazz program ,inasmuch as many young players come from high school programs these days that have set them up to REALLY be able to play very well upon entry into college ..

I had a similar problem when my son ( then 17 and an average student and very limited electric bass player ) wanted to go to Univ. of N Texas "to learn to become a studio musician " like I was ...I was faced with the very difficult task of explaining to him that if he couldn't already play QUITE well upon entering UNT, he probably wouldn't even get into the jazz program ..at the time, there were 16 year old kids ENTERING school who could already play like Jaco Pastorius!

( BTW: my sone eventually developed on his own into a pretty good classical guitarist ..)

Good luck with your audition, Shmulli

[idlehands]

Originally posted by graypencil

I'm a bit concerned by your admission that "you dont know a lot about jazz" ..this may work against you if you are auditioning for a jazz program ,inasmuch as many young players come from high school programs these days that have set them up to REALLY be able to play very well upon entry into college ..

I had a similar problem when my son ( then 17 and an average student and very limited electric bass player ) wanted to go to Univ. of N Texas ...

This sounds REALLY familiar to me. I was also 17, a very limited electric player, and attending UNT for my freshman year of college. I was coming from an area with few musicians, so I was playing quite a few gigs (considering my age) and thought I had something happening. I couldn't have been more wrong. Consequently, my year there was a disaster. This was long before every single high school had some kind of jazz program, but I remember every single person there knowing more about music than I did, and they all seemed to be at a very high level of playing. I now know that that probably wasn't the case, but at the time, it was more than my fragile little ego could stand. I wound up going back home to a smaller university with a fledgling jazz program. This gave me many opportunities to actually get my shit together and I really feel like I made the right choice. I have no idea if this helps you at all, but I suppose what I'm trying to say is that if I had any real perspective on the fact that being a musician is really a lifetime process of learning and exploring, I would have been much less freaked out about the whole thing and just tried to make my way there as best I could. Finishing one's degree is a necessity these days, but I don't suppose it matters where you go to do it. If things don't work out with your audition, you can always attend the same school (though maybe not in the jazz department) and work on your playing until you think you are ready to try again.

Sorry about the lengthy post. I hope this was helpful in some way, and good luck!

"...at the time there were 16 year old kids ENTERING school who could already play like
Jaco Pastorius!"
And where are they now? Lots better than Jaco perhaps. It goes to reason, doesn't
it, that said kids would have profited highly from the program at No. Texas?

Let's see now. Your kid was average, so he made it as a classical player.
What are you saying?
Blooper

[graypencil]

Originally posted by blooper
"...at the time there were 16 year old kids ENTERING school who could already play like
Jaco Pastorius!"
And where are they now? Lots better than Jaco perhaps. It goes to reason, doesn't
it, that said kids would have profited highly from the program at No. Texas?

Let's see now. Your kid was average, so he made it as a classical player.
What are you saying?
Blooper

Well, Blooper:

from the implied smug and seemingly antagonistic tone of your question,
I checked your member profile before replying:

you dont say shit about YOUR background . or what qualifies you
to infer such a superior outllok ..are you in fact a musician? ( let alone a
PROFESSIONAL musician ?)

You seem to just be trying to start some shit here, since
your profile lists no particular musical background ..
so, if you're just looking to start some sort of
generational dinosaur/ young hipster /sarcastic
thing here ..stuff it.

All I said was:

1. you gotta be VERY good to even get into UNT, or Berklee
or any fucking other institution to gain anything from it.
College isn't gonna guaratee you a four year key to
musical or financial success..

2. you gotta be even BETTER ( and very lucky ) to even
make a living in music these days ..

3. Finally,My son became a fairly competant AMATEUR
guitarist..and enjoys it as a hooby.

Leessee now, does that wipe the implied smirk off yer goddam face?

[Tanager]

Originally posted by graypencil
Leessee now, does that wipe the implied smirk off yer goddam face?

I'm betting that it unfortunately does not.