B.M. Jazz Studies

Please note: Jazz studies require a pre-screen audition video from all incoming applicants. The fall 2025 deadline is January 15, 2025 You will be able to upload your video directly onto our CSUN Music audition form that will be sent to you through the platform called "acceptD".  You will receive the platform link after you complete your CSU application as it requires your CSUN Student ID #.

Results of the pre-screen round will be e-mailed to students by January 31. At that time, those who passed the pre-screen round will be able to schedule their on-campus audition.

PRE-SCREENING REQUIREMENTS

Horns/Strings (not bass)/Voice

• Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at CSUN (1-2 minutes).
• Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the melody once and solo for three choruses.
  • All The Things You Are
  • Oleo
  • There Will Never Be Another You
  • Billie's Bounce
     
• Perform Body and Soul with live musicians or the provided backing track. Play the head once and solo for one chorus.
• Perform one straight 8th tune listed below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the melody once and solo for two choruses.
  • Blue Bossa
  • Footprints
  • Little Suede Shoes
  • Triste

Melodic Instrument Backing Tracks

Chordal Rhythm Section Instruments

• Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at CSUN (1-2 minutes).
• Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the melody once, comp for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
  • All The Things You Are
  • Billie's Bounce
  • Oleo
  • There Will Never Be Another You
     
• Perform Body and Soul unaccompanied or with the provided backing track (unaccompanied preferred). Play the melody once and solo for the chorus.
• Perform one straight 8th tune listed below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the melody once, comp for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
  • Blue Bossa
  • Little Suede Shoes
  • Footprints

Harmonic Instrument Backing Tracks

Bass

• Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at CSUN (1-2 minutes).
• Perform one medium to fast jazz tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the head once, walk for one chorus, and solo for two choruses.
  • All The Things You Are
  • Billie's Bounce
  • Oleo
  • There Will Never Be Another You
• Perform Body and Soul with live musicians or with the provided backing track. Play the head once, walk for one chorus and solo for one chorus.
• Perform one straight 8th tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play the head once, bass function for one chorus and solo for two choruses.
  • Blue Bossa
  • Little Suede Shoes
  • Footprints

Bass Backing Tracks

Drums/Percussion

• Introduce yourself and explain why you're interested in studying jazz at CSUN (1-2 minutes).
• Perform one medium to fast jazz swing tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play time/comp with the head, two choruses of someone else's solo, and solo over the form for two choruses.
  • All The Things You Are
  • Billie's Bounce
  • Oleo
  • There Will Never Be Another You
• Perform one straight 8th tune from the list below with live musicians or the provided backing tracks. Play time/comp for the head one time through and one chorus of someone else's solo. Then trade 4's for two choruses.
  • Blue Bossa
  • Little Suede Shoes
  • Footprints
• Demonstrate eight measures of the following styles (feel free to stop in-between): Uptempo Swing, Shuffle, Jazz Ballad Time, 12/8 Afro Cuban, Bossa Nova, 3/4 Jazz Waltz, and Funk.
• Perform one rudimental snare drum solo of your choice.

Drums Backing Tracks