Jazz Drums Audition Information

All undergraduate applicants must apply to the University of Colorado and complete a College of Music Admission Application. Applications may be obtained online through the Admissions section. Undergraduate auditions will not be scheduled until both applications have been received. Graduate students need only complete the graduate application.

For information on applying for our ensembles, visit the Ensembles section.

Audition requirements

In-person live: Students will be asked to play music meeting the rep. requirements listed below.

  • Med. swing: metronome marking (mm)=140
  • Bright/fast swing: mm=240+
  • Samba, Bossa, or salsa groove: mm=your choice
  • Jazz waltz: mm=130
  • 12/8 Afro Cuban groove: mm=120
  • Funk or hip hop groove: mm = your choice
  • “Straight No Chaser” (blues by Thelonious Monk): mm=140
    • For this selection, you’ll play the melody 2x; play two 12-bar chorus of time; play two 12-bar choruses of a solo and finish with one chorus of the melody again for a total of seven continuous 12-bar choruses. When playing the melody, you’ll play the rhythm of the melody along with outlining the melodic shape on the drums as best you can. (Low notes on lower sounding drums, high notes on higher sounding drums and cymbals.)

Recorded:
If you choose to submit a recorded audition, then record an example of all the grooves/styles listed above. You may submit separate recordings or a single continuous recording.

Note: For accompaniment on your recorded audition, students can record with a live band or use play-along tracks such as iReal Pro, Aebersold recordings or “Learn Jazz Standards” on YouTube.​

Virtual-live:
Students participating in virtual live jazz auditions can expect to use this as an opportunity to ask/answer questions; jazz auditions will be 15 minutes each. Additionally, students should prepare a jazz etude or transcription 3-5 minutes in length to perform. No accompaniment is needed.

Degree sheets

Jazz drums studio      

Graduate (MM) jazz applicant requirements

Options: Jazz bass, jazz drum set, jazz guitar, jazz piano, jazz saxophone, jazz trombone, jazz trumpet and jazz voice.

Pre-screening recording

A pre-screening recording is required for all graduate jazz performance and pedagogy applicants. Live auditions will be granted to applicants chosen from these recordings. Applicants will be notified of the faculty decision no later than one month prior to any live audition.

Pre-screening recording requirements

  • Five different jazz tunes (applicant’s choice), representing five contrasting styles and tempos. Examples of styles include: Latin jazz, Blues, Ballads, Bebop, Funk, ECM, Free Jazz, Jazz Standards (Monk, Ellington, Mingus, etc.) and Great American Songbook/Standards (Porter, Gershwin, etc.).  
    • For all instruments, you should record the melody followed by at least one chorus of improvisation. For rhythm section instruments, include an additional chorus of accompaniment (comping, walking bass, etc.).
    • Vocalists may sing wordless vocals or compose their own lyrics for songs without lyrics. 
  • Applicants can also upload and submit any additional materials (e.g. arrangements, compositions, copies of recitals or other recordings, written articles, etc.) along with their pre-screening recordings online.

Applicants are required to upload their additional materials along with their recordings to the Graduate application by Dec. 1. 

Graduate degree sheets

Thompson Jazz Studies Program     

Graduate (DMA) jazz applicant requirements

Options: Jazz bass, jazz drum set, jazz guitar, jazz piano, jazz saxophone, jazz trombone, jazz trumpet and jazz voice.

Pre-screening recording

A pre-screening recording is required for all graduate jazz studies applicants. Live auditions will be granted to applicants chosen from these recordings. Applicants will be notified of the faculty decision no later than one month prior to any live audition.

Pre-screening recording requirements

  • Five different jazz tunes (applicant’s choice), representing five contrasting styles and tempos.  Examples of styles include:  Latin jazz, Blues, Ballads, Bebop, Funk, ECM, Free Jazz, Jazz Standards (Monk, Ellington, Mingus, etc), Great American Songbook/Standards (Porter, Gershwin, etc.).  
    • For all instruments, you should record the melody followed by at least one chorus of improvisation. For rhythm section instruments, include an additional chorus of accompaniment (comping, walking bass, etc.).
    • Vocalists may sing wordless vocals or compose their own lyrics for songs without lyrics.
  • Applicants can also upload and submit any additional materials (e.g. arrangements, compositions, copies of recitals or other recordings, written articles, etc.) along with their pre-screening recordings online.

Applicants are required to upload their additional materials along with their recordings to the Graduate application by Dec. 1. 

Graduate degree sheets 

Thompson Jazz Studies Program  

For information about the Artist Diploma in jazz studies, please contact John Gunther.