Disciplines / 02 — Jazz
Language, listening, improvisation, and the search for an individual voice.
The track
Jazz is both a historical tradition and a living, evolving artistic language. Participants deepen their understanding of repertoire while developing an authentic individual voice.
The Jazz track supports young instrumentalists who demonstrate a strong foundation in rhythm, ensemble awareness, improvisation, stylistic understanding, and creative communication.
The program values communication and musical judgment as much as technical display — encouraging artists to listen, respond, and shape music in real time alongside others.
Program development may include
Audition requirements
Demonstrating time, feel, improvisation, listening, stylistic understanding, and individual voice. 8–15 minutes total
One selection should demonstrate a clear groove and improvised development. Include the melody or principal material and enough improvised content for the committee to evaluate development and interaction.
The second should provide meaningful contrast in tempo, style, character, or form — a standard, blues, ballad, bebop, Latin or Afro-Cuban repertoire, contemporary jazz, or an original. A high-quality accompaniment track may be used when live collaborators are unavailable.
The committee evaluates rhythmic command, sound, improvisational language, form, ensemble awareness, creativity, musical judgment, and communication.