Fall 2026 OSU Jazz Placement Auditions
Scroll below to you instrument group to find details (including pdf excerpts) for your jazz placement audition. Everyone is encouraged to audition regardless of major.
Rhythm Section Auditions
(guitar, piano, bass, and drums)
Prepared piece is “Perhaps” (PDF’s available in treble clef or bass clef)
OSU Jazz rhythm section auditions will occur on Tuesday, August 18 at 6pm in GSM 110. If you want to play in a big band or combo, you must attend this audition. For this audition, I will hear you play in combo format. There is no signup sheet for the rhythm section auditions. Please arrive promptly at 6pm with your lead sheet for “Perhaps”.
Drummers: Drums and cymbals will be set up for you so that all you have to do is show up. You’ll just need to bring your lead sheet for “Perhaps” and your sticks and brushes (if you have brushes). Drummers may be asked to play different grooves to show their range (medium swing, fast swing, bossa nova, swing waltz, Afro Cuban, Funk, swing with brushes)..
Bassists: A bass amp will be set up for you. You will need to bring your bass, instrument cable, and lead sheet for “Perhaps”. (bass clef version).
Guitarists: A guitar amp will be set up for you. You will need to bring your guitar, instrument cable, and lead sheet for “Perhaps”. (treble clef version).
Pianists: A Steinway grand piano will be set up for you. You will only need to bring your lead sheet for “Perhaps”. (treble clef version).
Piano, Guitar, Bass, and Drums auditions will all use “Perhaps” as the prepared excerpt. This Charlie Parker tune is a twelve-bar blues in C. Piano, guitar, and bass will play the melody in unison for the first two choruses, then comp and improvise over the chords for “Perhaps” (12-bar blues in C) for the remaining choruses. There is a pdf in bass clef as well as one in treble clef. Drummers can play time (swing) for the entirety of this portion of the audition. Click here for a recording.
In addition to “Perhaps”, you will be given a short section of a big band chart to sight read. If you are only interested in playing in a jazz combo (not big band), then you will not be asked to sight read.
Jazz Saxophone Auditions
Jazz saxophone auditions will occur Sunday, August 16, 12pm-2:15pm in GSM 407. If you want to play in a big band or combo, you must attend this audition. I will hear you individually on your main saxophone. Doubling on flute and/or clarinet is encouraged though not required. I will have a piece ready for you to sight read on flute and/or clarinet if you want to play flute and/or clarinet. Improvising is also encouraged though not required. For those wanting to improvise at the audition, I will have a stereo system ready to play any song from the iRealPro jazz standard library. In addition to the prepared excerpt (link above), you will be given a short piece to sight read.
A signup sheet is now posted on my office door (GSM 407). Please come by and sign up for your audition time slot.
Jazz Trumpet Auditions
Jazz trumpet auditions will occur on Tuesday, August 18 starting at 7:30pm in GSM 110. If you want to play in a big band or combo, you must attend this audition. I will hear you individually for approximately five minutes. All trumpeters should prepare the trumpet excerpt for the audition. You will also be given a short piece to sight read. Improvising is also encouraged though not required. For those wanting to improvise at the audition, I will have a stereo system ready to play any song from the iRealPro jazz standard library.
A signup sheet is now posted on my office door (GSM 407). Please come by and sign up for your audition time slot.
Jazz Trombone Auditions
Jazz trombone auditions will occur on Sunday, August 16 starting at 3pm in GSM 110. If you want to play in a big band or combo, you must attend this audition. I will hear you individually for approximately five minutes. Please prepare the tenor trombone excerpt or bass trombone excerpt for your audition. You will also be given a short piece to sight read. Improvising is also encouraged though not required. For those wanting to improvise at the audition, I will have a stereo system ready to play any song from the iRealPro jazz standard library.
A signup sheet is now posted on my office door (GSM 407). Please come by and sign up for your audition time slot.
Registration Information
- Jazz Orchestra; JAZZ 3610/5610 (CRN 63584 undergraduate / 63588 graduate) meets MWF 2:30-3:20 in GSM 110.
- Jazz Ensemble; JAZZ 3620/5620 (CRN 63585 undergraduate / ? graduate) meets MWF 11:30-12:20 in GSM 110.
- Jazz Combos; JAZZ 4600/5600 (CRN 63586 undergraduate / 63587 graduate) meeting times to be determined. Combos meet twice weekly for one hour. Combos rehearse on weekday evenings.
- First rehearsals for both Jazz Orchestra and Jazz Ensemble will occur Wednesday, August 19 in GSM 110.
Jazz Combos
If you would like to play in a jazz combo, you will need to attend the Combo Scheduling Meeting on August 19 at 7pm in GSM 110. Please bring your class schedules with you as we will be arranging meeting times. Please be prepared to be flexible in terms of scheduling. Jazz Combos will begin rehearsing during the second week of classes.
Jazz Theory I
If you would like to learn how to improvise jazz, consider registering for JAZZ 4002 Jazz Theory I (CRN 62856 undergraduate / 65650 graduate). Offered every fall semester. Music Majors FYI, the combination of Jazz Theory I & II can be used to swap out Music Theory IV & Sight Singing IV.
Jazz Lessons
To be eligible to take jazz lessons, you must be a declared jazz minor or jazz performance major.
- For jazz wind instrument private lessons (sax, trumpet, trombone, etc), JAZZ 3010 (CRN 63278)
- For jazz bass private lessons, JAZZ 3010 (CRN 63281)
- For guitar private lessons, JAZZ 3010 (CRN 63280)
- For jazz drums private lessons, JAZZ 3010 (CRN 63282)
Jazz Forum (every Wednesday)
Each Wednesday, in GSM 110, 12:30pm-1:20pm, OSU Jazz will feature performances from students and combos. All University students are invited to attend these free public performances. Jazz Forum counts for Recital Attendance credit. The first Jazz Forum will occur 8/26/26. On 9/23/26, Musician Casting Specialist for Princess Cruises. Mr. Shackelford will explain how to get a cruise ship gig as well as benefits and compensation. While here, Mr. Shackelford will also be auditioning students for Princess Cruises.
Princess Cruises Auditions
9/23/26; 3:45pm-9:30pm; GSM 221