2012 Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop!

Mark your calendar for Sunday, July 29, through Friday, August 3, 2012.

• Combo placement auditions for all students, as well as music theory exams, will be held on Sunday, July 29.
• Workshop runs from Monday, July 30, though Friday, August 3.

Click here to register!

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Already registered but need to pay? Simply go to the Registration page and scroll to the bottom to get to the PayPal buttons.

When you are at the PayPal screen, please be sure to enter your student’s name. Paypal tells us your name and address, but not your student’s name.

Audition Info

Short placement auditions are held on the Sunday just before workshop week – July 29 this year, at times to be assigned. Prepare a short jazz etude of your choice, and chromatic and major scales up to 3 flats and 3 sharps. You may be asked to sight read a simple jazz selection as well.

Musicians interested in placement in an advanced combo should know all 12 major scales, and be prepared to play an improvised piece. Bring the accompanying CD (an Aebersold CD, for example) to the audition.

Every jazz-loving musician is welcome at jazz camp, but you’ll get the most out of it if you have at least two years on your instrument and experience playing with an ensemble. Lafayette Summer Music Workshop has welcomed musician/campers from ages 12 to adult, who play standard jazz instruments – trumpets, saxes, trombones, rhythm section (piano, bass, drums, guitar, vibes), plus additional instruments (flute, for example) on an occasional basis.

2012 Jazz Workshop Audition Details

On Sunday, July 29, 2012, we’ll be holding combo placement auditions for all students, as well as music theory exams from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

By July 15, 2012, registered attendees will be e-mailed an audition time. The audition itself is 10-15 minutes, but allow 45 minutes to sign in, warm up and complete the music theory test too. Here are a few more details:

• All auditions are held at Stanley School in Lafayette, the same location as the camp itself. Arrive 20 minutes before your audition time and check in at the registration desk.
• Pick up a theory test at the registration table too – when you’re done, hand it back there too. Don’t worry. These tests are used to place you in the correct level theory class, so you’re not in over your head.
• Likewise, the live placement audition guarantees that you are placed in the correct level combo and master class. You’ll be playing 6 major scales and a prepared jazz piece.
• If you are an intermediate or advanced player, you will want to study and play the sample tunes for levels 3, 4, and 5, just to get a feel for what’s expected and what level you are. There will be sight-reading, in which you will play the melody and improvise over the chord changes of a tune chosen by the auditioner.
• Drummers will be playing with a professional bass player and piano
  player. A drum set will be provided.
• Bassists will be playing with a professional pianist and drummer. Amplifiers are provided for guitar and bass auditions. Pianos are provided for piano auditions.

2012 Scholarship Application

A limited number of scholarships are available! To apply, download the scholarship application, and follow the instructions on it.

You will need a letter of recommendation from your music teacher, an audition tape or CD, and a letter from your parent or guardian that explains your need for financial assistance.

The application deadline is May 1, and notifications of award will be made May 20.

Audition Repertoire – What Level Are You?

What level are you? Check out the recommended repertoire below …

Level 1 – Little or no Jazz or improvisation experience – If you’re a beginner, don’t worry. We know you’re here to learn, and we’re here to help! This should be a fun 10 minutes for you !

To be considered for a more advanced level combo, here are representative tunes from each level. These tunes have been recorded by top musicians all over the world.  If you chose to play a tune from this list, we will have play-along CDs and music.  If you decide to prepare a piece not on this list, please bring a play-along CD if you want to use one. For Bassists and Drummers, bring two copies of the music.

Level 2
Now’s The Time, C Jam Blues, and other Blues heads
Impressions
Watermelon Man

Level 3
Autumn Leaves
Song For My Father
Pent-Up House
Lady Bird
Lullaby of Birdland
Blue Bossa
Satin Doll

Level 4
Afternoon in Paris
Softly, As In A Morning Sunrise
Rhythm Changes Tunes
I’ll Remember April
Strollin’
What Is This Thing Called Love
The Days of Wine and Roses

Level 5
All The Things You Are
Stella By Starlight
Tune Up
Giant Steps
Cherokee

Thanks To Everyone For The Great 2011 Jazz Workshop!

Wow, the 2011 Lafayette Summer Music Jazz Workshop was awesome, from Audition Day to the incredible Final Concert, where everyone played. We are already getting ready for 2012! Watch this site for news about next year.

To see some great videos posted by participants of this year’s program, visit our Facebook Group!
LSMJW Facebook Group