Damascus High School Instrumental Music
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Jazz Band Audition Requirements

  1. Required music:  Music for all instruments will be provided.  Learn all excerpts in their entirety.  Click the links below to download excerpts.
    • Drum Set (in addition to excerpts):  Alternate between 4 bars of time, 4 bars of solo, 4 bars of time, 4 bars of solo in both swing and bossa nova styles.
  2. Scales:  Students should be prepared to play the following scales:  C, G, D, A, F, Bb, and Eb.  2 scales will be picked at random for the actual audition.  Scales must be played in swing 8th notes.  They do not need to be memorized.  Scales are in your key, not concert key.
  3. Improvisation (optional):  Students can be prepared to improvise over chords to a Bb (concert) blues.  Improvisation is optional and not required to be accepted into the jazz ensemble.  It may be used in a situation where a tie needs to be broken.
  4. Sight reading:  A brief sight reading excerpt will be provided. 
 
 
Students must sign up for an audition day and time to audition at DHS. 
 
Auditions will take place during lunch and after school between January 14th and January 17th.  No other auditions will be taken after January 17th. 
 
Sign up for an audition by visiting the Sign Up Genius at https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0944A9A823A3FD0-symphonic2
 
Good luck!  If you have any questions, contact Mr. Doherty via phone at (240) 207-2353 or e-mail at Charles_Doherty@mcpsmd.org.
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Requirements (information above in a PDF)
Saxophone
Trumpet
Trombone
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Drums
Rubric