Jazz and Global Music

Blair Jazz

Director of Jazz Studies: Ryan Middagh

The department of Jazz Studies at Vanderbilt's Blair School of Music pursues in-depth study of North American improvisational music and how it intersects with diverse music of the world. Through excellence in scholarship, creative live performance, touring; recording sessions, and community outreach and engagement, we foster the next generation of professional musicians, creative artists and critical thinkers.

Pre-screening & Audition Repertoire Requirements

All applicants must complete a pre-screening video according to their program (instrument, voice, composition or jazz.) Pre-screening requirements are the same regardless of your specific major of interest. For example: all voice applicants will follow the vocal requirements below no matter what they plan to major in (Performance, Integrated Studies, or along the Musical Arts degree.) Once the admissions process is complete, admitted students will notify us of their intended specific major. You can learn more about these majors here. Jazz applicants should follow the specific Jazz requirements for pre-screening and audition on their primary instrument or voice.

All applicants should feel free to reach out to Blair Admissions with audition repertoire questions.

  • Audition Repertoire for the Jazz Department

    Applicants interested in jazz studies should prepare the following for their primary instrument or voice. The following areas are eligible for application to a major in Jazz Studies: Voice, Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone, Guitar, Piano, Bass, and Drum set. 

    • Jazz Drum Set Requirements 
    • All other instruments and voices select three tunes from different categories below, playing the melody and improvising over the form. Applicants are required to perform repertoire from memory for prescreening and audition. Instrumentalists are to perform "Tall and Lanky" as one of their three pieces.
      • Required for all instrumentalists: Tall and Lanky
      • Blues: Billie's Bounce; Footprints; Blues for Alice
      • Great American Songbook: Like Someone in Love, A Foggy Day, I'm Beginning to See the Light, On a Clear Day, There Will Never Be Another You
      • Ballad: Nearness of You, In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning, Darn That Dream, Skylark, My Romance
      • Latin/Straight: Wave, Tristeza, Carcovado (Quiet Nights), Mas Que Nada, Like a Lover (O Cantador)
    • Rhythm Section instruments must demonstrate ability to play diverse styles and grooves (audition only) 
    • An additional tune from a different category (from the list above) not included in prescreening selections (audition only) 
    • Sight-reading (audition only) 

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