---
title: "Audition Requirements — Kansas City Jazz Academy"
description: "What to prepare for your Kansas City Jazz Academy audition, by instrument — prepared songs, scales, backing tracks, and sheet music."
canonical: https://kcjazzacademy.org/auditions/
---

Kansas City Jazz Academy

# Audition Requirements

Auditions are Sunday, July 12, 1–3 PM at the Gem Theater. Find your instrument below for what to prepare — prepared songs, scales, backing tracks, and downloadable sheet music.

Everyone prepares two songs — **Cantaloupe Island** and **Blue Monk** — plus scales (rudiments for drummers). Backing tracks (hosted audio and/or links) and transposed sheet music for your instrument are in each section below.

[Register on Eventbrite (opens in a new tab)](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kansas-city-jazz-academy-instrumental-combo-camp-2026-tickets-1986636538365?aff=oddtdtcreator)

## Improvisation

*   Everyone is encouraged to improvise; however, it is not mandatory for the audition.
*   Improvisation is crucial for those who desire placement in advanced ensembles.
*   If you choose not to improvise, you must be prepared to play the melodies/heads of _Cantaloupe Island_ and _Blue Monk_ as well as the scales (rudiments for drummers).

Jump to your instrument

*   [All Winds](#winds)
*   [Piano, Guitar & Vibraphone](#piano-guitar-vibraphone)
*   [Bass](#bass)
*   [Drums](#drums)

## All Winds

*   Prepared songs: _Cantaloupe Island_ and _Blue Monk_. Play the head once and improvise for two choruses. Backing tracks and/or links are provided.
*   Chromatic scale: play at least one octave and, if possible, the full range of your instrument.
*   Scales: be prepared to play 3 major scales of your choice. You will be assessed on your steady tempo and note accuracy.

Backing tracks

*   [▶ Blue Monk — B♭ instruments (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfE6xwbrHAM&pp=ygUaYmx1ZSBtb25rIGJhY2tpbmcgdHJhY2sgQmI%3D)
*   [▶ Blue Monk — E♭ instruments (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5sZ92nEbxR8&pp=0gcJCSgLAYcqIYzv)
*   [▶ Blue Monk — Trombone / concert (C) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P_8MIPyPmE)
*   [▶ Cantaloupe Island — Tenor Sax / Trumpet / Clarinet (B♭) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tleoMTRIpdc&list=RDtleoMTRIpdc&start_radio=1)
*   [▶ Cantaloupe Island — Alto / Bari Sax (E♭) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBHAQoIlIus)
*   [▶ Cantaloupe Island — Trombone (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqKkeXE4mjg&list=RDdqKkeXE4mjg&start_radio=1)

Sheet music

### B♭ instruments

![](/images/sheets/blue-monk-bb.webp)

Blue Monk [Download PDF](/documents/blue-monk-bb.pdf)

![](/images/sheets/cantaloupe-island-bb.webp)

Cantaloupe Island [Download PDF](/documents/cantaloupe-island-bb.pdf)

### E♭ instruments

![](/images/sheets/blue-monk-eb.webp)

Blue Monk [Download PDF](/documents/blue-monk-eb.pdf)

![](/images/sheets/cantaloupe-island-eb.webp)

Cantaloupe Island [Download PDF](/documents/cantaloupe-island-eb.pdf)

### Bass clef instruments (trombone)

![](/images/sheets/blue-monk-bass-clef.webp)

Blue Monk [Download PDF](/documents/blue-monk-bass-clef.pdf)

![](/images/sheets/cantaloupe-island-bass-clef.webp)

Cantaloupe Island [Download PDF](/documents/cantaloupe-island-bass-clef.pdf)

## Piano, Guitar & Vibraphone

*   Prepared songs: _Cantaloupe Island_ and _Blue Monk_. Play the melody for one chorus, comp for one chorus, and improvise one chorus. Backing tracks and/or links are provided.
*   Pianists can earn more points by preparing the introduction and ongoing ostinato in _Cantaloupe Island_.
*   Scales: be prepared to play 3 major scales of your choice. You will be assessed on your steady tempo and note accuracy.

Backing tracks

*   Blue Monk
    
*   [▶ Cantaloupe Island (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VbVcv-94LvM&list=RDVbVcv-94LvM&start_radio=1)

Sheet music

![](/images/sheets/blue-monk-c.webp)

Blue Monk · Concert (C) [Download PDF](/documents/blue-monk-c.pdf)

![](/images/sheets/cantaloupe-island-piano.webp)

Cantaloupe Island · Concert (C) [Download PDF](/documents/cantaloupe-island-piano.pdf)

## Bass

*   Prepared songs: _Cantaloupe Island_ and _Blue Monk_. Play the melody for one chorus, comp for one chorus, and improvise one chorus. Backing tracks and/or links are provided.
*   Scales: be prepared to play 3 major scales of your choice. You will be assessed on your steady tempo and note accuracy.

Backing tracks

*   Blue Monk
    
*   [▶ Cantaloupe Island (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxb-5uY3cbY&list=RDgxb-5uY3cbY&start_radio=1)

Sheet music

![](/images/sheets/blue-monk-bass-clef.webp)

Blue Monk · Bass clef [Download PDF](/documents/blue-monk-bass-clef.pdf)

![](/images/sheets/cantaloupe-island-bass-clef.webp)

Cantaloupe Island · Bass clef [Download PDF](/documents/cantaloupe-island-bass-clef.pdf)

## Drums

*   Prepared songs: _Cantaloupe Island_ and _Blue Monk_. Comp one chorus, and either improvise for one chorus or trade fours over two choruses. Backing tracks and/or links are provided.
*   Prepare these grooves: swing, bossa nova or samba, and rock/funk.
*   Rudiments: be prepared to play at least 3 rudiments of your choice. You will be assessed on a steady tempo and accuracy.

Backing tracks

*   Blue Monk
    
*   [▶ Cantaloupe Island (opens in a new tab)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWZnW37PMp4&list=RDfWZnW37PMp4&start_radio=1)

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