Kansas City Jazz Academy

Audition Requirements

Fall 2026 materials remain available for reference. Spring 2027 audition requirements and dates will be announced.

Students may choose one of two audition options based on the ensemble level they wish to be considered for. Option 1 — Advanced Ensembles prepare Autumn Leaves; Option 2 — Standard Ensembles prepare Blues By Five.

Please note: auditioning for an advanced ensemble does not guarantee placement in that ensemble. Final placements are based on audition results, balanced ensemble instrumentation, and other musical considerations.

Fall 2026 registration is closed. Questions about the next semester? Email [email protected].

Spring Semester 2027 preview

All Winds

Option 1 — Advanced Ensembles

For placement in: 18th Street Combo Williams Combo Vine Street Combo

Prepare Autumn Leaves and be ready to:

  • Play the melody (head).
  • Improvise over the chord changes for at least one chorus using appropriate accompaniment or a backing track.
  • Play any major scale upon request.
  • Sight-read.
Autumn Leaves — backing track

Sheet music

Autumn Leaves · B♭ instruments Download PDF
Autumn Leaves · E♭ instruments Download PDF
Autumn Leaves · Bass clef (trombone) Download PDF

Option 2 — Standard Ensembles

For placement in: J. MIQ Combo 12th Street Combo

Prepare Blues By Five and be ready to:

  • Play the melody (head).
  • Improvise over the chord changes for at least one chorus using appropriate accompaniment or a backing track (optional; students who improvise will receive additional audition points).
  • Play three major scales of your choice.
  • Sight-read.
Blues By Five — backing track

Sheet music

Blues By Five · B♭ instruments Download PDF
Blues By Five · E♭ instruments Download PDF
Blues By Five · Bass clef (trombone) Download PDF

Piano, Guitar & Vibraphone

Option 1 — Advanced Ensembles

For placement in: 18th Street Combo Williams Combo Vine Street Combo

Prepare Autumn Leaves and be ready to:

  • Play the melody (head).
  • Comp for one chorus.
  • Improvise over the chord changes for at least one chorus.
  • Play any major scale upon request.
  • Sight-read.
Autumn Leaves — backing track

Sheet music

Autumn Leaves · Concert (C) Download PDF

Option 2 — Standard Ensembles

For placement in: J. MIQ Combo 12th Street Combo

Prepare Blues By Five and be ready to:

  • Play the melody (head).
  • Comp for one chorus.
  • Improvise over the chord changes (optional; students who improvise will receive additional audition points).
  • Play three major scales of your choice.
  • Sight-read.
Blues By Five — backing track

Sheet music

Blues By Five · Concert (C) Download PDF

Bass

Option 1 — Advanced Ensembles

For placement in: 18th Street Combo Williams Combo Vine Street Combo

Prepare Autumn Leaves and be ready to:

  • Play the melody (head).
  • Walk bass (comp) for one chorus.
  • Improvise over the chord changes for at least one chorus.
  • Play any major scale upon request.
  • Sight-read.
Autumn Leaves — backing track

Sheet music

Autumn Leaves · Bass clef Download PDF

Option 2 — Standard Ensembles

For placement in: J. MIQ Combo 12th Street Combo

Prepare Blues By Five and be ready to:

  • Play the melody (head).
  • Improvise over the chord changes for at least one chorus (optional; students who improvise will receive additional audition points).
  • Play three major scales of your choice.
  • Sight-read.
Blues By Five — backing track

Sheet music

Blues By Five · Bass clef Download PDF

Drums

Option 1 — Advanced Ensembles

For placement in: 18th Street Combo Williams Combo Vine Street Combo

Prepare Autumn Leaves and be ready to:

  • Comp for one chorus.
  • Improvise for one chorus or trade fours over two choruses.
  • Perform these grooves: swing, bossa nova or samba, and rock/funk.
  • Play three rudiments of your choice. Evaluation will focus on steady tempo and accuracy.
Autumn Leaves — backing track

Option 2 — Standard Ensembles

For placement in: J. MIQ Combo 12th Street Combo

Prepare Blues By Five and be ready to:

  • Comp for one chorus.
  • Improvise for one chorus or trade fours over two choruses (optional; students who choose to improvise will receive additional audition points).
  • Perform at least two of these grooves: swing, bossa nova or samba, and rock/funk.
  • Play three rudiments of your choice. Evaluation will focus on steady tempo and accuracy.
Blues By Five — backing track

← Back to the Jazz Academy