McGill.CA / Music / Programs / Minor Programs

Jazz Performance; B.Mus. (Minor)

Program Description

Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.) - Minor Jazz Performance (18 Credits)

Admission Requirements

  • Open to Bachelor of Music students only (excluding students in Jazz Performance Major & BMus Faculty Jazz)
  • Completion of minimum two semesters at McGill
  • Completion of MUIN 282 or MUIN 283 with minimum grade of A-
  • Minimum CGPA of 3.0
  • Students must pass an audition

Audition

  • The audition will take place between February 24 and March 4, 2024.
  • An audition fee will be charged. A current audition fee rate is found under Schulich School of Music fees on the Student Accounts website.

Audition Material

For all instruments including voice (except drums, see drums requirements below)

For each selection, prepare the melody and an improvised solo. The tunes listed below are examples.

If you chose a tune that is not on the list, please bring a lead sheet for the rhythm section. 

Bassists: Be prepared to demonstrate walking lines as well as solo ability on all three pieces. 

Pianists and guitarists: Be prepared to demonstrate comping as well as solo ability on all three pieces.

  1. Select one piece from each of the three categories below.
    • Blues (examples: Billie's Bounce; Au Privave; Straight No Chaser; Tenor Madness; Sonny Moon for Two; Blues Walk)
       
    • Ballads (examples: Body and Soul; What's New; I Can't Get Started; I Fall in Love too Easily)
       
    • Jazz Standards (examples: Blue Bossa; Solar; All the Things You Are; So What; Green Dolphin Street; What is this Thing Called Love; Stella by Starlight; Four; Night and Day).
  2. Prepare one transcription and play it along with the original recording.
    • For example: play along with the original recording of Charlie Parker's improvised solo on Now's the Time.

      The object is to evaluate accuracy, style, time concept, articulation, phrasing and sound.

      The transcription should be memorized and, for live auditions, be sure to bring a CD of the original recording to play along with your transcription .
       
  3. You are required to play/sing major scales and modes, major, minor, dominant seventh chords and arpeggios, diminished seventh chords and arpeggios, diminished and whole tone scales.

 

For Jazz Drums

  1. Prepare a short study (2-3 minutes) to show rudimental skills.
     
  2. Prepare a short transcription (1-2 choruses) of an important jazz drummer (such as Max Roach, Joe Morello, Roy Haynes, Art Blakey). 

    The object is to evaluate accuracy, style, time concept, articulation, phrasing and sound.

    The transcription should be memorized.
     
  3. You are required to demonstrate the following proficiencies -

    (examples of pieces that could be performed: Billie's Bounce; Au Privave; Straight No Chaser; Tenor Madness; Sonny Moon for Two; Blues Walk, All theThings You Are; So What, Green Dolphin Street; Stella by Starlight; Four; Night and Day)  
    • Slow/Medium/Fast Swing, Jazz Shuffle, Straight-8th styles (“ECM”, Cuban and Brazilian grooves), Afro-Cuban-12/8.
    • Trading 4's, 8's or choruses on a blues, 32-bar AABA tune, and tunes of alternating latin, swing, latin, swing sections, while keeping the form of the pieces.
       
  4. Be prepared to demonstrate your ability to play with brushes as well as sticks and to change smoothly from brushes to sticks.


Application

Interested students must submit a jazz performance minor application between December 1 and February 15.

Application result is communicated by mid-March.

Successful applicants will have the minor added to their records as of early June after they have registered for at least one course in the following fall semester.

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