Audition and Application Information
Jazz Studies
Undergraduate and Graduate Requirements
All applicants to the Jazz Studies program (both undergraduate and graduate) must:
- Submit an online video audition and Audition Application form
- Be accepted by the Department of Music
- Be admitted into LSU New Orleans' undergraduate program or Graduate School.
There are two components to your application:
Part One: Apply to the University
We use the Target X platform for our application process. Please apply through the main University application process first.
Professor Brian Seeger
Email: [email protected]
The Department of Music accepts students in accordance with requirements from the Office of Admissions. Applications may be submitted at any time, but the department strongly encourages applicants to submit their materials well before the university deadlines.
Part Two: Online Audition Video
Online auditions allow us to assess your best work and eliminate the need for you to travel to the campus.
Audition Requirements for Undergraduate Applicants
At least two selections and not more than four that demonstrate your best playing. Most jazz standards will be appropriate. It can be helpful if your pieces demonstrate different aspects of your skill set, your exposure to the jazz idiom, your ability to improvise, and your ability to play your instrument. If you are a pianist or guitarist, please include some comping.
In addition to your standards submission, please record yourself playing at least 24 measures of a transcribed jazz solo along with the original recording. State your name and the name of the piece and the recording before you start playing it.
The following is a list of additional requirements for the audition video.
- If you are a guitarist: a short solo guitar arrangement.
- If you are a drummer:
- a two to three minute video that shows you playing different feels (your pick: Latin-Jazz, Brazilian, Caribbean, shuffle, traditional jazz, boogaloo, odd-times etc, etc).
- a short brush work video.
- a video where you trade fours with yourself on a medium swing.
- If you are a vocalist: demonstrate your ability to "scat."
Audition Requirements for Graduate Applicants
At least two selections and not more than four that demonstrate your best playing. Most jazz standards will be appropriate. It can be helpful if your pieces demonstrate different aspects of your skill set, your exposure to the jazz idiom, your ability to improvise, your ability to play your instrument and your creativity. If you are a pianist or guitarist, please include some comping. If you are submitting more than two selections, please feel free to include an original tune, arrangement or something beyond the standard repertoire.
In addition to your standards submission, please record yourself playing at least 32 measures of a transcribed jazz solo along with the original recording. Also submit a native format (not a PDF) Finale, Sibelius, Musescore (or similar) chart that you created for your transcription. Include the chord changes, your name and the recording information of the piece in the notation file. There is no minimum notation skill requirement for entry into the concentration, but this information helps us when determining a program path for you.
The following is a list of additional requirements for the audition video.
Everyone that is not a piano player or guitarist: demonstrate your ability on a harmonic instrument. There is no minimum skill requirement for entry into the program, but this information helps us when determining a program path for you.
- If you are a guitarist: a short solo guitar arrangement.
- If you are a drummer:
- a two to three minute video that shows you playing different feels (your pick: Latin-Jazz, Brazilian, Caribbean, shuffle, traditional jazz, boogaloo, odd-times etc, etc).
- a short brush work video.
- a video where you trade fours with yourself on a medium swing.
- If you are a vocalist: demonstrate your ability to "scat."
Please adhere to the following guidelines when preparing the audition video:
- You may use any video recorder as long as all of the instruments can be heard clearly and are well-balanced.
- Please specify the concentration for which you are applying (undergraduate or graduate).
- You may use a "play-along" recording if you do not have a back-up ensemble, although it would be helpful if at least one of your recordings was with other people.
- Place your best performance first on the recording.
- If you are performing with other people, please state your name and instrument at the beginning of the piece or include it in the title so we know who you are.
- All of your performances, including your performance of the transcription, should be done by memory.
- After recording, upload your videos to YouTube or a similar platform. Include your name and the name of the pieces in the online titles.
- It is not required that you send a resume, but we will look it over if you include it with your submission.
- Send an email containing the following with the words "AUDITION SUBMISSION" in the header to Brian Seeger at [email protected]:
- the links to your videos
- your completed Performance Audition Form (attached as a .pdf) Click Here to Download