Eligibility

The University of Oregon Jazz Improvisation Camp is open to all wind, percussion, guitar, bass (upright or electric), and piano players who are completing grades 7 -12. Graduating seniors are welcome! A recorded audition is required to attend this camp as well as submission of the camp application form with parental permission.

Auditions

An audition recording* is required for new campers with the following exceptions: All-State participants, State Solo Contest top three finishers, and scholarship recipients. Please indicate on the application whether you are exempt from submitting an audition. Returning campers do NOT need to submit a recorded audition.

Recorded auditions* should be digital files uploaded to the application or emailed either as attachments or with file-sharing links to musiccamps@uoregon.edu. Recordings do not need to be professionally recorded. Emails need to include camper name, instrument, and all recorded files must be clearly named.

*Must be on the same instrument you will play at camp. 

Applications are not considered complete without the submission of an audition. Although the application/audition deadline is June 20^th, please note that spaces often fill by May and a spot is not held until the audition is reviewed and the applicant is accepted to the camp. Applicants will usually be notified of their status within two weeks of submitting their audition.

Acceptance to the camp is based on whether we feel participants will benefit from our curriculum, and priority is not given to more advanced players, but rather on a first-come, first-served basis. We recommend submitting an audition by May (at the latest) in the event the camp fills up early. Once full, a notice will be placed on the website, and new applications/auditions will be placed on a waitlist.

*Audition Requirements (Winds, Guitar, Piano and Bass)

• Major scales in as many keys as possible (two octaves if possible).
• 2 to 3 minutes of either a classical or jazz solo piece
• Optional: 2 to 3 minutes improvising over a blues or jazz standard (This can be an excerpt from a concert or a recording of you playing along with a play-along recording (e.g. Jamey Aebersold books, Learn Jazz Standards tracks, etc.).

*Audition Requirements (Drums)

16 measures of as many of the following grooves (on drumset) as possible:

• Medium Swing at m.m. = 138
• Bossa Nova at m.m. = 132
• Samba at m.m. = 100
• Funk at m.m. = 88
• Up-tempo Swing at m.m. = 108
• 2 to 3 minutes of a recording of you with an ensemble (not necessarily a jazz ensemble)

Combo Placement Auditions

On the first day of camp after the general meeting, campers will take a theory placement test and perform a combo placement audition. All students should be prepared to play a portion of a jazz solo or etude. We will also ask you to try your hand at improvising and to play a few scales. Drummers will be asked to play basic swing, rock, and Latin beats, as well as to “trade fours.” DON’T WORRY! If you’ve never improvised or are unfamiliar with basic beats, then this IS the camp for you. EVERYONE is here to learn. The purpose of the audition is to place you in a combo with other campers of similar skill.