Contact:
Kerry Marsh, Director of Vocal Jazz
Department of Music
California State University, Sacramento
6000 J Street
Sacramento, CA 95819-6015
email: kerry@kerrymarsh.net
916-233-7066

Auditions for Sac State Vocal Jazz groups are held at the beginning of every semester. Sign-up and information sheets will be posted in Capistrano Hall before school begins for the semester. The audition will last about 10 minutes, and will consist of the following:

1. Performance of a prepared song, preferably in the jazz style. "Summertime," "Autumn Leaves," "Route 66," and "My Funny Valentine" are some examples of appropriate audition songs. If you have questions about this requirement, feel free to email Kerry Marsh, and he will help guide you. Improvisation is not required in your audition, but it never hurts to try.
   
2. Ear training exercises. First, you will hear a series of three or four pitches on the piano, and you'll be asked to sing them back. Then you'll be given a starting pitch and asked to sing notes that are certain intervals away (up a 5th, down a minor 3rd, etc.)
   
3. Range testing. You'll be asked to sing major and/or minor triads from starting pitches, and your comfortable and usable voice range will be determined.
   
4. Quick part-learning: You will pick up a short piece of music a few days before the audition. The music will be posted for pickup on the jazz info board, outside the music recital hall. You will be asked to learn your part, and in the audition, you'll sing along with a recording that has your part removed. You'll have one trial pass at the recording to become acquainted with the tempo and feel.