Thanks in advance for your mentoring of our students preparing for this exciting event!

Please reach out if I may be of any help or clarification.

Eric Richards, D.M.A.
Director of Bands and Jazz Studies
Sheridan College
(307) 675-0733

2023-24 WY All-State
INSTRUMENTAL JAZZ AUDITION Materials

We are using a new format for our instrumental audition materials. After discussion and review by the WJE Executive Board, WJE has decided to utilize a set of jazz audition etudes I was commissioned to write by the Nebraska Music Educators Association. I am sharing these etudes at no cost to WJE/WMEA.

There are two etudes in alternating styles for each year, much like the All-state Band Etudes. In addition to assessing performance aptitude, each etude was also written as a traditional “teaching etude” intended to improve a specific jazz performance technique. Each etude contains a notated passage and an optional improvisation passage. While the improvisation is optional, it is highly recommended that the student attempt to improvise on the audition recording. Rest assured that any recorded improvisations will be assessed with a “student-friendly” perspective!

This year’s etudes are designated as SET A and are comprised of:

ETUDE B1 - SWING

and
ETUDE B2 - SAMBA

Each audition etude package has three components for the student:
1. a PDF of the etude
2. a recorded example of the etude
3. a playalong track for practice and the audition

Eachstudent should submit TWO MP3s (with the exception of Lead Trumpet [1 etude] &

Auxiliary Percussion [1 etude]):

1 for ETUDE B1- SWING

1 for ETUDE B2- SAMBA

The instrumentation for each etude is:
ETUDE B1-SWING
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Lead Trumpet (optional)

* Trumpet auditionees wishing to be considered for the Lead Trumpet chair should also record the ETUDE A1-Shuffle etude for a total of three submitted recordings.
Trumpet
Tenor Trombone
Bass Trombone
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Vibes
Drum Set

ETUDE B2-SAMBA
Alto Sax
Tenor Sax
Baritone Sax
Trumpet

Tenor Trombone
Bass Trombone
Guitar
Piano
Bass
Vibes
Drum Set
Auxiliary Percussion (Congas)

Here are download links for a Zipped folder of materials for both etudes for each instrument.
Clicking these buttons will automatically send the files to your DOWNLOADS folder: