Apply to Degree Programs Audition & Interview

The list below includes standard tunes that have been pre-approved for auditions by the Jazz Department. If you wish to perform tunes that are not on this list, contact us by email at undergrad.music@utoronto.ca; please include the name of the tune as well as the composer/artist.

All pieces should be memorized and should include performance of the melody as well as improvisation. See details specific to your instrument below.

Pre-screening Video:

Play two (2) versions of Billie’s Bounce by Charlie Parker: 

1. Accompanied by a rhythm section (live, or play-along recording), play Billie’s Bounce in F Major; quarter note = approx. 174.  Include one chorus of melody and 2-3 choruses of walking.

2. Play Billie’s Bounce, unaccompanied in any key at any tempo.  Include melody and one chorus improvised solo.

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Official Audition Requirements:

Prepare three (3) contrasting pieces from the Jazz idiom; these pieces should be chosen from the list of pre-approved tunes above. 

For each piece, perform at least three (3) choruses on standard 32-form tune as follows:

• One chorus of melody, one or more choruses of improvising, one or more choruses of walking/accompaniment.
• Bassists should demonstrate their ability to improvise bass lines in the appropriate style for each piece.

Pre-screening Video:

Play Blue Bossa by Kenny Dorham and Billie’s Bounce by Charlie Parker: 

1. Blue Bossa: Accompanied by live (bass, piano, and/or guitar), or play-along recording accompaniment, play Blue Bossa quarter note = approx. 160.  Include at least one solo chorus.

2. Billie’s Bounce: Accompanied by live (bass, piano, and/or guitar), or play-along recording accompaniment, play Billie’s Bounce, quarter note = approx. 174. Include at least one solo chorus.

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Official Audition Repertoire:

Prepare three (3) contrasting pieces from the Jazz idiom; these pieces may be chosen from the list of pre-approved tunes above. 

For each piece, perform at least three (3) choruses on standard 32-form tune as follows:

• Demonstrate various styles (e.g. swing, shuffle, Afro-Cuban, funk, bossa nova & samba) at various tempos
• Should include trading 4’s and/or 8’s and/or solo on the form of the piece
• Use brushes as well as sticks

Pre-screening video:

Play two (2) versions of Billie’s Bounce by Charlie Parker: 

1. Accompanied by a rhythm section (live, or play-along recording), play Billie’s Bounce in F Major; quarter note = approx. 174.  Include melody and 2-3 choruses of improvised solo.  In addition to melody and improvising, guitarists should also comp chords for 2-3 choruses.

2. Play Billie’s Bounce, unaccompanied in any key at any tempo.  Include melody and one chorus improvised solo.

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Official audition repertoire:

Prepare three (3) contrasting pieces from the Jazz idiom; these pieces may be chosen from the list of pre-approved tunes above.

For each piece, perform three choruses on standard 32-form tune as follows:

• One chorus melody, one chorus melody, one chorus comping
• Guitarists should play one of the three required pieces unaccompanied
• Guitarists will be assessed on their ability to ‘comp’ on all jazz pieces

Pre-screening Video:

Play two (2) versions of Billie’s Bounce by Charlie Parker: 

1. Accompanied by a rhythm section (live, or play-along recording), play Billie’s Bounce in F Major; quarter note = approx. 174.  Include melody and 2-3 choruses of improvised solo. In addition to melody and improvising, pianists should also comp chords for 2-3 choruses.

2. Play Billie’s Bounce, unaccompanied in any key at any tempo.  Include melody and one chorus improvised solo.

   ---

Official Audition Repertoire:

Prepare three (3) contrasting pieces from the Jazz idiom; these pieces may be chosen from the list of pre-approved tunes above.

For each piece, perform at least three (3) choruses on standard 32-form tune as follows:

• One chorus melody, one or more choruses improvising, one or more choruses comping 
• Pianists should play one of the three required pieces unaccompanied 
• Pianists will be assessed on their ability to ‘comp’ on all jazz pieces 

Pre-screening Video:

Play two (2) versions of Billie’s Bounce by Charlie Parker: 

1. Accompanied by a rhythm section (live, or play-along recording), play Billie’s Bounce in F Major; quarter note = approx. 174.  Include melody and 2-3 choruses of improvised solo.

2. Play Billie’s Bounce, unaccompanied in any key at any tempo.  Include melody and one chorus improvised solo.

   ---

Official Audition Repertoire:

Prepare three (3) contrasting pieces from the Jazz idiom; these pieces may be chosen from the list of pre-approved tunes above. Applicants may include other “jazz standard” tunes that are not on the suggested list, if they so choose. 

For each piece, perform three (3) choruses on standard 32-form tune as follows: 

• One chorus melody, and two choruses improvising

You may choose to also demonstrate facility on flute and/or clarinet in the audition.

Additional notes: There is no need to restate the melody after improvising for any instrument.

• On shorter forms such as 16-bar or the blues, double the number of choruses indicated above.
• On 32-bar ballads, play two choruses total, improvising on the second chorus and returning to the melody for the final A section. On a 16-bar ballad, play 3-4 choruses total. 

Examples of non-standard jazz instruments may include: clarinet, flute, vibraphone, violin, etc...

Pre-screening Video:

Play two (2) versions of Billie’s Bounce by Charlie Parker: 

1.  Accompanied by a rhythm section (live, or play-along recording), play Billie’s Bounce in F Major; quarter note = approx. 174.  Include melody and 2-3 choruses of improvised solo.

2. Play Billie’s Bounce, unaccompanied in any key at any tempo.  Include melody and one chorus improvised solo.

   ---

Official Audition Repertoire:

Prepare three (3) contrasting pieces from the Jazz idiom; these pieces may be chosen from the list of pre-approved tunes above. Applicants may include other “jazz standard” tunes that are not on the suggested list, if they so choose. 

For each piece, perform three (3) choruses on standard 32-form tune as follows:

• Perform three (3) choruses total: one chorus melody and two choruses improvising

Additional notes: There is no need to restate the melody after improvising for any instrument.

• On shorter forms such as 16-bar or the blues, double the number of choruses indicated above.
• On 32-bar ballads, play two choruses total, improvising on the second chorus and returning to the melody for the final A section. On a 16-bar ballad, play 3-4 choruses total. 

Pre-screening Video:

Perform one (1) version of Autumn Leaves, music by Joseph Kosma, English lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

With a rhythm section (live, or play-along recording), sing Autumn Leaves in the key of your choice; quarter note = approx. 174 (Not performed as a ballad). The performance should contain two complete choruses of the song:

• The first chorus should be strictly interpreting the melody.       

• The second chorus should incorporate improvisation.

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Official Audition Repertoire:

Prepare three (3) contrasting pieces from the Jazz idiom; these pieces may be chosen from the list of pre-approved tunes above. Applicants may include other “jazz standard” tunes that are not on the suggested list, if they so choose. 

For each piece, perform three (3) choruses on standard 32-form tune as follows:

• Sing/interpret the melody twice and improvise one chorus.

Additional notes: There is no need to restate the melody after improvising for any instrument.

• On shorter forms such as 16-bar or the blues, double the number of choruses indicated above.
• On 32-bar ballads, play two choruses total, improvising on the second chorus and returning to the melody for the final A section. On a 16-bar ballad, play 3-4 choruses total. 

If you live within 300 km of Toronto, an in-person audition is required unless you are exclusively applying to the Music Technology & Digital Media program in the Classical stream.

If your permanent address is within 300kms from Toronto but you are temporarily residing elsewhere (for example, attending school away from home) or have an accessibility-related concern, you may be eligible to audition by recording. Contact the Admissions Office at undergrad.music@utoronto.ca prior to submitting your Music Questionnaire to request approval.

If you are auditioning in-person, the interview and musical skills assessment will take place at the same time and location as your audition. Everything takes place in one room with the same panel of adjudicators.

If you are auditioning by recording, an interview and musical skills assessment will take place in a virtual meeting faculty members via Zoom. This interview will only be scheduled after you have submitted your recorded audition link.

Note that there is no theory testing on the day of your Audition/Interview.

All applicants will complete at least one interview.

You may have more than one interview if:

• you are applying to a program in both the Classical and Jazz stream
• you are applying to two programs, one of which is Music Technology & Digital Media
• select applicants to Composition Direct-Entry may have an additional interview to discuss their portfolio

Contact the Admissions Office at undergrad.music@utoronto.ca if you have questions regarding your interview(s).

Classical

During the interview, you will be asked questions about your audition repertoire to assess your knowledge of the works you have selected, including the composers and key structural elements of the music. You may be asked questions specifically related to your program of interest. The panel will also engage you in a conversation about your musical interests, background, and goals. 

Classical

For the musical skills assessment, you may be asked to identify intervals and chords, and to sing or play back a short melody. You may also be asked to sight-read a short piece on your instrument, and/or to sight-sing a short piece.   

For in-person auditions, this will take place during your audition with the same adjudicator panel. For those auditioning by recording, this will take place during your online interview; you should be prepared to have access to your instrument, if possible.

Jazz

For the musical skills assessment, you may be asked to identify intervals and chords, and sing or playback a short melody.  

For in-person auditions, this will take place during your audition with the same adjudicator panel. For those auditioning by recording, this will take place during your online interview; you will not be required to have access to your instrument.

Music Technology & Digital Media (Classical) 

(with no other program choice)

If you are applying exclusively to MTDM (Classical), you will complete a short musical skills assessment within your MTDM online interview. You may be asked to identify intervals and chords, and sing or playback a short melody.   You will not be required to have access to your instrument for the online interview.