Jazz Area

Jazz at UNO

Award-winning ensembles in the Jazz Area continue to receive acclaim for their outstanding musical performances from internationally recognized jazz artists, clinicians, and adjudicators. Students can take classes in Jazz Piano, Improvisation, and Jazz Pedagogy in addition to private lessons and weekly masterclasses.

UNO Jazz students: View a comprehensive schedule of rehearsals and performances as well as information regarding jazz masterclass.

UNO Jazz students: View a jazz course rotation here.

How to Apply

Program Requirements

Audition Requirements:

Jazz Winds

1. Perform two pices of contrasting musical styles:
   1. We recommend that one of the selected pieces is a standard work in 12-Bar Blues form where the candidate performs the head for one chorus and an improvised solo for at least one chorus.
   2. Other appropriate and contrasting audition repertoire would be one of the following Jazz standards (or something similar): Satin Doll, Summertime, Blue Bossa, or Song For My Father. We recommend the candidate performs the head for one chorus and an improvised solo for at least one chorus.
2. The audition committee may also ask for all major and minor scales and sight reading.

Charts for these standards, as well as tunes using the 12-Bar Blues form may be found in Jamey Abersold's "Maiden Voyage" (Vol. 54 of the Jamey Abersold series) or commercially available Jazz fake books.

Jazz Guitar, Jazz Bass, & Jazz Piano

1. Perform two pices of contrasting musical styles:
   1. We recommend that one of the selected works is a standard in 12-Bar Blues form where the candidate performs the head for one chorus, "comps" (or plays bass line for bass applicants) for one chorus, and an improvised solo for one chorus.
   2. Other appropriate and contrasting audition repertoire would be one of the following Jazz standards (or something similar): Satin Doll, Summertime, Blue Bossa, or Song For My Father. As above, we recommend the candidate performs the head for one chorus, "comps" (or plays bass line for bass applicants) for one chorus, and an improvised solo for one chorus.
2. Prepare to sight-read a short, simple melody in standard musical notation.

Charts for these standards, as well as tunes using the 12-Bar Blues form may be found in Jamey Abersold's "Maiden Voyage" (Vol. 54 of the Jamey Abersold series) or commercially avilaable Jazz fake books.

Jazz Drum Set

1. Perform the Swing chart with play-along track (linked below)
   1. Chart
   2. Play-along track
2. Soloing: demonstrate trading fours at a medium Swing tempo
3. Brush technique: demonstrate playing a Ballad and medium Swing with brushes
4. Demonstrate the following styles: Shuffle, Jazz Waltz (3/4 Swing), Samba, Bossa Nova, and Rock/Funk
5. Snare drum: Play the Goldenberg Simple Minuet.

For more specific information regarding jazz drum set at UNO please contact UNO's drum kit teacher Doug Montera, at dmontera@unomaha.edu

For more information about UNO's Percussion Area please contact Percussion Area Coordinator Hannah Weaver, at hannahweaver@unomaha.edu or visit our Percussion Area webpage.

All others may contact Jazz Area Coordinator, Dr. Pete Madsen, at petermadsen@unomaha.edu.

Questions? Contact Jazz Area Coordinator, Dr. Pete Madsen, at petermadsen@unomaha.edu.