SOUNDSATION AUDITIONS
Auditions for Edmonds Community College SOUNDSATION 2018 will be held between March 1, 2017
and May 31, 2017. High school seniors who are graduating in the spring of 2017 are encouraged to
contact Kirk Marcy, Director of Soundsation, to schedule a date/time to come to the college campus to
‘spend a day as a college student’, which can be done in conjunction with your Soundsation audition.
Vocalists will need to prepare a solo tune to perform. This can be any jazz standard from the Real Vocal
Book or the New Real Books from Sher Publications. You don’t need to provide your own accompanist
(unless you prefer to). You will also be asked to do some sight reading, singing of scales, singing back
rhythmic and melodic lines, and the option of scat singing. Instrumentalists will need to prepare a solo
tune, and will be asked to sight read, and play in a variety of jazz styles.
Auditions are based on the following criteria: Talent, attitude, work ethic, commitment, financial ability to
pay for college, and teacher recommendation.
Please list your previous experience on a separate paper and include with your audition materials.
(Honors, awards, etc….anything that you’d like me to know about your background).
Name ___________________________________ Phone (
) ________________
Address _____________________________________________ D.O.B. __________
City ______________________________ State _________ Zip Code _____________
Email address _________________________________________________________
High School (most recent) _________________________ Grad. Year ____________
Director’s Name ____________________________ Phone (
) ______________
I am auditioning for: (please check all that apply)
Voice
S
A
T
B
Rhythm Section
Piano
Guitar
Bass
Drums
Sound Technician
(Please list any sound experience on a separate sheet)
Return this form to:
Kirk Marcy • 20000 68th Avenue W. • Lynnwood, WA 98036
email: [email protected]
SOUNDSATION…AND YOU!
ABOUT SOUNDSATION…
Soundsation, the pride of Edmonds Community
College’s renowned music program, is a musical
ensemble dedicated to the advancement of
singing and playing America’s only true art
form…JAZZ! Founded in 1974 by highly
respected music educator, Frank DeMiero,
Soundsation has enjoyed a rich heritage of
establishing, advancing and preserving the
integrity of vocal jazz education.
Comprised of vocalists, rhythm section players
and sound technicians, the group has toured
extensively over the years, including showstopping performances at the prestigious
Concord Jazz Festival and both the Montreux
and North Sea Jazz Festivals in Europe, as well
as several performance tours in Japan and
Hong Kong. Additionally, Soundsation has
performed at International, National and
Regional Conferences for jazz and choral
educators.
Soundsation has proudly shared the stage with
some of the greatest names in all of jazz,
including Joe Williams, the Count Basie
Orchestra, Diane Schuur, Jon Hendricks,
Carmen McRae, Mark Murphy, Arturo Sandoval,
the Four Freshmen, the Hi-Lo’s, Dianne Reeves,
Kurt Elling, and many more.
Revered throughout the educational community
as a leader in the vocal jazz education
movement, Soundsation often performs
concerts and workshops at schools throughout
the western United States and Canada.
Over the years, Soundsation graduates have
gone on to become leaders in vocal jazz
education and professional performance,
including such vocal groups as the Four
Freshmen, Fifth Avenue, Groove for Thought,
the Ritz, the Coats, m-Pact, and others.
SOUNDSATION & YOU…
Are you interested in being a member of
Soundsation? Read on to see if Soundsation
might be a perfect fit for your future plans…
ELIGIBILITY…
All prospective members must have graduated
from high school before they can be in
Soundsation. (Running Start students are
discouraged from auditioning, as it is important
that they be fully vested in their high school
music programs). While most Soundsation
members are usually 1-2 years out of high
school, there is no upper age limit to be in the
group.
WHAT DOES IT TAKE?...
The commitment to Soundsation is one that
MUST be carefully considered BEFORE you
audition. Certainly we are searching for talented
singers and players, but the commitment goes
WELL beyond talent. Above all, TIME is the
greatest part of the commitment to Soundsation.
Establishing a solid WORK ETHIC as a student
is essential. Realistically, most successful
Soundsation students should plan 2-3 years to
complete either the Associate of Music or
Associate of Arts Transfer degree(s).
DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES?...
Many auditionees come to us with a limited
musical background. This is actually quite
normal. We are looking for SERIOUS students
who want to further their musical skills and
experiences. To this end, students who are
seeking a career path that includes music
(performance, teaching, production, etc.) will be
given preference over those auditionees who
are simply casually interested in continuing to
sing/play jazz in a community college setting.
Vocalists in Soundsation MUST be concurrently
enrolled in the Edmonds Community College
Symphonic Choir each quarter. ALL members
of Soundsation are STRONGLY
ENCOURAGED to be studying with a private
instructor on their voice or instrument. These
are SERIOUS conditions of acceptance into
Soundsation, and will help you develop your
musicianship to its fullest.
WHAT YOU’LL LEARN…
Soundsation focuses on the development of
both ENSEMBLE and SOLO skills among its
members. A wide variety of styles of literature
are learned, as well as training in improvisation,
transcriptions of recorded solos, listening and
working to develop a solo repertoire. Interested
students can also write and/or arrange music for
performance by Soundsation.
TRAVEL WITH SOUNDSATION…
Soundsation travels locally, regionally,
nationally, and sometimes internationally,
performing and doing clinics and workshops to
the benefit and enjoyment of audiences and
students of vocal jazz.
RECORDING WITH SOUNDSATION…
Each year, Soundsation goes into the recording
studio to record many of the selections that have
been performed that year. The recording
process provides students with a realistic studio
experience that have, in many cases, opened
new doors of opportunity.
FINANCIAL AID/SCHOLARSHIPS…
It is HIGHLY RECOMMENDED that students
who audition for Soundsation apply for financial
aid and/or scholarships. The main reason for
this is that the TIME COMMITMENT necessary
to be successful in Soundsation will require
students to MINIMIZE the number of hours per
week that they work at a part-time job. Take the
time NOW to visit the Financial Aid page on the
Edmonds Community College website:
http://finaid.edcc.edu
You’ll find the necessary links to the FAFSA
forms. DON’T DELAY. Missing the deadline
may affect your ability to receive financial aid.
The Edmonds Community College Foundation
offers scholarships each year. Filling out a
single application is all that is necessary to
become potentially eligible for several
scholarships. Visit the Foundation web page at:
http://foundation.edcc.edu/scholarships
Again, we STRONGLY encourage you to apply
for BOTH financial aid AND EdCC Foundation
scholarships. The process takes a very short
amount of time, and just MIGHT make your
experience a much easier one.
OUT-OF-STATE AUDITIONEES…
Edmonds Community College offers a limited
number of Co-Curricular Participation Waivers
that can, if eligibility requirements are met and
maintained, reduce non-resident tuition rates to
almost that of Washington State residents.
Please contact Kirk Marcy, Director of
Soundsation, at [email protected] to see if you
meet the criteria for a waiver.
PIANIST AUDITION CRITERIA
The following areas will be covered in the
audition process for Soundsation. Each
audition will last approximately 45-50
minutes.
SOLO TUNE
This should be a song from the ‘standard
jazz repertoire’ that shows off your
abilities as both a ‘section player’ and as
a soloist. Your selection should include
improvisation. You will need to secure
the rest of a complete rhythm section to
back you on this tune. It is highly
recommended that you utilize bass and
drums to accompany your performance.
(A piano, bass amp and drum set will be
provided for you.) It is also suggested
that these musicians be contacted as
soon as possible, to avoid last minute
hassles.
CHORDS/VOICINGS
You will be asked to play a series of
chords, voiced in a jazz style (both left
and right hands) to help determine your
ability to read chord symbols in a manner
conducive to the jazz idiom.
BALLAD ACCOMPANIMENT
Be prepared to play the BALLAD
ACCOMPANIMENT excerpt in a 'solo
ballad' accompaniment style. A vocalist
will sing the melody in a rubato (out of
tempo) style. Follow the lead of the
vocalist, filling and embellishing as you
deem appropriate. This will be done
without using any other rhythm section
accompaniment.
SIGHT-READING
TRANSCRIPT
You will be given a short excerpt of music
to learn in 2-3 minutes. You will be asked
to 'comp' chord voicings in the left hand,
with right hand reinforcement (no melody
or improvisation). More importantly than
seeing the finished product, we are
looking at how you approach the sightreading process. We strongly encourage
all auditionees to prepare themselves as
well as possible for this portion of the
audition by incorporating sight-reading
into their ‘daily routine’.
When you come for your audition, please
bring an unofficial copy of your most
recent transcript (high school or college).
INTERVIEW
FRIENDS AND FANS!!!
This is an opportunity for us to get to
know you and ask questions that might
be relevant to being a member of
Soundsation. If you have questions
regarding membership in the group, you
are encouraged to ask them during your
interview.
You are more than welcome to invite
family, friends and supportive fans you
wish to attend the solo tune portion of
your audition. After that, in consideration
of all auditionees, we ask that all guests
wait for you outside the audition room.
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
If you have any questions or concerns
about the audition process, please
contact:
TWO letters of recommendation are
required of each auditionee. ONE of
these should be from a music instructor or
other school official. The other letter can
be from a person of your choosing (friend,
boss, coach, etc.) These letters should
speak to your integrity,
cooperation/attitude, adaptability,
commitment, service, willingness to take
direction, as well as your musicianship.
ALL LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
ARE TO BE SENT ELECTRONICALLY
TO KIRK MARCY, DIRECTOR OF
SOUNDSATION, AT [email protected]
AND MUST BE RECEIVED AT LEAST 2
DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR AUDITION.
YOUR RHYTHM SECTION
We will do the ‘solo tune’ portion of your
audition first. At the conclusion of this
portion of the audition, we will excuse
your rhythm section players and ask that
they wait for you outside of the audition
room.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Kirk Marcy, Director of Soundsation
Edmonds Community College
20000 68th Avenue West
Lynnwood, WA 98036
425.640.1651 (phone)
425.640.1650 (music office)
[email protected] (email)
music.edcc.edu (website)
Ballad Accompaniment
4
4
Rubato (no tempo)
&b
Ó
A min7
D7
Œ
F maj7
A min7
then the rain be - gins
to
b
A min7
F/A
D
b9
love
is
gone
D maj7
so
E min7 A 7
& b #œ œ œ œ œ.
10
Peo - ple used to
D maj7
love
to
Since that sad
D min7
16
some
b
3
-
œ
how
œ
No sweet lov - er
she's
man
G9
af - fair,
b7
œ
the
b
#œ œ œ œ
C maj7
A 7( 9)
lost
œ
3
That's how she got
nœ
Œ
A 13 ( 9)
see her smile.
she's
D
b
call.
E min9
œ #œ œ
bœ
J
pit - ter, pat - ter,
comes to
b
hear her laugh,
not
b9
œ œ ˙.
B 7( 9)
#œ œ œ
œ
E
E min7(11) A 7( 9)
œ.
œ
œ
œ
œ
#
G 13
pat - ter,
C 7( 9)
nœ œ œ œ œ.
name.
&b œ
Pit - ter
F min7
D min7
&b w
13
nœ
J
b
B min7
bœ œ œ œ
œ œ œ œ
G min7
what can mat - ter?
b9
eyes get gray and cloud - y,
b
fall.
& b œ œ œ œ bœ œ œ œ
7
her
B min7 ( 5)
D9
j
œ w
E
j œ œ œ b œ œJ œ .
œ
When Sun - ny gets blue,
œ œ œ œ
œ.
4
B min7
‰ j œ œ œ
œ
œ.
3
G min7
&b Œ
b
b
C 7( 9)
G min7
her
b
œ
her
smile,
G min7/C
˙.
same.
œ
œ
œ
œ
changed her
style,
C7
Œ
PREPARING FOR YOUR PIANO AUDITION
Here are some helpful suggestions as you prepare for your
piano audition for Soundsation. Careful consideration of
these things will help you present yourself in the best
possible way.
3. Is there evidence that the auditionee is listening while
playing?
SOLO TUNE
SIGHT-READING
This is the component of the audition process that YOU
have the most control over. Simply put, YOU get to choose
what song, what style, what tempo, what arrangement, etc.
For many auditionees, this is the ONE component of the
process that they dread the most! Sight-reading is the
"Great Equalizer" of music, in that it temporarily 'levels the
playing field' for all auditionees. If you feel uncomfortable
now, begin to work on becoming a better reader of chord
charts. Most importantly, relax! We are more interested in
discovering what you CAN do, not what you CAN'T do!
1. It is suggested that you carefully consider making a
choice of solo tune that TRULY highlights your musical
performing strengths.
2. Don't feel like you have to demonstrate EVERYTHING
you know in one solo.
4. Is there evidence of artistry in this area?
INTERVIEW
3. Work with your rhythm section players well in advance of
the audition so that their playing enhances (not detracts)
your audition.
Start now, making a list of questions that you would like to
ask during your interview. There really aren't any questions
that you could ask that aren't relevant, so feel comfortable
in asking.
CHORD VOICINGS
LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION
Many auditionees show their greatest musical attributes
through this component of the audition. We are looking for
the following qualities in this area:
Carefully choose WHO you ask to write a letter of support
for your audition. For each person you have write on your
behalf, give them enough ADVANCE NOTICE to complete
their recommendation. It is YOUR responsibility to see to it
that your letters are completed and sent electronically AT
LEAST TWO DAYS PRIOR TO YOUR AUDITION.
1. Does the auditionee correctly voice jazz chords typically
found in the idiom?
2. Does the auditionee form chord voicings swiftly, or is the
process labored?
3. Do the voicings played reflect an understanding of jazz
harmony?
BALLAD ACCOMPANIMENT
This is one of the more challenging aspects for young
players in jazz. We are looking for the following:
1. Is the song being played with basic accuracy of chords?
2. Is there a balance of roots, harmony and melodic
embellishments in the play?
WHAT TO WEAR
Although not a direct audition component, it is
recommended that you come to your audition dressed in a
'professional casual' manner. Be comfortably dressed, but
don't wear clothing that detracts (overdressed or
underdressed) from your audition.
IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS...
If you have questions in advance of your audition, please
email Kirk Marcy, Director of Soundsation, at
[email protected]