audition information:
Audition materials will be made available through this website in mid June. Anyone interested in jazz band should sign up with their guidance counselor.
In order to participate in jazz band, students must successfully complete the jazz band audition and rank high enough in the audition group to be selected. Typically, the VHS jazz band will consist of 5-6 saxophones, 4-5 trumpets, 4 trombones, 1-2 drummers, 1-2 guitarists, 1-2 bassists, and 1-2 pianists.
Students may sign up for an audition at a brief meeting held during directed study in the first week of school. Auditions will be held during the first few weeks of school and the first official rehearsal for the selected jazz band members will be held on September 22nd.
audition materials for fall 2022:
PART I: RHYTHMS
DOWNLOAD the rhythm sheet, read the directions, and prepare all rhythms.
PART II: BLUES SCALES
If you have never been in VHS Jazz Band, DOWNLOAD the blues scale sheet.
Returning members should play all scales from memory and play two octaves when possible.
PART III: JAZZ EXCERPTS
DOWNLOAD the excerpts and print and practice the pages for your instrument.
Each instrument has two excerpts except drums which has three. Please note, Piano has two pages.
PART IV: SONG OF YOUR CHOICE
Play a piece of music that you are very confident about.
It does not have to be long, but it should be something that you enjoy playing and shows off your abilities on your instrument.
PART V: SIGHT READING
This material will be presented at the audition in September.
You will be asked to sight read and excerpt from a moderately easy high school jazz piece.