Notes from Mr. East on the All Region Jazz Audtion
- The All-Region Jazz Audition is comprised of three (3) etudes and one (1) improvisation.
- All non-drummers, you play your Etudes (1, 2, and 3) unaccompanied in the audition.
- All non-drummers, you play your Improvisation accompanied with a recording in the audition.
- Drummers, you will play Computer, Manteca and I Love You, accompanied by a big band recording, minus a drummer.
- Drummers, you play the 4 Drum Styles unaccompanied.
- All non-drummers, make sure you download the correct "changes" for Improvisation: Concert C, Bb, Eb, or Bass clef.
- Click on the audio files below to practice the Improvisation. Track 22, 23, 24 are the F Blues. Track 25 and 26 are the Autumnly Etude (based on Autumn Leaves).
- IF, and only IF, you place high enough, you will be asked to record your three etudes and the Improvisation on Autumnly Etude for a chance to make the All-State Jazz Band."
All instruments except drummers, click on the here to go to the Texas Jazz Educators Association website. There, you can play along with a background track to PRACTICE your Etudes 1, 2 and 3. You WILL NOT audition with this accompaniment, but it's a helpful way to learn your etudes.
Click on a selection below to download the sheet music.
| Saxophone | Trumpet | Tenor Trombone |
| Guitar | Piano | Bass |
| Drums | Improv: Concert Changes | Improv: E-flat Changes |
| Improv: B-flat Changes | Improv: Bass Clef Changes |
Click on a selection below to download an audio file.
| Track 22: F Blues Audition Version | Track 23: F Blues Extended Version Piano |
Track 24: F Blues Extended Version Guitar Trio |
| Track 25: Autumnly Etude Audition Version |
Track 26: Autumnly Etude Extended Version |
Track 11: Computer Drums |
| Track 7: Manteca | Track 3: I Love You | Track 31: Tuning Notes |
About Jazz Band at LBJ
The two main performing ensembles at LBJ/LASA High Schools are the Stage Band and the Jazz Ensemble. There are also two smaller combos. LBJ jazz bands have won numerous awards at jazz competitions and festivals, including the Hill Country Jazz Festival, the UT Jazz Festival, the Temple Jazz Festival, the Tarleton State Jazz Festival and the TCU Jazz Festival. Balancing academics and performance, the Jazz bands students provide an outstanding level of commitment to keep these bands sounding great! The jazz bands regularly perform more than fifteen gigs per year: Capital City Marching Festival, national education conferences, local educator group invitations, City of Austin events, lunchtime performances, elementary and middle school tours and the AISD Jazz and Pops Concert. If you love music, the Jazz band is for you!
Common Ways to Be in Jazz Bands
There are many ways to participate in jazz music in the Fine Arts curriculum. The two most common ways are to enroll in one of the two classes offered during the school day: 1st period Stage/Jazz Band (Jazz Ensemble) & 3rd period Instrumental Ensemble (Stage Band.) The names listed before parentheses are how they’re listed in the class schedule. The names in parentheses are what we call them. FYI, we are working on getting them changed in the class schedule to eliminate confusion.
Auditions
To enroll, students MUST audition. No student will be allowed in a band without formally auditioning for the director. Auditions will be held May 5-9 and May 12-16. Students must sign-up for an audition time slot. The list of available time slots will be posted on the LBJ band website in April. Audition music will be taken from the 2007-2008 All-Region Jazz Etudes and will be available at LBJ and on-line.
Wind Players Policy
It is the LBJ Band Policy that all wind players (woodwinds and brass) must be enrolled in one of the ‘concert’ bands: Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band and Concert Band. If a student wishes to be in a jazz class also, they must organize their schedule accordingly. There is no policy regarding rhythm section instruments (drums, bass, piano, guitar.)
Other Ways to Be in Jazz Bands
Students who do not enroll (schedule conflict, etc.) in one of the two classes can still perform with the jazz bands. These students will audition with everyone else in May. The Jazz Ensemble and Stage Bands rehearse once a week after school, usually starting at the end of the Fall semester. Students who are in athletics or other after-school activities need to prioritize these once a week rehearsals. Attendance is required.
Jazz Ensemble---Function and Purpose
The Jazz Ensemble is the advanced performance jazz band. It will include those with the most experience and ability. Students in this group must come ready to play! This group will perform at invitational events such as large conferences and banquet dinners. Students in this group will perform frequently throughout the year and must consider this before committing to joining. While it is sometimes very demanding, it is also really fun and rewarding!
Minimum Instrumentation for Jazz Ensemble Class:
1 alto sax---1 tenor sax---1 bari sax
3 trumpets----3 trombones
only 1 piano---only 1 drummer---only 1 bass
Full Instrumentation for Jazz Ensemble:
2 alto sax---2 tenor sax---1 bari sax
4 trumpets---4 trombones
1 piano---1 or 2 drummer/percussion---1 bass
(Additional instruments: 1 clarinet---1 flute---1 guitar)
Stage Band---Function and Purpose
The Stage Band is the intermediate performance jazz band. Wind players in this group will typically have less experience than those in the Jazz Ensemble. This is the training ground for young players to improve their sight-reading and ensemble skills. Learning the basics of style and increasing technical ability are the main goals. This group will also perform at invitational events.
Instrumentation for Stage Band Class:
1 sax---1 trumpet---1 trombone
1 piano---1 drummer---1 bass---1 guitar
Full Instrumentation for Stage Band:
2 alto sax---2 tenor sax---1 bari sax
4 trumpets---4 trombones
1 piano---1 or 2 drummer/percussion---1 bass---1 guitar
(Additional instruments: 1 clarinet---1 flute---)
[Note: the instrumentation of these bands is very important. For the 2008-2009 school year, there is a shift for the Stage Band class to focus on primarily jazz combo literature in the Fall semester. The goal of this is to create a really solid rhythm section and trio of horns. Ideally, the trumpet and trombone players in class will be the section leader in Full Stage Band. The saxophone player will likely be the lead alto or lead tenor player, depending, and will get the most opportunities to solo in Full Stage Band. These students will be responsible for helping to share what they’ve learned with their entire sections once after-school rehearsals begin.]
Common Concerts and Events
Capital City Marching Festival
Winter Concert
LBJ Jazz Band Dinner
Hill Country Jazz Festival or Temple Jazz Festival or Austin High School Jazz Festival
AISD Jazz and Pops Festival
Spring Concert (Senior Salute)
Other special invitations
Suggestions and Recommendations
Saxophone players: use a jazz mouthpiece. Meyer and Jody Jazz are good brands for alto. Otto Link and Jody Jazz are good brands for tenor. Berg Larsen and Jody Jazz are good for baritone sax.
Brass players: use a different mouthpiece for jazz ONLY if your trumpet teacher approves this. If you do not have a trumpet teacher, it is highly recommended that you get one. There are several great brass teachers in Austin who can help guide you to the right embouchure and mouthpiece and style.