Auditions for Spring 2010 entrance will take place on October 8 and October 27, 2009.
The audition process is a required part of each application for admission to The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. All guitar, voice, and drum applicants must submit a prescreening recording in order to be invited to the audition round. All other applicants are automatically granted an audition. Auditions take place in February and March for entry in the Fall semester and in October for entry in the Spring semester.
Prescreening Round
(guitar, voice, and drum applicants only)
A prescreening recording must be submitted at the same time as the application. There are two methods for submission:
- Online via ekomi (preferred): Using our proprietary ekomi software, you can record the required prescreen tunes with our pre-recorded accompaniment. Using ekomi is the quickest method of completing the prescreen process. You can download the ekomi software.
- CD: Applicants may assemble a live rhythm section or play along with pre-recorded rhythm tracks as long as they strictly follow the prescreen instructions. CD submission must be received by the Office of Admission within one week of the online application. (It is the applicant’s responsibility to mail the CD to the correct address, clearly labeled, and formatted as an audio CD.)
Prescreening recordings which are submitted late, with incorrect material, or with inaccurate labeling may negatively affect the applicant’s prescreen review. To read the instructions for completing the prescreen recording, please see the appropriate instrument audition page:
Audition Methods
Auditions are a required part of all applications. The New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music will accommodate both live and recorded auditions. All applicants living within 200 miles of New York City and vocal applicants living in North America are required to take a live audition. Please indicate your desired audition method in the online application.
Audition Repertoire
Applicants are required to prepare and perform three jazz standards. If the applicant is required to submit a prescreen recording, the audition repertoire selected must be different than the ones performed on the prescreen recording. The standards should include one of each of the following:
- An up-tempo tune
- A ballad
- A blues tune
To read more about your specific audition requirements, select your instrument from the menu to the left.
Audition Evaluation
Auditions (CD or live) are judged for:
- Individualism
- Technique
- Performance experience
- Ability to phrase a melody, perform with a committed rhythmic feel, and improvise confidently with a rhythm section
The audition is the primary evaluation for both acceptance to the school and for scholarship consideration. New School Jazz scholarships, which are merit-based, are awarded at the time of acceptance.
Live Auditions
Live auditions are only offered on-campus during February and March for entry in the Fall semester, and during October for entry in the Spring semester. Applicants must indicate in the online application their first and second choice for live auditions by choosing from a range of dates provided. After submitting the application (and, if applicable, receiving a favorable prescreen review) applicants will be notified of their audition time, and must confirm the audition time or request a change. While the Office of Admission will try to accommodate all requests for audition time changes, we cannot guarantee a change, and encourage all applicants to select their first and second audition choices carefully.
Live auditions are performed with a rhythm section of current students at The New School for an audition panel of faculty members. The audition room will be set up with a full drum kit, piano, bass amp, guitar amp, or vocal PA system as required. Applicants are required to bring their own instruments (except drum or piano applicants), music, instrument cables, and all other equipment needed to perform.
Applicants arriving more than 30 minutes before to their audition time will have the opportunity to warm up in a practice room. Drum applicants must be bring their own cymbals, felts, and washers if they would like to warm up.
For bass applicants, it is possible to audition on a New School acoustic bass if it is reserved in advance. Make reservations via email after an audition time has been confirmed.
Recorded Auditions
Applicants who live more than 200 miles from New York City, or voice applicants living outside of North America may choose to submit an audition recording to satisfy the audition requirement. The two ways to submit an audition recording are
- Send an audition CD (select “Mailed Audition” on the online application).
- Send tracks electronically using ekomi (select “ekomi” in the online application).
An audition recording should be high audio quality, but it is not required to be recorded at a professional studio. All three tunes must be recorded with a live rhythm section. All audition recordings must be clearly labeled with the applicant's name, instrument, and the track name.
If the applicant is mailing a CD, we recommend using some form of tracking and delivery confirmation. Please note: we do not accept cassettes, minidiscs, or other audio formats besides CDs, nor do we accept any form of video recording.
If the applicant is using ekomi, please read our page on using ekomi.
The final deadlines for submitting audition recordings are included below:
Fall Semester Main Auditions: February 10
Fall Semester Late Auditions: May 1
Spring Semester: October 20