On Sunday you will take a short, informal audition and fill out a theory test. This will allow the instructors to place you in a combo, theory class and master class with others of your same level of proficiency. The auditions are not held under any pressure to you, but are completely relaxed. Of course, the more you know about scales and chords (and arpeggios) before you arrive, the more you will feel comfortable and benefit from the week; however, we do have spots for people of ALL levels so don't be intimidated if you do not know anything about jazz.

We do not require you to buy any materials for the workshops; but there are several items, available from the Jamey Aebersold Jazz catalog at www.jazzbooks.com, which, if studied in advance, may allow you to better enjoy and benefit from the week. A list of suggested materials will be sent upon receipt of your application.

Your audition for the Jamey Aebersold Summer Jazz Workshop serves two purposes, both of which benefit you:

• To get you acquainted with some of the faculty with whom you'll be working.
• To ensure you are placed in a combo or small group whose members are approximately at the same stage of development as yourself, which should cause everyone to feel more comfortable with their musical environment.

The purpose of the audition is not to determine whether or not you are accepted into the workshop(s). EVERYONE attending, from beginning students to very advanced students, will be accommodated. Age is not much of a factor, either, even though this is an adult camp - so whether you are eight or eighty there is absolutely no need to be nervous or apprehensive about your audition!

The specific nature of your audition may vary, depending upon the instrument you play; but you can be sure of one thing, regardless of the instrument played - your audition will be brief (about 5 minutes). This is because the faculty is very experienced at making accurate musical assessments within a few moments, and there are so many people to hear in one short afternoon. Don't be offended if your audition seems unusually short (say, 2-3 minutes), or if the faculty interrupts you in the middle of something. It simply means they've heard enough to place you into the right situation.

Most of the instrumentalists (except for drummers) will be asked to play some scales, perhaps play a couple of choruses of a blues, and probably sight-read a melody and improvise on the chord progression of that melody (pianists and guitarists will probably be asked to read/play a chord progression and bassists will probably be asked to play a walking line over "changes"). So to prepare for the week we suggest practice on major, minor (Dorian minor), and dominant 7th scales/chords. Try to memorize the chords and scales to the Bb and F blues (concert key), and practice improvising on the Blues.

If you're a beginning improvisor, it may sound to you as if you're going to be expected to do a lot. Don't worry about it! If the faculty at your audition asks you for a scale you don't know, simply tell them you can't play that one. If you don't read music very well, just say so. If you only improvise by ear or have never improvised before, give it your best shot. Don't be intimidated or embarrassed about anything that you might be asked to play.

You come here to learn, we come here to help you to learn. We all have to start somewhere. Relax, learn, and have fun!