Jazz Port Townsend Audition Instructions
Auditions are required for workshop participants in Jazz Port Townsend. Why auditions? At the Workshop you will be placed in combos or groups with other instrumentalists or singers. We expect a wide range of abilities, and we want to make the experience as dynamic and well matched as possible. Auditions help us do that.
All applicants, including past participants, must submit audition recordings and an audition form regardless of age or musical experience. They should be a reflection of your current work. Some instruments—especially piano—will have more applicants than we have room for. Available spots will be open until filled. Just submitting your audition does not guarantee placement in the workshop, so the sooner you send in your audition materials, the sooner we can confirm your acceptance.
- You can download the audition requirements anytime to start practicing, but to upload your audition recordings you must first register for the workshop.
- After applying you will receive an email that includes login instructions to upload your audition form.
- Next, download the audition packet for your instrument (below), and follow instructions completely. Flute, clarinet and mallets please use the Sax link.
Audition Packets
Submitting Your Audition
- A maximum of 6 files can be uploaded. You will need to include several scales and arpeggios in one take to accomplish this.
- All recordings need to be in MP3 format or we won’t be able to hear them (see Tips On Creating MP3 Files below). Note: simply typing “.MP3” at the end of a file’s name does not make it an MP3 file!
- Follow instructions carefully and remember to name all of your files in the following format: Lastname-Firstname-Instrument-#.mp3 (for example, Armstrong-Louis-Trumpet-1.mp3, Armstrong-Louis-Trumpet-2.mp3, Armstrong-Louis-Trumpet-3.mp3, etc.)
The recording quality is not critical, as long as you are clearly audible. Simple home recordings on most smart phones are perfectly adequate. Start by placing your device or mic c. 6 – 8 feet away from you, or possibly more if you’re playing with other people. Experiment with different placements to see what sounds the best. Remember, you need to be clearly heard—it’s YOUR audition!
Use of play-along recordings (e.g. Aebersold) is acceptable if it’s not possible to play with live musicians. Improvised solos are required. If you’re not yet able to do this, you will probably be placed in one of our beginning combos, where you can begin to learn how to improvise.
Additional live instrumental auditions for combo placement may be requested of some applicants for final placement. You will be notified if you’ll be asked to do a live audition.
If you have questions about the audition information, please contact the Jazz Program Manager, Gwen Franz, at 360.385.3102 x109, or gmiller@centrum.org.
Tips For Creating MP3 Files. You don’t need sophisticated recording equipment or knowledge to make MP3 files. iPhones and other similar devices make good recordings and can save them as MP3’s right away, as will Windows Media Player. Note: if you save your files into iTunes it will automatically translate them into m4a format. M4a is the default format for iTunes files and we can’t use it. If your recordings are in a different format (.aac, .wav, .m4a etc.) you can easily translate them into MP3’s at Zamzar.com, a very handy, free website where you can quickly translate files into lots of different formats. The instructions are easy. There are other sites with similar procedures as well.
Please don’t submit your audition in anything but MP3 format—we won’t be able to hear them.
We look forward to receiving your audition!