Our jazz auditions are designed to be a low-key way for us to accurately assess your experience level as a jazz musician. Even if you have had LITTLE or NO experience in jazz, please feel free to audition. We will do our very best to include everyone we can in our program! Our combos are open to students whose interest is in any sort of contemporary music – jazz, rock, and beyond – so please do audition for us!
All of the audition details are below. If you have ANY QUESTIONS about the auditions, please email Dr. Matt Olson.
AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Horn Players (and any non-traditional jazz instrumentalists, such as flute, violin, etc.):
Horn auditions will occur in Dr. Matt Olson’s office (Daniel Music Building room 12) between 6:30-9:00 PM on Wednesday, August 26, and between 2:30-4:00 PM on Thursday, August 27, 2026. Sign up for a time on Straw Poll.
- Please play something of your choosing, preferably something from the jazz idiom (ex: a jazz etude, solo transcription, the melody to a jazz song, or similar).
- If you don’t have anything, feel free to play something non-jazz so we can hear you play your instrument.
- Alternatively, email Dr. Olson to ask for a suggestion of something to play.
- Optional: If you are comfortable doing so (not required), please improvise over a jazz tune like a blues, preferably with a backing track of some sort. We will ask you to sight-read a short selection as well.
Rhythm Section (piano, guitar, bass, and drums):
Rhythm section auditions will occur in the Daniel Music Building Room D13 (“band room”) between 6:30-9:00 PM, on Tuesday, August 25, 2026. Sign up for a time on Straw Poll.
Piano and Guitar
- Select a song of your choice to perform for us (traditional jazz song not required). Show us what you do!
- Be sure to play both the melody and the chords of the song.
- Optional: If you are comfortable doing so (not required), please improvise over a jazz tune like a blues, preferably with a backing track of some sort. If you need suggestions – email Professor Matt Dingledine.
Bass
- Select a song of your choice to perform for us (traditional jazz song not required). Show us what you do!
- Prepare to play a bass line or two for us, preferably something swing with a walking bass line and something Latin like a bossa nova.
- Optional: If you are comfortable doing so (not required), please improvise over a jazz tune like a blues, preferably with a backing track of some sort. If you need suggestions – email Professor Matt Dingledine.
Drums
Please demonstrate your ability to play as many of these grooves that you can (it’s ok if you don’t know some of these…play what you know):
- Medium swing
- Bossa Nova
- Samba
- Jazz Ballad (please use brushes here)
- Rock
- Your favorite groove!
We want to gain a sense of your time feel and versatility.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Audition results will be emailed to each student who auditioned by Monday, August 31.
The Furman Jazz Ensemble will rehearse each Monday and Thursday from 2:30-3:45 PM, beginning Thursday, September 3, 2026.
The Furman Jazz Combos will rehearse twice each week for 60 minutes, once with a faculty coach. Times will be determined once the ensembles are formed. The first coaching will occur during the week of August 31 – September 4, 2026.
Our performance schedule is forthcoming.
