In addition to the video audition material requested by the jazz program, all prospective and transfer students must submit an application for admission to the Steinhardt School at New York University. You can find information on the application process through the appropriate admissions office. 

Office of Undergraduate Admissions
Office of Graduate Admissions

Doctoral candidates should visit the Doctoral page for separate instructions and should contact the program director directly for an audition.

Auditioning/Interviewing for Jazz Studies at NYU is a positive and valuable experience. We have designed a unique audition/interview structure for undergraduates (there are no on-campus auditions for graduate applicants, see below for video submission instructions) through which you will be immersed in the world of NYU jazz by participating in various musical activities.

The interview and audition process in Jazz at NYU is an opportunity for you to introduce yourself to faculty who wish to be advocates and want to provide an environment in which you can demonstrate your full potential. You will meet and play with some of today's most prominent figures in the jazz industry. We don't believe that your potential as a jazz artist can be assessed in a traditional audition format. Therefore, far from a sterile audition environment, at NYU you will be experiencing our community in a much richer and more meaningful way. Always remember that your task is to share your talents - not to impress the auditors.

Procedures and Requirements

How/When do I send in audition materials for the program?
Audition Dates
Required Repertoire
If I am invited to New York, how do I prepare for my in person Interview/Audition?
What do I bring to my interview/audition?
What should I expect at my interview/audition?

How/When do I send in audition materials for the program?

Send video recorded materials:

All undergraduate applicants - freshmen and transfers – must send a pre-screening video recording online. Subsequent to this pre-screening of your video performance, in-person audition and interview invitations will be issued. 

Graduate (masters) applicants must send an online audition video recording with the required repertoire. There are no live, on-campus graduate auditions.

All video auditions are to be submitted online (instructions here) and must arrive by the dates listed below. Materials submitted after these dates may not be accepted. Please remember to attach the information sheet to your email with your YouTube video submission.

Audition Dates

November 12, 2011 Open house info session and auditions for undergraduate applicants only
December 1, 2011 by invitation for early decision #1 applicants only 
February 1, 2012 by invitation for early decision #2 applicants only
February 27, 2012 by invitation for undergraduate degree applicants
February 28, 2012 by invitation for undergraduate degree applicants
February 29, 2012 by invitation for undergraduate degree applicants
March 1, 2012 by invitation for undergraduate degree applicants

*All applicants to the jazz studies program are considered for a variety of talent-based awards. The last audition date for all applicants is March 1. This is also the last date for all talent award consideration.

All applicants are required to submit a video recording (online video submission via YouTube, instructions here) of up to four contrasting standard tunes as follows:

Required Repertoire

Undergraduate

1) Blues in F: “Billie’s Bounce” played at a medium-up tempo.
2) Your choice of a tune performed n 6/8 or 12/8 time
3) Your choice of an up tempo standard
4) Your choice of an original composition (optional)

Please remember to attach the jazz studies information sheet to your email with your YouTube video submission.

Graduate

Jazz Performance (instrumental)
Four selections of your choice that demonstrate the breadth and range of your work and a command of the jazz language.

Fill out the information sheet for Jazz Studies submission of recorded materials. Include only this sheet with your submission as an attachment to your YouTube video submission. Please do not include additional information. You may only submit your Jazz  audition video online (instructions here).

Jazz Performance (voice): piano or guitar skills required
1)  Submitted online only
2)  Three jazz standards of contrasting tempo and style accompanied by a live rhythm section.
3)  ADDITIONALLY, you must also demonstrate your ability to play piano or guitar accompanied by a bassist or both bass and drums. Choose two contrasting jazz standards demonstrating your ability to play melody, improvise and comp chord voicings.

ONLY online video is accepted as the main source material for auditions.  For further information please contact the Jazz office at 212 998 5446 or email David Schroeder at ds38@nyu.edu.

You will receive an email notification that your materials have been received. After those materials have been reviewed, you will be contacted if additional information is required. At that point selected applicants will be asked to schedule an on-campus interview/audition for which you must prepare according to the guidelines below. If you cannot travel to New York, you may choose to use only your online video for consideration. In this case, a phone interview may be scheduled.

If I am invited to New York, what do I prepare for my in person Interview/Audition?

Three (3) Contrasting tunes selected from the Standard jazz repertoire.
These should be tunes that you can “call” in a jam session setting. You should stick to swing, ballad, Brazilian, Afro-Cuban or Afro-Peruvian grooves. Avoid rock, funk or pop music (while these styles are valid and we teach them at NYU, for auditions and interviews we prefer to hear you on standard repertoire as described above).

Sight-Reading: you will most likely be asked to “sit in” with a rehearsing ensemble on the day of your interview and audition. This will be to give you a chance to work with one of our faculty and to meet NYU Jazz students in the context of a real rehearsal situation. Depending on the size of ensemble, repertoire, etc., you may also be asked to play with fellow prospective students in a sight-reading session.

What do I bring to my Interview/Audition?

Your most recent and updated bio
This should be a program-ready biography of no more than 300 words. Make sure your name and instrument are included at the top and that you have it with you to turn in at the start of the process.

What should I expect at my audition?

Other musicians: You will be immersed in the live interview/audition at NYU for at least two hours. In addition you will have the opportunity to talk to faculty and current students.

Questions: The faculty may decide to ask you questions about your training, your experience, and your goals. This is done in an attempt to get to know you better and to take advantage of our time together. You should feel free to also ask questions to everyone you meet in order to determine if NYU is the right place for you.

Coaching & Direction: The faculty member leading any particular session may suggest that you make some adjustments or solo or changes using a particular approach or technique. This is done in order to determine how readily and receptively you work with instruction and how well you “think on your feet” as a jazz artist. Just stay alert, use your common sense and you will do fine.