2016-2017 Waukee 9th Grade Jazz Choir Auditions

Information packet for Current 8th grade students interested in auditioning for Waukee
9th Degree.
Auditions for 9th Degree will be held May 16th-19th at Prairieview, Timberline, and
Waukee HS. The auditions are broken down into 3 roundseach round will
assess varying skills necessary to sing in the jazz style.

Round 1 will be held on Monday, May 16th at Timberline after school and on
Tuesday, May 17th at Prairieview after school. Students will be asked to sing
scales, complete a tonal memory exercise, a sight-singing exercise, and a rhythm
reading exercise. This round will assess basic vocal tone, reading skills, and
aural skills. Examples of each exercise are listed below.
Scales:
1. Major
2. Harmonic (1, 2, b3, 4, 5, b6, 7, 8) or (Do Re me Fa Sol le Ti Do)
3. Chromatic
Students will sing three scales, both ascending and descending, in swing style, sung
on syllable doo-ba or doo-vah
Tempo: Quarter note = 92, Sung unaccompanied
Soprano begin on F; Alto begin on middle C; Tenor begin on E; Baritone/Bass begin
on A.
Tonal Memory
Listen to a 5-note pattern played on the piano and sing back on a neutral syllable like
la or da
Sight-singing and Rhythm Reading Examples
Students will be asked to identify the key of the sight-singing exercise and given time
to look over the example.
Students will be given the starting pitch, and chords to outline the tonality after
identifying the key.
The exercise may be sung on a neutral syllable or on solfege determined by the student.

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*Mr. Brandt, Ms. Mosiman, and Ms. Schaeufele recommend that students use
whatever tool that will allow them to be the most successful.*

Sight Singing Examples:

Sign ups for Round 1 auditions will be available at Timberline and Prairieview,
outside the choir rooms. If you have any questions or concerns please email
sschaeufele@waukeeschools.org

Round 2 will be held on Thursday, May 19th at the HS. Women will begin at
3:30pm. Men will begin at 4:10pm. Students will be asked to perform their solo
on a microphone singing along to a pre-recorded accompaniment track that will
be provided. The solo will be sung the first time through and during the repeat of
the song students will scat over the accompaniment. This round will assess
performance style.
Soprano/Tenor: Teach Me Tonight in the key of Eb
Alto: A Foggy Day in the key of C
Bass: The Very Thought of You in the key of Ab
Music is available on pages 7-9 of this packet. Practice tracks area available at
http://www.waukeeactivities.org/avenue-jazz/auditions/ or on Ms. Schaeufeles
school blog page.

Round 3 will be held on Thursday, May 19th at the HS. Singers that make it on
to round 3 will be expected to sing an excerpt of Someone to Watch Over Me,
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arranged by Teena Chinn, on their specific partsoprano, alto, tenor, or bass.

Students will sing in a quartet (1 soprano, 1 alto, 1 tenor, 1 bass) on microphones.
This round will assess tonal blend and musicality. Music is available on pages 1012 of this packet. 8TH GRADE STUDENTS WILL ONLY BE ASKED TO SING IN
ROUNDS 1 AND 2 OF THE JAZZ CHOIR AUDITIONS.

Waukee 9th Degree Audition Form

Auditioning for the groups commits you to the schedule, financial obligation, and
performances for each group upon selection. There are several students that
audition for the groups each year and we want to make sure you know as much
information as possible. If you have questions, please contact
Ms. Schaeufele.
The schedule for jazz choir is very important and must be a priority. This is a
smaller ensemble, but everyone is a vital part of the ensembleone missing
musician greatly affects the effectiveness of rehearsal. The directors are as
flexible as they can be with scheduled school events (speech, sports, band,
drama, etc) and have been able to make 100% of all conflicts work out. Nearly all
of the past members have had other activities that they have been involved with
and it works out great. The directors will never ask the student to choose the
coaches and the director will workout a plan prior.
Waukee 9th Degree - Thursday afternoons3:15pm soundcheck, 3:20-5:30pm
rehearsal

Performance Schedule VERY tentative:

October TBDSound workshop at Waukee High School
Jan 12-14 Waukee Parent Show & Invitational
Jan 27 Valley Vocal Jazz Summit
Feb 20 Morningside Vocal Jazz Festival
Mar 3 Kirkwood Vocal Jazz Festival
March 28 Iowa Vocal Jazz Championships (Avenue Jazz)
Financial Obligation:
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This fee will be collected in 3 payments: June, Aug, and Nov. This fee covers
formal wear, busing, and misc items.
Waukee 9th Degree: $75

Waukee 9th Degree Audition Form

Name____________________________________________________________
Vocal part sung this year S A T B 1 or 2
Address_____________________________________________
City _________________________________ Zip ___________
Parent(s) name:___________________________________________________
(you will need parent signature on the back)
Home Phone
_________________________________________________________________
Student Cell phone
_________________________________________________________________
Dad Cell phone
_________________________________________________________________

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Mom Cell phone

_________________________________________________________________
Fill in the address where you want jazz choir up-dates/info sent:
Dad e-mail:
___________________________________________________________________
Mom e-mail:
___________________________________________________________________
Student e-mail address:
___________________________________________________________________
1. Have you ever been ineligible?

______ Academic
______ Code of Conduct

2. Have you ever been dismissed from a group/team/organization due to

inappropriate behavior? Yes No

3. Activities you plan to be in next year (sports/drama/speech/etc):

4. Will you have a job next year?

Yes

No

Where? _________________________________________________________
How flexible are they with time off? Very

Somewhat

Not sure

5. How would you rank your work ethic?: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (10 is the

best/highest)

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6. How would teachers/coaches rank your work ethic? 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 (10 is

the best/highest)

In 2 sentences, tell us why should we consider you for Waukee 9th Degree?
1.

2.

How would you encourage your fellow jazz choir members to worker harder in
rehearsal?

Jazz Choir Audition Contract

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I have read this information and give __________________________________

(print)
permission to audition for jazz choir at Waukee. I understand the expectations
and time commitments and give full parental support. I also agree to accept the
judges decision as final.

Parent/Guardian Signature____________________________________

Student Signature___________________________________________

Questions: Ms. Schaeufele

sschaeufele@waukeeschools.org

***Please return this form and the info sheet when you audition.***

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