Jazz Ensembles are open to all university students (instrumentalists and vocalists) regardless of major, based on a successful audition the first two days of classes each semester.
Students may audition for placement in the following ensembles.
Rehearsal times listed below.
- Mason Jazz Ensemble (big band: Jim Carroll, TR 3-4:15pm – large ensemble credit)
- Jazz Workshop (big band: John Kocur, Mw 3-4:15pm – large ensemble credit)
- Braddock Road Brass Band (Graham Breedlove, TR 4:30pm – 5:450pm – chamber ensemble credit)
- Jazz Combos (Wade Beach, MW 1:30-2:45pm – chamber ensemble credit)
- Latin American Ensemble (Juan Megna, MW 1:30-2:45pm – chamber ensemble credit)
- Mason Jazz Vocal Ensemble (Dr. Darden Purcell TR 4:30-5:45pm, W 6-6:50pm – chamber ensemble credit)
- Steel Pan Ensemble (Victor Provost, Tues. 7-10pm – E-mail Victor Provost for placement – chamber ensemble credit)
Scales Typically Used in Auditions
- Major
- Pentatonic (Major and Minor)
- Blues (Major and Minor)
- Bebop (Major and Dominant)
- Dorian
- Phrygian
- Lydian
- Mixolydian
- Aeolian (Natural Minor)
- Locrian
- Harmonic Minor
- Melodic Minor
- Jazz Minor (Real Minor, Ascending Melodic Minor)
- Lydian Augmented
- Lydian Dominant
- Locrian #2
- Diminished Whole-tone (Altered Scale, Super Locrian)
- Chromatic
- Whole Tone
- Diminished (We are a half-step school)
- Augmented (1, b3, 3, 5, #5, 7)