Keyboard Audition Procedures

Navy Music Program

For additional questions, contact the Audition Supervisor at 901-874-4316

Audition Requirements:
• Prepared pieces (40% of score): Applicants must perform a minimum of 3, no
more than 5, prepared songs with contrasting styles like Pop, R&B, Jazz, Ragtime,
Latin and Country. At least two selections must be performed with backing
tracks provided by the applicants. Examples of backing tracks are Band in the
Box or Abersold CDs. Many Pop, Rock, and R&B backing tracks are available
downloads from the internet. www.jazzbooks.com is a prominent site where
literature with play along backing tracks can be found. Generic MIDI file sites
also offer song files which can work well as backing tracks with minor editing.
• Scales (10% of score): Applicant should be able to execute (4 octave) major,
mixolydian, natural minor, harmonic minor, and ascending melodic minor scales
with arpeggios following each scale. 16th notes at Tempo -80 is a minimum
recommendation starting point. Played in octaves with both hands.
• Sight reading (50% of score): Applicant will sight read at performance level 3-4
selections with upper level harmony (7th chords, all qualities) from the Real/Fake
Book. This can be done as solo piano, with a play along or backing track, or with
a rhythm section if one is available. The applicant will read the melody, comp the
chord changes, and play an improvised solo.

Stylistic Capability:

Required capability:
• Rock/Pop (pop ballad or pop rock feel)
• Jazz – Swing/2 beat and 4 beat basic swing styles
• Blues (Basic 12 bar blues form)
• Appropriate timbre sounds for each style (Strings, organ and etc.)
• The ability to play Maj7, Dom7, Min7, Min7b5 and Dim7 chords utilizing
inversions
• The ability to sight read Real Book tunes. Examples should consist of easy to
medium level quarter/eighth note rhythmic syncopation, and all 7th chords
qualities

Desired capability:
• Jazz - swing/be-bop with an improvised solo that fits changes and style
• Pop/Rock – ability to play popular idiom song in a solo piano context
• R&B and Funk – able to play syncopated 16th note feel grooves with
appropriate stylistic chord comps and timbres/keyboard patches. Some
examples of this style are from groups like James Brown, Tower of Power,
Earth Wind and Fire, etc.
• Country - able to give a song a country feel using the appropriate licks and
ornaments
 • Latin - (bossa/samba/salsa) – ability to play modern Latin styles in a solo
piano or rhythm section setting
• Classical - is good as long the ability to play other various styles is present
• Solo keyboard or piano performance (cocktail piano style) – can be any style,
but a mixture of contrasting styles like pop, R&B, country, Latin and jazz is
desired. (The idea is to be good at more than just one style of music.)

Required Harmonic Knowledge:

• Voicings appropriate to style
• Must know common chord patterns - blues changes (minor, major, dominant),
Rhythm changes, tags, turnarounds, 2-5-1’s in major and minor
• Recognition and execution of chord inversions and the ability to voice lead
• Ability to read chord symbols

KEYBOARD EXAMPLE REPERTOIRE LIST

Solo Cocktail/Piano
Applicant must play melody, chords, and bassline structure within the piece and take
a solo. Intros and endings should make smooth transitions in and out of the piece.

Beginner/Intermediate Intermediate/Advanced

All of Me Blue In Green

Autumn Leaves Donna Lee
Blue Bossa Here’s That Rainy Day
Girl from Ipanema Green Dolphin Street
Misty Round Midnight
Take the A Train Stella by Starlight

Jazz/Bebop/Blues
Applicants must play melody, comp the chords, improvise a solo over chord changes
and repeat melody. Selections should be performed with a backing track provided by
the applicant.

Beginner/Intermediate Intermediate/Advanced

All of Me A Night in Tunisia

Autumn Leaves Anthropology
Lady Bird Blues for Alice
Girl from Ipanema Confirmation
Lady Bird Donna Lee
Take the A Train Stella by Starlight
Latin
Selections should be performed with a backing track provided by the applicant.

Beginner/Intermediate Intermediate/Advanced

Blue Bossa Afro Blue

Beautiful Love Desafinado
One Note Samba 500 Miles High
Night and Day Spain
Song for My Father Triste
The Shadow of Your Smile Wave

Pop/Rock/R&B/Funk/Country
Applicant has the option to perform with or without a backing track. Keyboard
timbres or patches should be appropriate for the piece.

Beginner/Intermediate
Crazy – Patsy Kline
Hero - Mariah Carey
Killing Me Softly – Roberta Flack
Mustang Sally – Wilson Pickett
Walk This Way - Aerosmith
I’m a Soul Man – Sam Moore

Intermediate/Advanced
Chain of Fools – Don Covay
Don’t Stop Believing, Journey
Empire State of Mind - Alicia Keys
More Than a Feeling - Boston
Ordinary People – John Legend
The Greatest Love of All – Whitney Houston

Advanced
Billy Jean – Michael Jackson
Respect – Otis Redding
Tiny Dancer – Elton John
What’s Love Got to Do with It – Tina Turner
What I’d Say - Ray Charles
You’re Love Is Lifting Me Higher – Gary Jackson, Carl Smith, and Raynard Miner
Black Cow – Steely Dan
I Wish – Stevie Wonder
Josie – Steely Dan
Sir Duke – Stevie Wonder
What is Hip - Tower of Power
We Didn’t Start the Fire – Billy Joel