Ithaca All-Star Jazz Invitational

Where the nation's best high school jazz players come together to collaborate with world-class educators and musicians.

FESTIVAL DATE

Saturday October 8th, 2011 from 9AM to 9PM, at the Ithaca College School of Music

APPLICATION DEADLINE - EXTENDED

Completed applications with all three items must be submitted together in one envelope and postmarked by September 23, 2011 to be eligible.  (This is a few days beyond the original published deadline).

ABOUT THE FESTIVAL

Applications are now being accepted from top high school jazz musicians from around the country to participate in an intensive one-day jazz festival to be held on Saturday, October 8th, 2011 from 9AM to 9PM. Activities will include workshops on small-group playing and improvisation, big band rehearsals, and instrumental master classes given by Ithaca College jazz faculty. The event will culminate in an evening performance (at 7PM) by the newly formed Invitational jazz ensemble as well as the Ithaca College Jazz Ensemble in Ford Hall Auditorium on the picturesque IC campus in Ithaca, NY.

Clinicians scheduled for the festival include:

Only the most promising and dedicated aspiring high school jazz musicians will be accepted, based on submitted applications, demo recordings and teacher recommendations. 

HOW TO APPLY

In order to complete your application, please submit the following into a single envelope:

  1. A completed application form
  2. A completed teacher recommendation form from your instrumental teacher, school band director, or other teacher who knows your musical development the best.
  3. Demo CD/DVD (see "Requirements for Demo CD/DVD" below)

Completed applications with all three items must be submitted together in one envelope and postmarked by September 23, 2011 (extended deadline) to be eligible. Mail your completed application form, demo disc and recommendation to: Mike Titlebaum, Director of Jazz Studies, Ithaca College School of Music, 953 Danby Road, Ithaca, NY 14850.

Any questions not answered here?  Please contact Mike Titlebaum at mtitlebaum@ithaca.edu or call 607-274-1283.

OTHER INFORMATION

The fee to attend the festival is $50.  There is no fee to apply; fees will be collected after students are accepted to the festival.

Room accommodations will not provided by Ithaca College.  Click here for a list of hotels in the area.

Parents and teachers, while not required to attend, are encouraged to do so, as all sessions and rehearsals are open.  A school tour will be scheduled for all attending students, teachers and parents and family members.

Lunch and dinner will be provided for students.

REQUIREMENTS FOR DEMO CD/DVD

On your demo CD/DVD (DVD video is preferred, but an audio CD would also be OK), please record all of the following four (4) items. If you have a live ensemble to record with, that would be best. Alternatively, you can record yourself with a play-along.

(1) A blues, in the key and tempo of your choice, with a head (melody) of your choice with several choruses of improvisation.

(2) One of the following (or similar type of) standards:

  • "All the Things You Are"
  • "All of Me"
  • "Blue Skies"
  • "My Romance"
  • "I Got Rhythm"
  • "They Can't Take That Away from Me"
  • "How High the Moon"
  • "Take the 'A' Train"

 (3) One of the following (or similar type of) ballads:

  • "Body and Soul"
  • "How Deep Is the Ocean"
  • "But Beautiful"
  • "Someone to Watch over Me"
  • "Round Midnight"
  • "Lover Man"

(4) A solo transcription of a major jazz soloist (who has been influential on most/all subsequent jazz musicians). Examples could include:

  • A selection from the Charlie Parker Omnibook
  • A Miles Davis transcription from the book "Miles Davis Kind of Blue Transcribed Score"
  • Your own solo transcription of a major jazz soloist, or one done by your teacher.  Just a few examples of major jazz soloists you might choose are trumpeters Clifford Brown, Clark Terry or Lee Morgan, saxophonists Charlie Parker, Cannonball Adderley or Sonny Rollins, trombonists Jack Teagarden, JJ Johnson, Jimmy Knepper or Bob Brookmeyer, pianists Duke Ellington, Thelonious Monk, Bill Evans or Herbie Hancock, and bassists Jimmy Blanton, Oscar Pettiford or Paul Chambers.  These are only suggestions.  Other major jazz soloists are also acceptable.

For their demos, drummers should perform a blues selection, jazz standard, and ballad, preferably with a live ensemble, but a play-along recording may be substituted. Drummers should also demonstrate proficiency in various jazz styles and tempos, including ¾ swing, shuffle, bossa nova, samba, rock/funk, and swing feel with brushes at several different tempos.

Any questions not answered here?  Please contact Mike Titlebaum at mtitlebaum@ithaca.edu or call 607-274-1283.

If you have general questions about the jazz program at Ithaca College, please see the Frequently Asked Questions page.

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