Jazz Studies & Commercial Music
The Jazz Studies Program at CSUF offers students a chance to prepare themselves for the world of professional performance and composing/arranging opportunities in the Southern California region and throughout the nation. The Bachelor of Music degree with a concentration in Jazz and Commercial Studies prepares students for this vibrant field.
Ensembles include the Fullerton Jazz Orchestra, Fullerton Big Band & Latin Ensemble, Jazz Small Groups (combos), and the Jazz Singers. From participation in these groups, students are prepared to take their place in the jazz and commercial performing opportunities available in the region.
The Jazz Ensembles and Combos are active in performing a wide variety of styles; from cutting edge contemporary styles of Maria Schneider and Jim McNeely to the classics of Count Basie and Duke Ellington. They perform concerts on campus and at top local, regional and international jazz festivals. Students may also audition for any of the jazz combos. The CSUF jazz groups have been selected as the winning ensembles & combos at the Reno Jazz Festival, Fullerton College Jazz Festival and the Pacific Coast Jazz Festival.
The Jazz Singers performs music that encompasses a wide variety of contemporary and historical jazz styles. In Jazz Singers an emphasis is placed on solo improvisation.
Faculty
Bill Cunliffe - jazz piano; arranging; Fullerton Big Band and combo director
Rodolfo Zuniga - jazz studies, jazz percussion, music technology, Fullerton Chamber Jazz Ensemble director
Eric Dries* - improvisation
Jeff Ellwood* - saxophone (website)
Ron Escheté* - guitar (website)
TK Gardner* - guitar
Luther Hughes* - bass (website)
Paul Kreibich* - drum set (website)
J. Michael O’Neal* - jazz piano (website)
Kye Palmer* - jazz trumpet
Andreas Preponis* - vocal jazz director
Charles Sharp* - jazz history (website)
Francisco Torres* - latin jazz, trombone (website)
Damon Zick* - saxophone (website)
* denotes part-time faculty
Degree Programs
Bachelor of Music: Instrumental Performance and Jazz and Commercial Music
Bachelor of Arts in Music: Liberal Arts & Music Education
Master of Music: Performance
Master of Arts in Music
Minor in Music
Artist Diploma (non-degree)
Auditions
All students wishing to study jazz at Cal State Fullerton must audition. Both scholarship and regular auditions for incoming students are scheduled in the spring of each year. Students who hope to begin study in a spring semester may make special arrangements for an audition through the area coordinator. If your main instrument falls under the category of jazz or commercial music, you need to audition for the jazz faculty. Certain instruments require that you also audition for the classical faculty as well.
Contact
Bill Cunliffe • (657) 278-8236
Repertoire and Other Audition Information Music—Undergraduate
Jazz
Repertoire Requirements Your audition will cover sight reading and this instrument-specific material:
You will need to submit a pre-screening video to the jazz faculty before you can sign up for a live audition. Instructions on the pre-screening process will be sent to you via email after you indicate your primary instrument.
Piano
- All major, natural minor, and harmonic minor scales (other scales optional).
- Play the melody, comp (both hands), and solo (while comping) to two of the following tunes: Doxy, Au Privave, Mr. P.C., or Solar.
- Solo or etude that demonstrates technique — classical or jazz.
Guitar (electric) and bass players : You will only need to audition for the jazz faculty. HOWEVER, you will also need to submit a pre-screening video before you can audition in person for the jazz faculty. Instructions on the pre-screening process will be sent to you via email after you indicate your primary instrument. Additionally:
Guitar (electric)
- All major scales (other scales optional).
- Play the melody, comp, and solo to two of the following tunes: Doxy, Au Privave, Mr. P.C., or Solar.
- Solo or etude that demonstrates technique, jazz or classical. Note: Amplifiers are provided (bring a 1/4” cable).
Bass (bring acoustic and electric if you play both)
- All major scales (other scales optional).
- Play the melody, play a walking bass line, play a bass line in a rock and latin style, solo, and solo to two of the following tunes: Doxy, Au Privave, Mr. P.C., or Solar.
- Solo or etude that demonstrates technique, jazz or classical. Note: Amplifiers are provided (bring a 1/4” cable).
Saxophone, Trumpet, Trombone
Trumpet and trombone: You will need to sign up for a
separate
classical audition as well as a jazz audition. Please also see the classical requirements
.
Saxophone: The classical and jazz portions of your audition will happen at the same audition appointment. Please also see the classical requirements.
- All major scales and
- Chromatic scale (at least two octaves)
- Blues or pentatonic scales.
- Optional: any form(s) of minor scales (including dorian mode) - Perform the melody and improvise over the chord changes from two of the following tunes: Doxy, Au Privave, Mr. P.C., or Solar.
- Saxophone Only: One work from the Standard Classical Solo Repertoire -OR- One etude from the Standard Classical Etude Repertoire
Drum Set/Percussion:
You will need to sign up for a separate classical audition as well as a jazz audition.
JAZZ AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Demonstrate time in varying tempos of swing, latin, funk/rock, shuffle, etc. (brushes and sticks). You might play with play-a-long recordings or live musicians.
You will need to submit a pre-screening video to the jazz faculty before you can sign up for a live audition. Instructions on the pre-screening process will be sent to you via email after you indicate your primary instrument.
- Trade 4's, 8's and/or choruses in a style listed above.
- Play the melody of two jazz or standard tunes on the drums. Suggestions include: Doxy, Au Privave, Mr. P.C. and Solar .
You will be asked to also do on a mallet instrument OR piano:
- Major scales one octave through four flats and four sharps.
- Melody and comp OR simply play the changes on one of the tunes listed above.
CLASSICAL AUDITION REQUIREMENTS
Snare Drum : One etude from any of the following:
- Intermediate or Advanced Snare Drum Etudes by Mitchell Peters
- Portraits in Rhythm by Anthony Cirone
- or equivalent
Mallets : A two or four mallet marimba or xylophone solo
- Examples include: JS Bach solo violin or cello transcriptions; Yellow After the Rain or Sea Refractions by Mitchel Peters; any Musser Etude; any GH Green Xylophone Rag, or a selection from the Unaccompanied Violin Sonatas by GF Handel, or equivalent. A selection from Masterpieces for Marimba published by Mcmillian would also be acceptable
If you have any question about the classical portion of your audition,
contact Prof. Sycil Mathai
• (657) 278-
7624
- Auditions: Sign up instructions
- Your university admission Sign up for and complete your audition regardless of the status of your university application and admission. Even if you have been denied admission to the university, the School of Music may advocate that you be granted admission based on your musical talent.
More information
Bill Cunliffe • (657) 278-8236
Master of Music in Performance
Jazz
Audition Requirements and Other Essentials
The Master of Music in Performance is an applied-based degree requiring 30 units of study in private lessons, large and small jazz ensembles, music history and literature, and music theory. The Cal State Fullerton School of Music faculty includes nationally and internationally recognized performers, scholars and composers. Students thrive in an environment that sustains challenging, vital music- making, with due regard for specialized individual attention. For those intending to pursue doctoral studies, the Master of Music degree normally leads to the DMA.
Audition Requirements
Entrance Auditions and Scholarship Auditions for the MM degree are held in February (for Fall semester entrance). Auditions also may be scheduled each semester (Fall and Spring) during Registration Week, just prior to the start of the semester, however, this is unlikely to include scholarship consideration. Under certain circumstances, a video recorded audition may be used for a preliminary assessment; however, a live audition is always required.
From memory, prepare melody, improvisation and rhythm section composing/bass lines (if applicable) to four tunes within the following parameters:
- Modal
- Ballad
- Advanced ii-V-I oriented chord progression
- Your choice (should reflect a contrast in jazz stylistic periods from the above)
In addition to this, the student should prepare an etude, or solo transcription that displays a high degree of technical skills. The student should also provide, and be prepared to play from, a list of memorized jazz tunes.
Letters of Recommendation
Arrange to have letters of recommendation from three music professionals familiar with your preparation for graduate study sent to the School of Music graduate program adviser.
More Information
Audition Dates
Submission of Supporting Materials
Contact Information
School of Music Graduate Program Advisor John Koegel (657) 278-7685
Jazz Area Coordinator
Professor Bill Cunliffe (657) 278-8236
