About the Scholarship

The scholarship is provided by Community Music and Performances Inc with funding from the Bendigo Community Bank, Ringwood East and Croydon.

The selected applicant will play a monthly gig with a professional band and receive a small payment. The performance will be at Jazz On Sundays, held one Sunday afternoon per month at the Ringwood Bowls Club (dates to be announced).

In the lead-up to each monthly event, tuition will be provided to prepare for playing the head (melody) and soloing over three jazz standards which will then be performed at Jazz On Sundays. The experience will focus not just on the music but on playing with an ensemble and guiding the band.

In addition, free entry will be provided for two adults to attend the event.

We are experienced teachers and have the requisite checks for working with children.

Requirements

• Your instrument will be one that is expected to play a lead line, e.g. woodwind, brass, guitar, piano, others.
• You need to be able to play at AMEB Grade 4 level (although you need not have done formal exams).
• You don’t need to be experienced in playing jazz but you need to have the desire to play jazz!
• You’ll be playing real gigs to paying audiences so you will be expected to prepare for each event; we will help you to do that.
• You need to commit for the entire period (March to August). If your other studies permit, continuing for the rest of the year might be an option.

At each gig, you will play the heads (melodies) of at least two pieces and solo over at least one. In the lead-up to the gig, you will receive guidance in playing the heads and solo/s.

We will also schedule a one-hour rehearsal (probably one-on-one) especially for you a week or so before the event.

You will receive a small payment for each performance gig.

How to apply

Application is by video audition.

We know how busy you are but we don’t want you to miss out. So, you are welcome to submit an application now and another at a later date, if you wish.

The song is Fly Me To The Moon, vaguely in the style of Frank Sinatra.

There are two recordings:

• The first track includes a vocalist, to help to familiarise you with the song.

• The singer is not in the second track because it will be the backing track that you use to make your recording.

If you need the chart in another key, please contact us.

Your recording

Please make a VIDEO recording that shows you, your instrument and hands for the entire piece.

A phone recording will be fine.

We need to be able to hear the backing track that we’ve sent you (the one WITHOUT the vocal) and, of course, YOU!

Make sure there’s good lighting so that we can see you in action.

The recording you send us needs to be a single, continuous take with no cuts, interruptions or edits.

Guidelines

Introduction

Note: the introduction and ending are not on the lead sheet.

There are clicks (on beats 1, …, 3, …, 1, 2, 3, 4). Then the drums come in, playing on 2 and 4 for the 8-bar introduction. If you count it a few times, you’ll be able to hear it.

You should play something in the introduction – just make sure you fit in with the bass and drums.

First form

Play the melody (head). Bring some feeling and stylistic ornamentation to it.

Second form

You can either solo over the entire second form or solo over only the A and play the melody out over the B.

Ending

Play something for the ending – it’s your song and you’re the soloist! Make something of it.

Submitting your application

The video will probably be too large to email so you can share it with us via the cloud:

• iCloud is easy if you’ve shot it on an Apple device, or
• Google Drive, or
• Dropbox.

Don’t be put off by this step. If you don’t know how to do it, contact us and we’ll help you to get the recording to us. We want to see and hear you!

Contact us, giving us details of:

• Your name
• Your contact details (email and phone)
• Your instrument
• Your school and year level
• Your instrumental music teacher’s name
• The link to your recording