Jazz Camp 2024 Digital Handbook

Auditions — June 12 between 2–4 p.m.

Following check-in, students will give a short live audition to camp faculty members, for placement in ensembles and classes.

Below are the music packet PDF and links to backing tracks for practice on each of the audition pieces. Please note that your audition will include only ONE selection.

Jazz Camp audition music packet [pdf] 

• "Billie's Bounce" practice track (Parker)
• "I Got Rhythm" practice track (Gershwin)

Wind Instruments

• Chromatic scale from lowest to highest note in your range.
• Melody and improvised solo (1–2 choruses) on one of the following tunes: "Billie’s Bounce" by Parker, "I Got Rhythm" by Gershwin.
• Both scale and tune should be performed at a moderate tempo. 

Piano, Guitar and Bass

• Piano and guitar — melody with comping.
• Bass — melody, followed by walking bass line
• One chorus of just comping and improvised solo (1–2 choruses) on one of the following tunes: "Billie’s Bounce" by Parker, "I Got Rhythm" by Gershwin.

Drums

• Swing groove at 140 bpm
• Bossa Nova groove at 120 bpm
• Rock groove at 160 bpm
• Swing groove 4 bars and solo 4 bars

Questions? Email Professor Mike Smith at smith.8675@osu.edu

What to pack — What to bring

• Instrument and accessories including reeds, straps, valve/slide oil, amp cables, drum sticks, and cymbals (if desired).
• Physical or digital copy of The Real Book in your key and a phone or tablet with iReal Pro downloaded for use in classes and combos.
• A modest amount of spending money.
• Informal summer clothes — shorts, jeans, etc. for the daytime activities.
• A dress or dress pants or shirt and tie for the closing concert.
• A sweater or sweatshirt, as air-conditioned rooms can become cool.
• An umbrella or light rain jacket might also be needed. 
• A notebook or something to take notes.
• RESIDENTS: Personal toiletries, towels, wash cloths, blanket, linens and/or sleeping bag, and pillow. Note that bed/bath linens and pillow will NOT be provided.
• Alarm clock/App.
• Also, review additional important information in these sections: Auditions, What to Expect, How to Prepare.

First Day Check-in: Wednesday, June 12 — All students must check in

Follow the directions below based on Resident or Commuter.

Residents — Check in between 1–2:30 p.m. at Houston House (97 W. Lane Ave.)

STEP 1: Check-in — Houston House lobby

STEP 2: Proceed to your room to drop off your luggage. 

STEP 3: Between 1:45–2:45 p.m. proceed to the Timashev Family Music Building to check in for camp. 

• Arriving after 2:30 p.m.? Please contact the program administrator at YouthSummerMusic@osu.edu to make special arrangements. 
• Arriving/departing by air? Contact the program administrator to share your itinerary. Plan your departure for after 7 p.m. on the final day.

Directions to Houston House and parking. Be advised, there is no loading area at the residence hall for summer programs. Participants should park, unload, and walk to Houston House. It is a short walk! 

• Park at the Lane Ave. Garage at 2100 Neil Ave. (this is not a typo; the garage address is Neil Ave.). From the garage, follow Neil Avenue to Lane Ave. to Houston House.

Commuters — Check in between 1:30–3 p.m. at the Timashev Family Music Building

Check in at the Music Commons (south lobby) of the Timashev Family Music Building (1900 College Rd.). 

Park at the Ohio Union South Garage at 1759 N. High St., Columbus 43210 (located next to the Ohio Union and 0.2 mile from the School of Music). Exit from the west side of the garage (opposite High St.) and walk north along College Rd. toward the Timashev Music building, which is on the same side of the street. Enter the south doors to the lobby — across from the Oval.

• Note — Ohio Union South Garage is the only garage in the area that is open to visitors during an academic day. 
• Visit CampusParc for more information on campus parking, including fees. 

Schedule

You will receive a detailed schedule at check-in. Jazz Camp activities will be held daily from approximately 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Meals

Meals will be held at Traditions at Scott, a campus dining facility

Residential campers will receive breakfast, lunch and dinner as part of their camp registration. 

Commuter campers will receive lunch and dinner as part of their camp registration.

Commuters — Daily Drop-off/Pick-up

Note the schedule you will receive at check-in and plan accordingly so that you can attend all sessions, events and performances.

After the first day of the program, use the Ohio Union South Loop driveway (located on 12th Ave.) for daily drop-off/pick-up. 

Program staff will be onsite to escort students to and from the drop-off/pick-up area.

Map of Ohio Union Loop [pdf]

Commuters — Student Drivers

Students who drive to campus should plan ahead regarding parking. Build in your walking time from the parking location to ensure that you arrive on time for the first daily sessions. Students will not have access to their vehicle until the conclusion of the day, according to the daily schedule. A staff member will escort students to their vehicles.

• Be sure to pack an umbrella or light rain jacket each day. 
• Parking on campus — Students may purchase Surface Lot Day Parking Passes through CampusParc. Day permits are available for $10.75/day (a significant savings over hourly parking) and may be purchased by creating a user account at osu.campusparc.com. Click “login” at the upper right corner of the home page, then click “Visitor” and create a new account. Day permits are good for one calendar day and are valid in any unrestricted permit space campus-wide. 
  • Note that day permits are not valid in marked paid hourly spaces, at single space meters, or in parking garages. 
• The parking lot at Ohio Stadium is closest to the Timashev Family Music Building. 

The School of Music is not liable for any parking fines a student receives when parking on or near campus or for any vehicular damage while on campus.

Remind — Notification App

To assist with group communication, we will use the classroom notification platform Remind. We ask that all students sign up for this notification service. Parents are encouraged to sign up as well so that you receive notifications during the program. Please see the following PDF (“invite”) for instructions on how to sign up online or via your mobile phone.

Jazz Camp 2024 "Remind" invitation with sign-up instructions [pdf]

Sign up on Remind

Public Concerts and Parking — for families and guests

Parents and family members are welcome to attend the following Jazz Camp performances. These concerts will be held in the new Timashev Family Music Building. Plan to park in the Ohio Union South Garage then walk north on College Road, and enter the building's south door. 
 

Friday  •  7:30 p.m. — Faculty Recital
Saturday  •  2 p.m. — Finale Concert 

Last Day Check-out: Saturday, June 15 

Dorm check-out for residents will take place following the final event of their camp. Students will need to pack their belongings and leave luggage in their room on the final morning of their program. Following the final performance, students and families will return to their dorm to collect their bags/belongings, then return their key to the front desk.

LOST KEY CHARGE — Due to the need for building security for summer guests and student residents during the academic year, students will be billed if their dorm swipe card is lost. The cost to replace a lost swipe card is $15. All swipe cards must be turned in to Conference Housing at the conclusion of the program. Students will be assessed a $15 fee if a swipe card is not returned at time of checkout.

What to Expect at Jazz Camp 

Each day of Jazz Camp will offer the opportunity to interact with Ohio State jazz faculty as well as fellow students in rehearsals, classes, concerts and recreational activities. Classes include Jazz History and Styles, Jazz Improvisation, instrument-specific master classes with instructors, and Jazz Theory. Rehearsals include big bands and combos directed by Jazz Studies faculty. All students will be placed in both the big band and a combo. Concerts include a faculty concert and a finale concert featuring all student musicians. Recreation activities include jam sessions for students led by Ohio State jazz students.

What can you do to prepare? 

• Practice improvising on tunes you know.
• Transcribe parts of solos to discuss with faculty.
• Review your scales (chromatic, major, minor).
• Bring a notebook so you can keep track of new information.