UIUC Jazz Trombone Studio

Tucked away in the cornfields of central Illinois, within the hallowed halls of the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in the basement of Smith Hall, you will find The UIUC Jazz Trombone Studio. This sleeping giant of a trombone department is under the watchful eye of NY trombone great, Jim Pugh. Over the past seven years at the UofI, Jim has been carefully molding the future jazz trombonists of the world. He sends his students out into the world -- bringing back the era of the well-rounded and strong trombonist -- fearless and confident leaders who can play, read, blend and improvise with the best of them. His players are highly skilled in all areas. They have mastered the trombone. Put any piece of music in front of them, they do not sound like "jazz" players trying to play "classical" or "classical" players playing "jazz" -- his students play the trombone as it was intended to be written whether in the classical or jazz genre. The University of Illinois Jazz Trombone Ensemble won BOTH the ITA Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition AND the Eastern Trombone Workshop Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition for 2012! From the competitive world of cruise ships to jazz clubs to the Disney All-Star College Band to Broadway shows to coveted college teaching positions to winning prestigous awards in the jazz world, Jim's students are his legacy. Throughout your years at the UofI, students are given plenty of performance opportunities that encourage growth and development of not only the jazz trombonist, but as a trombonist. Jim's unique teaching philosophy will challenge the student to strive for excellence in playing, improvising, thinking, composing and musicianship.

There are more than 18 jazz ensembles at the UofI including two jazz trombone ensembles (depending on the size of the studio, there have been duo + rhythm section to quintet + rhythm section and every combination in between), four big bands (the UofI Concert Jazz Band has won several "Best Big Band" awards at festivals throughout the years), Latin Jazz Ensembles and jazz combos. Student ensembles have at least three major performance opportunities throughout the semester. Students are also encouraged to venture over to the classical side by participating/auditioning for various brass ensembles such as the Trombone Choir, brass ensembles, orchestras (both school and community) and perhaps even the UofI Marching Band. Students are also encouraged to support other student performances by attending recitals, concerts (both in school and off-campus), and other gigs.

Each semester students also have the opportunity to meet with visiting artists who happen to pass through town. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of hosting Eijiro Nakagawa, Walter Blanton, Roswell Rudd, the Vanguard Orchestra, and even Chick Corea. Students are definitely encouraged to sneak in a lesson and hang out with these musicians!!

For those interested in the UofI, the jazz program offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in jazz performance. To start your admission process, please refer to the UofI Admissions Guide. Students are strongly encouraged to audition in person (either at the school or at one of our National Audition Dates which can be found in the Admissions Guide). If distance is an issue, then a taped audition may be submitted.

If you have any questions about the audition process, please contact the UofI Jazz Trombone Studio

If you are interested in visting the UofI campus, don't hestitate to contact me .

Feel free to check out classes while school is in session, check out a rehearsal or concert, talk to other students or just wander the halls!


				*UIUC Jazz Trombone Studio*



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		ABOUT UIUC: Tucked away in the cornfields of central Illinois, within the hallowed halls of the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign in the basement of Smith Hall, you will find The UIUC Jazz Trombone Studio. This sleeping giant of a trombone department is under the watchful eye of NY trombone great, Jim Pugh. Over the past seven years at the UofI, Jim has been carefully molding the future jazz trombonists of the world. He sends his students out into the world -- bringing back the era of the well-rounded and strong trombonist -- fearless and confident leaders who can play, read, blend and improvise with the best of them. His players are highly skilled in all areas. They have mastered the trombone. Put any piece of music in front of them, they do not sound like "jazz" players trying to play "classical" or "classical" players playing "jazz" -- his students play the trombone as it was intended to be written whether in the classical or jazz genre. The University of Illinois Jazz Trombone Ensemble won BOTH the ITA Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition AND the Eastern Trombone Workshop Jazz Trombone Ensemble Competition for 2012! From the competitive world of cruise ships to jazz clubs to the Disney All-Star College Band to Broadway shows to coveted college teaching positions to winning prestigous awards in the jazz world, Jim's students are his legacy. Throughout your years at the UofI, students are given plenty of performance opportunities that encourage growth and development of not only the jazz trombonist, but as a trombonist. Jim's unique teaching philosophy will challenge the student to strive for excellence in playing, improvising, thinking, composing and musicianship. There are more than 18 jazz ensembles at the UofI including two jazz trombone ensembles (depending on the size of the studio, there have been duo + rhythm section to quintet + rhythm section and every combination in between), four big bands (the UofI Concert Jazz Band has won several "Best Big Band" awards at festivals throughout the years), Latin Jazz Ensembles and jazz combos. Student ensembles have at least three major performance opportunities throughout the semester. Students are also encouraged to venture over to the classical side by participating/auditioning for various brass ensembles such as the Trombone Choir, brass ensembles, orchestras (both school and community) and perhaps even the UofI Marching Band. Students are also encouraged to support other student performances by attending recitals, concerts (both in school and off-campus), and other gigs. Each semester students also have the opportunity to meet with visiting artists who happen to pass through town. Over the years, we have had the pleasure of hosting Eijiro Nakagawa, Walter Blanton, Roswell Rudd, the Vanguard Orchestra, and even Chick Corea. Students are definitely encouraged to sneak in a lesson and hang out with these musicians!! AUDITION INFO: For those interested in the UofI, the jazz program offers bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in jazz performance. To start your admission process, please refer to the UofI Admissions Guide. Students are strongly encouraged to audition in person (either at the school or at one of our National Audition Dates which can be found in the Admissions Guide). If distance is an issue, then a taped audition may be submitted. UNDERGRADUATE BLUES (choose one) - "Billie's Bounce"; "Now's The Time" Melody plus 3 improvised choruses RHYTHM CHANGES - "Oleo" Melody plus 2 improvised choruses BALLAD (choose one) - "Misty" (Eb); "In A Sentimental Mood" (Dm) Melody plus 1 improvised chorus STANDARD (choose one) - "Autumn Leaves" (Gm); Caravan" (Fm); "Satin Doll" (C) Melody plus 2 improvised choruses ROCHUT - Melodious Etude #6 SCALES - Major scales in all keys GRADUATE *MASTERS* BLUES - "Blues For Alice" Melody plus 3 improvised choruses RHYTHM CHANGES - "Anthropology" Melody plus 2 improvised choruses BALLAD (choose one) - "Body and Soul" (Db); "Chelsea Bridge" (Db) Melody plus 1 improvised chorus STANDARD (choose one) - "All The Things You Are" (Ab); "Stella By Starlight" (Bb); "Have You Met Miss Jones" (F); "What Is This Thing Called Love" (C) Melody plus 2 improvised choruses ROCHUT - Melodious Etude #43 SCALES - In All Keys: Major, Lydian, Dorian, Melodic Minor, Harmonic Minor, Natural Minor *DMA* BLUES - "Isotope" Melody plus 3 improvised choruses RHYTHM CHANGES - "Moose The Mooch" Melody plus 2 improvised choruses BALLAD (choose one) - "Prelude To A Kiss" (C); "Peace" Horace Silver (Bb) " Melody plus 1 improvised chorus STANDARD (choose one) - "Moment's Notice" (Eb); "Inner Urge"; "Stablemates" (Db); "Con Alma" (C) Melody plus 2 improvised choruses Jacques Castérède - Sonatine - Movement 1 SCALES - In all keys: Major and all modes; melodic minor and 2 associated modes (for example, Diminished Whole-Tone and Lydian b7); harmonic minor and 2 associated modes If you have any questions about the audition process, please contact the UofI Jazz Trombone Studio If you are interested in visting the UofI campus, don't hestitate to contact me . Feel free to check out classes while school is in session, check out a rehearsal or concert, talk to other students or just wander the halls!







		© 2012 Jim Pugh - All rights reserved. No replications without authorized permission.