COMBO 1

This upper-level combo for advanced high-school-age students focuses on preparing young musicians for their continued studies in higher education and their futures as professional musicians.

We help build the skills and knowledge necessary to play at the highest levels. We learn tunes at a fast pace and tackle repertoire that challenges students’ improvisation skills and understanding of jazz theory. We also perform regularly, from opening for national touring acts to headlining shows at local venues.

  • Combo 1 admission is by audition only. See audition instructions and requirements below.

  • Rehearsal is planned for Sundays at 12:30pm. The schedule is subject to change due to student and rehearsal space availability. We’ll do everything we can to accommodate your schedule and will finalize a regular schedule prior to the start of the quarter.

  • Tuition is $390 per quarter and includes admission to all Jazz Center concerts.

  • Scholarships are available – email education@jazzcenterofbellingham.org for more information.

Application and audition instructions

  • Application and audition submission deadline is January 5th, 2025.

  • Fill out the application form by clicking on the “Register and Upload Audition” button.

  • Upload a minimally-edited video or audio recording of the audition materials listed below.

  • You can find the file upload form inside the application form linked above. Accepted file formats:

    • Video: MP4, MOV, AVI, WMV

    • Audio: M4A, MP3, WAV

  • Please verbally announce each piece of the audition, e.g. “This is a 2-octave G major scale”, or “This is Tenor Madness in Bb”.

  • Contact education@jazzcenterofbellingham.org if you have any issues uploading your file, or with any questions regarding the audition and application process.

Repertoire 

  • For all instruments (plus additional requirements outlined below by instrument group), play each of the following. Accompaniment can be provided by a play-along backing track or live band. Unaccompanied solo performances are also accepted.

    • Choose from “Tenor Madness”, “Straight No Chaser”, “Billie’s Bounce”, or any standard 12-bar blues of your choice. Your recording should include:

      • Melody in

      • Two choruses of improvised solo

      • Melody out

    • Choose from “Take the A Train”, “All the Things You Are”, “There is No Greater Love”, “Stella by Starlight”, or any medium or uptempo swing jazz standard of your choice. Your recording should include:

      • Melody in

      • At least one chorus of improvised solo

      • Melody out

    • See the Instrument Group section below for additional requirements based on your instrument.

Instrument Groups

  • Trumpets

    • Repertoire listed above

    • The following scales, up and down:

      • Chromatic scale full range

      • Two 2-octave major scales of your choice

      • Two 2-octave harmonic minor scales of your choice

  • Trombones

    • Repertoire listed above

    • The following scales, up and down:

      • Chromatic scale full range

      • Two 2-octave major scales of your choice

      • Two 2-octave harmonic minor scales of your choice

  • Saxophones

    • Repertoire listed above

    • The following scales, up and down:

      • Chromatic scale full range

      • Two 2-octave major scales of your choice

      • Two 2-octave harmonic minor scales of your choice

  • Piano

    • Repertoire listed above, plus one chorus of comping for each piece.

    • The following scales, up and down:

      • Chromatic scale, 4 octaves

      • Two 4-octave major scales of your choice, two hands

      • Two 4-octave harmonic minor scales of your choice, two hands

  • Bass (upright is preferred)

    • Repertoire listed above, plus two choruses of walking bass for the blues and one chorus of walking bass for the jazz standard.

    • The following scales, up and down:

      • Two 2-octave major scales of your choice

      • Two 2-octave harmonic minor scales of your choice

  • Guitar

    • Repertoire listed above, plus one chorus of comping for each piece.

    • The following scales, up and down:

      • Two 3-octave major scales of your choice

      • Two 3-octave harmonic minor scales of your choice

  • Drums

    • Repertoire listed above, plus one chorus of comping for each piece, and for the jazz standard, include one chorus alternating between playing time and 8 bars of solo (i.e. trade eights).

      • For the melody in and out, comp under a melody instrument or play the melody on the drums. 

      • Accompanists should include bass and either piano or guitar. A play-along backing track is acceptable.

    • Play the following, unaccompanied:

      • Perform a swing groove at slow, medium and fast tempos using sticks.

      • Perform a swing groove at slow, medium and fast tempos using brushes.

      • Perform the following grooves: 6/8 Afro Cuban, Bossa Nova.

Instructors

  • Roger Yamashita (bass): Roger studied music performance at Western Washington University under Chuck Israels. He has performed with many local, regional, and national jazz artists, such as George Garzone, Brian Lynch, Dan Faehnle, Mike Allen, Miles Black, Bill Anschell, Milo Petersen, Gail Pettis, and others. He has been an educator for much of his adult life, teaching privately for more than 20 years, and at the Jazz Center of Bellingham for the past 10 years. From 2006 to 2011, he taught English in public schools in Japan through the JET Program.

  • Isaac Devange (trumpet)

Questions? Contact Us! education@jazzcenterofbellingham.org