Soul Ensemble - Audition

This is a live audition. You will receive an email before the audition to confirm your audition time. Auditions will be no longer than 15 minutes.

Soul ensembles start on the following dates: 

• Tuesday nights 6-8pm from 14 October - tutor Darren Heinrich

• Thursday nights 6-8pm from 16 October - tutor Darren Heinrich

Once you have passed your audition you will be emailed a link to enrol in the course. The fee for the 8 week term is $585. If you are a full-time student or hold a current pension/healthcare card you will be eligible for a 15% discount - for this to apply, you will need to enter your ID number when you enrol in the course.

Please note: We will only audition positions that are vacant. Current students have first option to re-enrol. If there are no places available for your instrument, we will inform you and refund your audition fee.

Please let us know your instrument when enrolling in the audition.

Audition requirements:

A 15 minute audition will be required to gain entry to the course.

Please note: No backing tracks, just unaccompanied performances for all auditions.

Singers:

• Perform two contrasting Soul/Rhythm ‘n’ Blues standards from the repertoire of Stax, Atlantic or Motown records.

• Demonstrate the backing vocal part to one of the following song sections: Verse section of “Heat Wave” by Martha and The Vandellas OR the Pre-Chorus of “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.

• Sight reading ability preferred but not essential.

Guitar/keyboard/bass:

• Demonstrate accompaniment skills on a 12-bar blues that features an introduction, a main section, and an ending.

• Perform one song from the repertoire of Stax/Atlantic/Motown records.

• Demonstrate the following scales: Major Scale, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic.

• Sight read a Chord Chart (provided).

Horns:

• Demonstrate improvisational skills on a 12-bar blues.

• Demonstrate the following scales: Major Scale, Major Pentatonic, Minor Pentatonic.

• Demonstrate the horn lines from “Soul Man” by Sam & Dave (Introduction and Chorus).

• Sight Reading (provided) of a chart from the repertoire.

Drummers:

• Demonstrate the following generic grooves: Shuffle, Straight 8, Motown, Gospel 12/8.

• Demonstrate the specific grooves to “Cold Sweat” By James Brown and “I Heard It Through The Grapevine” by Marvin Gaye.

• There may be some sight reading of a chart from the repertoire. Sight reading is an advantage but not essential

These classes are designed to introduce the student to a broad range of classic Soul and Rhythm ‘n’ Blues music styles. 

Vocalists gain experience singing both lead and harmony parts, rhythm section players learn to create authentic grooves, and horn players learn to work as a section - punctuating the music and providing contrast with the short solo improvisations endemic to the style.

Typically there will be up to 4 vocalists (doing both solo and BV’s), a rhythm section of drums, electric bass, keyboards, a horn section (trumpet, alto, tenor) and 2 guitarists. We curate the ensembles through the audition process to put together a cohesive ensemble for each term.