THE BIX YOUTH BAND
The Bix Youth Band is an audition-only youth jazz band comprised of middle and high school students from around the Quad Cities region. The band spreads the music of Bix Beiderbecke and other early 20th century artists, creates professional performance opportunities for students, and furthers jazz education in the Quad Cities.
SUPPORT THE YOUTH BAND
You can direct your gift to support the Bix Youth Band! Your gift funds the scholarship awards awarded to each member upon completion of their program year.
To designate your gift to the Youth Band, select “Bix Youth Band Only” on the donation form, or click here to learn how to donate by check.
Click here to make a gift in support of the Youth Band:
ABOUT THE BIX YOUTH BAND
The Bix Society Youth Jazz Band was founded in 2001 to act as ambassadors for the Bix Jazz Festival in Davenport, Iowa. Chosen by audition, the band includes members from 8th through 12th grades and is open to all area schools.
Rehearsals of the band start in January each year and run through July, culminating in performances at the Bix Jazz Festival in August. The band also appears at many other venues in the QCA, prior to the Festival.
The band focuses on learning to perform jazz music from the Big Band Era in the period of the 1920s, when Bix was making a name for himself, as well as music that developed through the 1930s, 40s, 50s and beyond.
Members of the band have also received high marks individually, at solo and ensemble contests and honor bands in Iowa and Illinois, while many go on to major in music in college.
2026 BIX YOUTH BAND AUDITIONS
Dates: December 13 & 14
Location: Common Chord, 129 N Main Street, Davenport, IA 52801 – Second Floor
To Schedule Your Audition: Email bix@commonchordqc.org to express your interest and include your phone number. The Youth Band director (Steve Little) will contact you to schedule your audition time. If you cannot make it to the above dates, please let us know and we will attempt to schedule an alternate time.
Eligibility:
Must be in 8th-12th grade during this current school year.
Rehearsal Schedule:
The band rehearses on the following schedule:
January through May: Every other week on Sunday afternoons.
June and July: Every Sunday afternoon.
Performance Schedule:
Band members need to be available to perform at the Bix Jazz Festival: July 30 – August 1, 2026.
Other performance opportunities may be offered during the course of the year.
Scholarship Information:
Each band member who participates in the band for the full year will receive a small stipend at the conclusion of the year.
Seniors participating for their 2nd year are eligible to receive a scholarship award in the amount of $1,000.
Additional details regarding scholarships and expectations will be provided during the audition process.
Audition Requirements:
The requirements below are considered to be the IDEALS for musicians performing in a jazz band. Basic knowledge in these areas should be known to be the standard for excellence in jazz performance.
* Basic knowledge of and proficiency in playing scales and music in the concert keys of: F, Bb, Eb, Ab, G, and C. Memorizing these scales will be a plus. Knowledge of Dorian and Mixolydian in these keys would also be a plus.
* Basic knowledge and proficiency in improvising on a 12-bar Blues progression in the concert keys of F and Bb, including Blues scales in Bb concert and F concert.
* Sight-reading a jazz arrangement, with emphasis on tone quality, rhythm, technique, style, and articulation.
* For piano players, an ability to play “stride” style will be a plus.
* Bass players will be asked to play steady time in a “walking” style as well as in “2-beat” style in tempos from slow to up-tempo, and meters of 3/4, 4/4 and “cut time.”
* Drummers will be expected to play steady time in all tempos, and styles from ballad to up-tempo, and in meters of 3/4, 4/4 and “2-beat.” Proficiency with brushes will be a plus.
* Saxophone players should also have a “double” of clarinet or soprano sax. Ability to also “double” flute will be a plus.
* ALL players must be able to READ music.
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