Tell me about your band's auditions

[Imagine]

I am curious about your band's marching audition requirements.

 

1) Does your band require a marching audition? Are there any physical elements/requirements other than being able to march? (i.e. Do you learn some choreography and have to perform it as part of the audition? Do you have to show physical strength like push-ups/sit-ups/squats or be able to run a certain distance or anything like that?)

 

2) What happens if you don't pass the marching audition? Do you

 

A) perform in the concert season only?

B )stand on the sidelines during competitions and perform in the stands at football games?

C) have a varsity level marching band and a JV marching band, so you perform with the JV?

D) perform with your marching band as an alternate, rotating in and out of a position, usually performing in prelims at competitions?

E) become a prop master?

 

Or:
F) a combination of the above which is _____________________________________________________.

G) none of the above. Instead we _________________________________________________________.

[Bandwoww]

 

After learning basics in the spring, there is a preliminary marching audition where everyone is given a score based on basic marching fundamentals. It is just a checkpoint and doesn’t qualify or disqualify anyone from being in the varsity band.

 

At the beginning of August camp there is another audition that combines basic marching and playing skills. This audition determines who makes it in the varsity band as well as considering other criteria such as band placement, # of years in the program, previous varsity or prop experience, and grades in other classes/ if you have been ineligible before. People who don’t make varsity have two options. They can either be on JV, who only perform in the spirit half time show OR they can try out for varsity prop crew who obviously handles the props for every varsity competition along with the prop parents. Every student in JV or Varsity performs in the spirit half time show.

 

There is no pass/fail for the audition. The directors pick the best students with the highest scores for varsity. Also they never release the scores.

 

There is also a challenge process where JV students who really want to be on varsity and are competitive can “challenge” people on lower varsity spots. Usually very little changes happen but it does show the directors who is really dedicated incase they need to add someone because a varsity student became ineligible or was injured or something. Sometimes there are alternates where people share a spot for a few weeks before a decision is made.

 

Also, to be on varsity you have to be able to run a 10 minute mile and there are numerous opportunities to pass it off.

[LHSbandDad]

Our process is pretty simple.  During the first week of band camp the directors and section leaders/Drum Majors teach, coach and observe marching basics.  There is a section by section review of how the first week of marching fundamentals went.  Those observations, combined with the show music pass offs (a.k.a. Smart Music) and band placement determines who gets a primary spot.  In addition, this year because we are going to Grand Nationals, there is the added qualifier that if you are not going to Indy (making payments), you don't get a primary spot.

 

We do not have JV band and every kid in our program gets to march at football games in the "X box" where they get to march, practice fundamentals, play the music but not be part of the main drill.  As the season progresses, the X box kids who are doing the best get to move into primary spots when they become available due to grades or broken legs, or wisdom teeth, etc.  The X box does not perform at competitions but all those kids help in some way with props and most get onto the field at some point during the show.  At Grand Nationals in 2016, every single kid in the program made it onto the field even if it was just at the end but they were all part of the show.

[LeanderMomma]

Our process is pretty simple. During the first week of band camp the directors and section leaders/Drum Majors teach, coach and observe marching basics. There is a section by section review of how the first week of marching fundamentals went. Those observations, combined with the show music pass offs (a.k.a. Smart Music) and band placement determines who gets a primary spot. In addition, this year because we are going to Grand Nationals, there is the added qualifier that if you are not going to Indy (making payments), you don't get a primary spot.

 

We do not have JV band and every kid in our program gets to march at football games in the "X box" where they get to march, practice fundamentals, play the music but not be part of the main drill. As the season progresses, the X box kids who are doing the best get to move into primary spots when they become available due to grades or broken legs, or wisdom teeth, etc. The X box does not perform at competitions but all those kids help in some way with props and most get onto the field at some point during the show. At Grand Nationals in 2016, every single kid in the program made it onto the field even if it was just at the end but they were all part of the show.

Excellent explanation! And I didn’t realize that about GN ‘16. How awesome to give everyone a chance to be on the field in Indy. It must have been the part where everyone outside of the main block is throwing cubes around. I always loved that part!

[WoodlandsMom4ever]

Everyone is involved in some aspect of the show at TWHS as long as they stay eligible. Marching spots are determined by the directors- some spots are given to two people to switch out- until they determine which person gets the spot. Players that down get a spot can challenge someone to get a marching spot after that decision is made. For those that don’t get a marching spot- they are put in prop spots and are on the field the entire time moving props and are just as much an integral part of the show as the marchers. The only way to not get on the field is loosing eligibility, or not paying the band fee. There is no option to skip the marching semester and just play in concert band.