Audition Process and Expectations
Audition Components
Snare, tenor, and bass drummers will be evaluated individually and within the ensemble. Your proficiency will be evaluated on a number of components, including but not limited to:
- Marching and Playing
- Quality of Sound and technique
- Rhythmic Accuracy and various tempos and dynamics
- Listening Skills
- Adaptability and Adjustment
- Exercises and music
- Vocabulary
- Physical Strength and Conditioning
- Battery Audition FAQs →
Recommended Skills and Knowledge
(Your audition packet is free at our Virtual Studio Library. See below)
- Legato Stokes
- Accent-Tap control (single hand patterns and hand-to-hand patterns)
- 16th note timing, triplet timing
- Double and Triple Strokes (triplets and 16ths)
- Rolls (8ths, triplets, and 16ths)
- Paradiddle/Pugada rudiments
- Rhythmic modulations
- Flams (flam accents, flam taps, inverts, drags, cheese, fives)
Learning Opportunities
Online Private Music Lessons
We offer 45-minute private lessons, that you can use to help prepare for your audition. If you live in Los Angeles County, you may qualify for up to four free lessons thanks to a grant from American Century Investments Foundation.
Online Private Music Lessons →
Drum Workshop (event has concluded)
Southern California – Sunday, November 6, 2022 →
Learn directly from Pacific Crest’s percussion educators as they cover everything from important marching percussion fundamentals, to different groove styles all the way to what it really means to be a world class performer. This is a great opportunity to prepare for the 2023 Pacific Crest audition weekend.
Virtual Studio Library
Your online educational resource that includes audition packets and technique manuals. You will find more than 70 videos and demonstrations for brass, percussion, color guard, visual/dance, and field conducting.
Helpful Links
Email the Percussion Caption Manager→
Video Audition
Video auditions are reserved for applicants who may be too far away or otherwise unable to attend a rehearsal camp. Pacific Crest does not typically accept students based upon the video audition. If accepted by video, your staff will let you know, and you will receive your onboarding documents via DocuSign. If the staff believe you show promise, we will invite you to the next rehearsal camp to complete your audition in-person. The fee to submit a video for review is $100.