If you cannot audition in person, you may submit a video audition. Scroll down to your section for details:
Brass
(Updated 11/15/2024) Make sure that you are in a space where you have enough room to move and that your full body is visible in the camera. You should record all components of the Brass Audition Materials: three note slur (on the move — see box drill below), audition excerpts, and “musical wow factor”.
For the box drill exercise, set tape markings on the ground at the four corners of a box that measures five yards (15 feet) front to back and five yards side to side. Ensure that the tape markings are visible on the camera, and that the volume of your metronome is audible to the camera, as well. Remain relaxed and allow your best performance to be apparent!
Battery (Snare, Tenors, Bass Drum)
General Guidelines
- Start your video by telling us your full name, where you live, and your current age.
- Please use a drum if at all possible
- Metronome must be audible for all exercises
- You should include your full body in the frame of the video. We will need to see from your feet for marking time through the top of your head
- Take your time and re-record as necessary to best present your abilities.
Exercises:
Snares/Tenors:
“Motion”, 100BPM
“PDs”, 100-110BPM
Triplet Roll Exercise of your choice, 170BPM
Bass Drums:
Triplet 1-Accent Grid, 150BPM
16th-Note 2-Accent Grid, 136BPM
Paradiddle Exercise of your choice at your chosen tempo
Front Ensemble
Front Ensemble Audition Video:
- Let us know a little about yourself! Say your name, how old you are, where you’re from, and briefly describe your musical background.
- All exercises listed below.
Video Guidelines:
- Place the camera directly in front of your keyboard so that we can see both the keyboard and your body.
- Metronome must be audible to the listener and be set behind you.
- All clips must be compiled into one video and kept in order.
- Please label all clips.
- Create the highest quality video/audio you can (Phones these days are pretty awesome!)
- We want to see what skills and talents you bring to the table, so please make sure your video showcases these.
Front Ensemble Audition:
Mallets:
With two mallets…
– Singles at 96 BPM: 4 Major Scales of your choice (with the bar of space between). 2 at Forte, 2 at Piano.
– Arpeggios at 112 BPM: Major Keys of C, C-Sharp, D, and E-Flat at Mezzo Forte.
With Four Mallets:
– Long Vertical at 50 BPM: G Major at Forte and A-Flat Major at Piano
– Scales at 124 BPM: Major Scales of E, F, and F-Sharp (with the bar of space between)
– One more rep of scales at 145 BPM: B Major
Piano/Timpani/Drum Set/Aux:
Play the exercises at the tempos above with the listed number of reps and dynamics.
Color Guard
Start your video by telling us your full name, where you live, and your current age. Take your time and re-record as necessary to best present your skills.
Movement: 30-40 second combination that include skills such as leaps, turns, battement, in and out of the ground, and a demonstration of the range of flexibility and performance qualities.
Flag, Rifle, Saber: 30-40 second combination that should include, tosses at various heights, angles and catch variations, Please include lower body when demonstrating flag skills. Please include technique basics as well, such as
Exercises:
Weapons
- 50 Spins left and right
- Any “singles” exercise you may know
- Any exercise that demonstrates wrist flexibility and agility
- Any exercise that includes back hands and speed changes
Flag
- 50 drop spins left and right
- Carves left and right
- Singles left and right
- Double left and right
- Various 45 tosses
Drum Majors
All Drum Major candidates are required to submit a pre-audition video. Guidelines for the video submission can be found here: https://pacific-crest.org/audition-drummajor/. A confirmation email with instructions on how to complete the video submission will be sent upon audition registration.
Drum Major audition videos must be submitted by the posted deadline, to be considered.