December 3, 2020 Pacific Crest is pleased to announce that we intend to perform at the DCI events in Indianapolis on August 12, 13, and 14, 2021. We also expect to develop local performances in Southern California during July, that adhere to pandemic restrictions in place at that time. And if
2021 Information for Prospective Performers
To our prospective 2021 performers: Pacific Crest is pleased to announce that we intend to perform at the DCI events in Indianapolis on August 12, 13, and 14, 2021. We also expect to develop local performances in Southern California during July, that adhere to pandemic restrictions in place at
2019 – Trumpet Feature Mvt. 3
Play along to the trumpet feature from "View from Olympus" by Psathas, Movement 3 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
2019 – Snare – Introduction of Mvt. 1
Play along with the snare line in the introduction to Movement 1 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
2019 – Tenors – Introduction of Mvt. 1
Play along to the tenor part in the introduction to Movement 1 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
2019 – Basses – Introduction of Mvt. 1
Play along to the bass line in the introduction to Movement 1 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
2019 – Cymbals – Introduction of Mvt. 1
Play along to the bass line in the introduction to Movement 1 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
2019 – Front Ensemble Feature Mvt. 3
Play along to the front ensemble feature from "View from Olympus" by Psathas, Movement 3 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
2019 – Battery Feature Mvt. 5
Play along to the battery feature from "Insight" by Haywyre, Movement 5 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
2019 – Brass Hit Mvt. 5
Play along to the brass quintet feature from "Insight" by Haywyre, Movement 5 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
2019 – Quintet Mvt. 5
Play along to the brass quintet feature from "Insight" by Haywyre, Movement 5 of our 2019 production, "Everglow."
Private Lessons Available
Our private lessons allow you the chance to work with directly with an educator!
High Brass – Technique Manual
A complete guide to the Pacific Crest approach to brass performance.
Visual – Forward Motion
Detailed breakdown of the posture, approach, and technique of forward motion.
Visual – Backward Motion
Initiation and breakdown of the technique for backward motion.
Visual – Forward-to-Backward
Pacific Crest's approach to changing from forward to backward motion.
Visual – Backward-to-Forward
Pacific Crest's approach to changing from backward to forward motion.
Visual – Slides
Breakdown of the slide technique, including upper body rotation.
Snare – Audition Packet
The official Pacific Crest 2021 audition packet for snare.
Color Guard – Audition Piece
All applicants must learn and perform this flag combo as part of your audition.
Flag – Drop Spins
Explanation and demonstration of drop spins for flag.
Flag – Carves
Demonstration of carves on flag.
Visual – Dots, Vectors, Mid-Sets
This lesson introduces Pacific Crest's approach to cleaning drill.
Visual – Field References
The building blocks for finding our dots and cleaning drill.
Trumpet – Audition Packet
Includes expectations, technique guidelines and exercises.
Mellophone – Audition Packet
Includes expectations, technique guidelines and exercises.
Euphonium – Technique Manual
A complete guide to the Pacific Crest approach to brass performance.
Euphonium – Audition Packet
Includes expectations, technique guidelines and exercises.
Tuba – Technique Manual
A complete guide to the Pacific Crest approach to brass performance.
Tuba – Audition Packet
Includes expectations, technique guidelines and exercises.
High Brass Lyrical Etude – Charlier
Refer to page 2 of the Trumpet or Mellophone Audition Packet.
Euphonium Lyrical Etude – Rochut
Refer to page 2 of the Euphonium Audition Packet.
Snare – Milkbone
Tap quality, rhythmic integrity, and energy shifts.
Bass Drums – Audition Packet
The official Pacific Crest 2021 audition packet for bass drum.
Tenors – Audition Packet
(Updated 12/28/2020) The official Pacific Crest 2021 audition packet for tenors.
Tuba Lyrical Etude – Blazhevich
Refer to page 2 of the Tuba Audition Packet.
All Brass – Goldman
Refer to page 8 of the Brass Technique Manual.
Visual – Brass Visual Box Drill
Visual Caption Head, Rudy Ruiz, explains the Box Drill portion of the brass audition.
All Brass – Lip Slurs
Refer to Box Drill No. 1 in your Audition Packet.
Visual – Brass Audition Dance Piece
Brass performers should learn this brief dance piece for your drum corps audition.
All Brass – Goldman w/Stagger Breathing
This version demonstrates stagger breathing.
All Brass – Clarke E Flat Slurred
Refer to page 10 of the Brass Technique Manual.
Front Ensemble – Audition Packet
Includes expectations, technique guidelines and exercises.
Mallets – Singles
Playing through all 12 major keys while isolating one hand at a time.
Mallets – Scales
This exercise applies the major scales from "Singles" to an alternating hand exercise.
Mallets – Double Verticals
This four-mallet exercise explores the 12 major chords and their inversions.
Mallets – Alternating Strokes
Play close attention to the key signature of this four-mallet exercise.
Cymbals – Audition Packet
The official Pacific Crest 2021 Audition Packet for cymbals
Rifle & Saber – Drop Spins
Explanation and demonstration of drop spins for rifle and saber.
Rifle & Saber – Singles
Explanation and demonstration of singles on rifle and saber.
Rifle & Saber – Back Hands
Demonstration of the back-hand exercise on rifle and saber.
Rifle – Tosses
Demonstration of the basic toss exercise on rifle.
Saber – Triples
Demonstration of the triple toss exercise on saber.
Dance – Plié
Technique and exercise for developing the plié.
Dance – Passé
Technique and exercise for correctly developing the passé.
Drum Major – Audition Packet
Details about our drum major auditions, including FAQs.
Field Conducting #1
Lesson 1: Posture.
Field Conducting #2
Lesson 2: Anchor technique.
Field Conducting #3
Lesson 3: Umbrella technique.
Field Conducting #4
Lesson 4: Start/stop technique.
Field Conducting #5
Lesson 5: Left and right hand independence.
Field Conducting #6
Lesson 6: Indicating dynamics.
Field Conducting #7
Lesson 7: Cut-Offs.
Cymbals – Flat Crash Technique
Breaking down the technique of our basic crash at the flat position.
Cymbals – Flat Crash Exercises
Developing a quality flat crash.
Cymbals – Crash Technique Breakdown V1
This is required of your Pacific Crest audition.
Cymbals – Crash Technique Breakdown V2
A second version of the crash breakdown exercise, which is also required of your Pacific Crest audition.
Cymbals – Crash and Crash/Choke
This video demonstration shows the basic crash and crash/coke technique at Pacific Crest.
Cymbals – Walking 8ths
A video demonstration of the Walking 8ths exercise.
Tenors – Technique #1
Instrument position, playing zones, axes and moving from drum to drum.
Tenors – Technique #2
Quality technique for crossovers and scrapes and how to avoid common problems.
Tenors – Milkbone Single-Handed
Tap quality, rhythmic integrity, and energy shifts.
Tenors – Milkbone Alternating
Tap quality, rhythmic integrity, and energy shifts, played with alternate sticking.
Tenors – Three Strikes
Develop your triple-stroke technique.
Tenors – Paradiddles
Developing combinations of accents, taps, and diddles, the building blocks of paradiddles.
Tenors – Bitty Rolls
Shifting from 16th note diddles to triplet diddles.
Snare – Three Strikes
Develop your triple-stroke technique.
Bass – Milkbone
Tap quality, rhythmic integrity, and energy shifts.
Bass – Bitty Rolls
Shifting from 16th note diddles to triplet diddles.
Bass – Paradiddles
Developing combinations of accents, taps, and diddles, the building blocks of paradiddles.
Snare – Paradiddles
Developing combinations of accents, taps, and diddles, the building blocks of paradiddles.
Snare – Bitty Rolls
Shifting from 16th note diddles to triplet diddles.
Visual – Field Percussion Crabbing and Oblique
Specific technique for field percussion (battery) as you move across the field.
All Brass – Clarke C Slur 2/Tongue 2
Refer to page 10 of the Brass Technique Manual.
Submit Video Project
If you are auditioning for our Drum Corps, here are the video submission instructions.
John Test 2
This is a test Post to validate things are working.
John Test 3
This is a test Post to validate things are working.
John Test 4
This is a test Post to validate things are working.
2021 Planning Under Way
There is much we do not know about 2021: The future of the pandemic is uncertain, and Drum Corps International (DCI) is studying a 2021 tour scenario that creates a "bridge" to 2022.
Nicole Casino Appointed Percussion Co-Caption Head
Pacific Crest is proud to announce that Nicole Casino will be joining our educational leadership team as Percussion Co-Caption Head for the 2021 season.
Employment Opportunity: Social Media Coordinator
Pacific Crest Youth Arts Organization is searching for a Social Media Coordinator. This is a part-time position with an expected workload of two hours per week. Interested applicants should review the job description, which includes tasks, duties, and qualifications. That information -- along
Employment Opportunity: Percussion Co-Caption Head
Pacific Crest Youth Arts Organization is searching for a Percussion Co-Caption Head to lead the Drum Corps battery percussion section for the 2021 season. Interested applicants should review the job description and application process at pacific-crest.org/employment. The search for this
Citadel Shopping Extravaganza. You Shop. We Win!
Mark your calendars! We have been selected to participate in the 15th Annual Shopping Extravaganza at Citadel Outlets!. Join us for a fun day of shopping and exclusive deals on top of Citadel Outlets’ daily savings of 30 - 70% off from October 10 through November 8. TICKETS Select
Used Uniform Pants for Sale
These pants are made of a quick-cool stretch fabric and have been used for just two seasons. They are clean, boxed, and ready to go. Email info@pacific-crest.org to discuss pricing. Click HERE for the flyer.
Stuart Pompel Named DCI’s 2020 World Class Director of the Year
We are proud to share that Pacific Crest’s own Stuart Pompel has been awarded DCI’s Director of the Year award for the 2020 season!
Arranging for Winds – Course Description
This master class teaches you the fundamentals of the art and science of wind arranging and provides one-on-one coaching.
Arranging for Winds – Part 1
Lesson 1: Introduction to Arranging
Arranging for Winds – Part 2
Lesson 2: Instrumental Color.
Arranging for Winds – Part 3
Lesson 3: Case Study (Pacific Crest 2019)
Arranging for Winds – Coaching Session
Sign up for one-on-one coaching session with Brad Green.