at the extremes, some of the changes I make are: i stick more of the outside mallet at the back, turn my hands more in, and play lower, and with lighter mallets. for tempos up until around 200, it's really just about having good chops and good technique, no hacks really. I learned most of my mallet technique from The Cavaliers--I played timpani but spent a lot of time that summer learning mallet technique from the dudes around me, and then ended up marching Cavaliers Indoor on marimba, where I feel like I gained most of my chops. Playing LOTS of inside mallet scales all the time and taking pride in increasing those numbers over time is big

And thank you for this video. Being open and very versatile will be very helpful tomorrow.

@@Jeremee22 attitude/adaptability will take you a long way. It might be tempting to tell the staff that you only had 4 days to learn it, but that might come across as an excuse. I think they'll just prefer that you are very positive, apply all their comments, and do your best. Also, prepare as much as you can even in the limited time. If you can play through the packet, depending on the group you're going out for that might be more than enough to get a spot. Some groups are more competitive than others.

@@thomaswharton4078 Thank you very much for this. I will definitely keep things points in mind throughout today! Thanks again!

you should audition for a lil group called Redline my dude

@@thomaswharton4078 are you back??

@@ExiledIce we are very lucky! I've taught super small sections too and they can be great as well

@@thomaswharton4078Our percussion section consist of me, two girls (one doesn’t even play percussion she a trombonist) and a boy with autism he is very nice but has a hard time listening and each you tell him to do a visual he wants to do it every time we have a note longer than two beats. Yet we still got a great score at a clinic we went to Saturday.

@@thomaswharton4078 The sad thing is I can't tell if you guys are playing a warmup or your music piece.

@@ExiledIce it's a warmup called Scharton. I'll post show music at some point too.

@@thomaswharton4078 Ok it was so good I couldn't tell

@@azupp4059 for timpani you need to be in the know a little bit to know who is aging out, who is moving to another corps, etc. Basically every principle from this video applies directly to timpani, just learn the packet extremely well, be a great person at the camps, and be undeniable. The hard thing on timpani is you can show up and a vet timpanist is returning to play timpani so the spot isn't really available. We do have a DCI timpanists Facebook group chat that is really helpful for this though. If you message me on Facebook (Thomas Wharton) and say you wanna get in, I'll add you.

I bet finding someone to take lessons from would be a good bet! I don't know much about brass playing, but I'm sure instruction+a lot of focused practice will result in you becoming extremely competent over time

@@uncertain3121 hell yes! That's awesome to hear 🔥

I’m also very worried that they will call out a scale that I am unfamiliar with. Although I know a good chunk of them.

@@gawky5097 in person is better, having taught drum corps there are many videos sent from students who don't actually end up turning up in person even if called back, so I think staff naturally see videos as less committal than being there in person. Showing up at the camp makes a statement. And yes, you should should at least know all your major and minor scales and have a lil cheat sheet for other scales that tells you which scale degrees to alter to get that scale, like "Dorian: minor with raised 6th. Phrygian: minor with lowered 2nd." Etc just in case. You might do em, you might not. First and foremost focus on everything the packet directly says to do, because that stuff you WILL do. After that start preparing for variations

@@thomaswharton4078 Thank you so much

Hey, I wanted to come back and ask you a few questions because I currently don’t have an instructor at my school and percussion as a whole has been kinda neglected by our band director. What do you look for when you are hosting tryouts? Is it technique, how you move, or what. I am just worried I am going to be missing something that will be the deal breaker when it comes to making it or not. Your input will mean the world to me.

@@gawky5097 everything is taken into consideration. For battery, how you move is definitely important and there will be a visual portion of your audition. For front ensemble, they'll also consider how you move behind the keyboard while you play, but playing ability is generally weighed higher for front ensemble. If you prepare everything the packet asks you to prepare that's a good place to be. The bluecoats are still really tough to make--if you don't make it despite being really prepared, you'll make a positive impression with the staff anyways and they can likely send you to another corps if you ask them. Corps often send their list of cuts to other corps who are in need of membership, I know at the Academy we sent some of our cuts to Cascades and they still got to march.

@@Almondtax12 That means so much, I appreciate it!

Sure! Do you wanna just have a phone call or something?

i was at dinner and had to tell my friends "no way guys, THE nic farris commented on my video." Lmao.

awesome! best of luck!

Same exact story here, best of luck man

@@matthewegeler finally

I don't disagree with your point about clicking sticks during bars of rest in the lot or anything like that. it has its time and place, hence why I always have sticks with me. running exercises, learning music for the first time, doing technique work, etc, are all fine instances where i might just click sticks, or i might click them 8 times to start a rep and then just stop

@@AAllaire27 ty ty

Someone had to do it

it's a normal 8 and in. you got 40 days until downbeat