DCI Auditions | A Complete Beginners Guide to Success!

DCI Audition Packing List: docs.google.com/document/d/10...
CorpsFIT Signup: www.ForteAthletics.net/CorpsFIT
Welcome to Forte Athletics' comprehensive guide on how to audition for DCI (Drum Corps International) if you're new to the process. Coach Daniel will walk you through the 7 key elements to secure your spot with a drum corps this summer.
In this video, you'll learn how to choose the right corps, register for your audition, prepare physically and mentally, and what to expect on your audition day. We'll also cover post-audition steps and frequently asked questions. Whether you're a brass, percussion, or color guard performer, we've got you covered!
DCI auditions can be daunting, but with the right guidance, you can take that first step towards your dream of marching in a drum corps. If you found this video helpful, don't forget to like and subscribe to join our community of marching athletes.
Remember, your DCI journey starts with that first audition. Stay hungry, stay humble, and let's get those reps in! #DCIAuditions #DrumCorps #MarchingAthletes

[@Wembul]

W Forte, great job at the clinic yesterday. Had a great time there with the snares! Mandarins 24!

[@Noah2006babe]

The mandarins are very underrated

[@stevanbustos229]

You should make a callback specific video. It would be helpful to go more in depth with the things to prepare for at a callback camp

[@_.lxghthxnds._]

Agreed

[@jasonteeple2400]

Hey Daniel, thanks for the video. I'm auditioning for BDB for snare this coming january and I appreciate all the tips you've given to help me be successful!

[@alexmichnowicz5873]

Thank you for this video, it gave me so much motivation! I want more than anything to march a top 12 corps, I’m currently a senior in HS and I joined Marching Band as our only senior rookie. Marching has become my whole world but I’m nowhere near where I need to be to march DCI (mostly musically) and that discourages me a lot but this video made me feel more confident about my ability to eventually march Drum Corps than I’ve ever been before, thank you so so so much. I’m gonna work hard every single day till I make it and it might not be till the 2025 season or even beyond that, but I will make it one day. I will.

[@Forte.Athletics]

I can already tell you will achieve your goals as long as you put in the work!

[@saltboy4206]

Thank you for this video Mr. Daniel! I’m auditioning for Mandarins this year and so nervous, but with your guide it’s helped ease my nerves. Can’t wait for the NorCal camp!!! 😆😆😆

[@Forte.Athletics]

Wishing you all the best in your audition!

[@henwill8]

Yo! I'll be at the NorCal camp too! What section are you? I'm going for front ensemble

[@remswebs]

I’m planning to audition a DCI corps either next season or the following. I’m at the younger side of the age range and I want to audition mallet percussion. I understand that it would be extremely difficult for someone my age and someone with minimal experience to audition however that won’t stop me. The worst possible answer you can get is “no” and even then all that is saying is “try again next year” which will never be the end of the world. I’m confident in my skill to audition and even if I fluke an audition that just means they tell me what I did wrong. Therefore making me more prepared for the next audition. I would love for anyone who reads this to give any audition tips for mallet percussion. Thank y’all, have a great day.

[@rattlesss5148]

Got a callback with Spirit of Atlanta, and im super nervous about being as perfect as possible. Thanks for making this video and guiding rookies like me to our greatest potential as musician and performer.

[@Forte.Athletics]

You’ve got this!

[@_.lxghthxnds._]

I noticed this comment and I just posted about this topic on my Instagram not too long ago. Perfection is a demand to the activity, but don’t think that it’s expected of you at all. Even at the highest level, no rep, lot video, or performance will be 100% perfect. Try not to confuse consistency with perfection or let it weigh you down when you’re not playing/marching perfectly.

[@orcabeats7591]

hey i got a call back from spirt to what do u play?

[@weirdworld55]

This is an awesome video! I do unfortunately have a question. I’m a tuba player, still have a long way to go, but if a tuba were to try out, but doesn’t have contra, how would they prepare for the audition?

[@Forte.Athletics]

Asking around to get practice on an actual contra would be your best way to prepare. It may even be worth emailing the drum corps you are trying out for and asking them this exact question!

[@ultra9349]

I have my audition in a month maybe for dci open class and i honestly don’t know if i wanna get it, there is something i wanna do in june that lasts from sunday to saturday for 1 week in late june but i also don’t know if i’m ready to march it I wanna audition on snare and i’ve only crabbed with a bass drum before however i marched 2 full seasons in high school on different bass drums and i have marched parades on snare drum before and had standstill performances on snare drum, my other big fear is that i have had very little training on traditional grip and i’m mostly self taught in it but i believe i have it pretty decent to the point where it’s much cleaner than matched for me and i have already performed with it before, the wind director in my hs marching band is the director of the drum corps i’m auditioning for and our visual coordinator marches in it and i talked with them to get some knowledge on that drum corps

[@color_pens5542]

good luck dude. It can be tough trying to balance life and drum corps on the same scale in high school (assuming you're in HS). Keep on grinding that traditional on a pad and you'll make it for sure

[@HE360]

Yeah, don't be like me lol. I always went to my Drum Corps and University Marching Band practices later. While I still make made them, I encourage everyone to NOT do what I did lol 🤣

[@cheesebiscuit6453]

So, as a trombone player, would I have to learn to march euph? I heard DCI doesn't match trombones.

[@is0thekidd464]

Euph, bari or contra, I’m a trombone player who primarily plays tenor, but the first instrument I marched for drum corp was contra

[@demigr0539]

Mandies is doing trombone this year, and possibly in future years as well. Although bones also had to audition on euphonium for one of the etudes