What To Expect When Auditioning For a DCI (Drum Corp) or Independent Marching Ensemble: REVEALED

[@djstudios8980]

Great advice man!! I’ll definitely keep those things in mind for my Music City 2022 audition for bassline.

[@KarlDrumTech]

Hope the advice is helpful! Good luck! Let me know how it goes :)

[@hahahhahah3171]

I’m auditioning on mellophone for heatwave this season and I’ve never done anything like this so it’ll definitely be a learning experience.

[@KarlDrumTech]

It'll be fun too! Let us know here how it goes!

[@hahahhahah3171]

karldrumtech I definitely will! It’s such a surreal thing to think of with me only being a junior in high school and touring the eastern states. These next couple of weeks before my audition I’m going to be practicing and putting in my all to prepare.

[@esteban_osman]

How was it? I'm planning to audition for the 2024 season!

[@GreenBubbieBoog]

I'm not even auditioning for drumline, but so far all of your videos have helped me so much thanks!

[@KarlDrumTech]

Wow, that is awesome! Thanks for letting me know! My goal is to help everyone, not just percussionists :)

[@savanahsmith743]

Auditioning for Bluecoats in 12 days on mellophone, low key looking at tons of audition videos 😅

[@KarlDrumTech]

Good Luck! I hope my video will be of some help to you :) Let me know how it goes!

[@kobedrums]

I'm auditioning for snare at bdb 🐸 But I'm only a sophomore so idk whats gonna go down lol 😅 But either way, cut ot not, I'm thinking of it as learning experience Thanks for the tips man 👌

[@KarlDrumTech]

Hey Kobe! That's really the best attitude you have. Go there ready to learn and have fun! Glad the tips help :)

[@brod_drumz]

what is an independent marching ensemble?

[@KarlDrumTech]

Sorry, I meant like Drum Corps, Independent Indoor Percussion Groups, etc. :)

[@armandocano7518]

I auditioned for gold this year even tho it was still my first year playing snare! however I got cut at call backs... I believe the two reasons why i got cut: 1. not knowing the material! you should KNOW the music to where it would be HARD for you to mess it up/break 2. i was NOT focused!!! i was looking around a LOT when playing behind the drum... Don't do that lol :) next year i will audition for gold again! :) this stuff is easier said than done at lest for me it was :)

[@Severen45]

You have a good outlook on that experience. I auditioned at the very same core on snare and unfortunately did not make the line. But then I heard there was a few AUX spots in pit. So I took that opportunity. I ended up (long story short) playing drumset when I thought my summer would just be boring bongos and triangles.. Basically the point is, go for your dreams and give it your all but remember that other opportunities can be right in front of you.

[@KarlDrumTech]

Great way to look at it guys! Always look at things positively! Use any disappointment you have as motivation, otherwise you should be grinding hard regardless!

[@crabdemon9384]

2022 contra audition for southwind and im so nervous. seven days feels like eternety

[@KarlDrumTech]

Just keep preparing and trust the work when you get there. Focus on the work, it should help with the nervousness :) You got this! Keep me posted?

[@meh_3695]

So I play trombone and I've been considering auditioning for an open class drum corps do I need to learn baritone or should I be good auditioning with my trombone

[@KarlDrumTech]

I think you gotta know going on if the corps uses trombones. I thought BD uses trombones for example...though I'm not sure if that was standard or if they just used it for one season or part of a show. If that's the case, you're good. If the group you are auditioning for uses baritones, then I highly suggest learning baritone :) Hope that helps!

[@meh_3695]

@@KarlDrumTech Thank you!

[@KarlDrumTech]

@@meh_3695 my pleasure!

[@OphilliaBalls]

I got the chance to talk with a member of the academy snare line. He told me 80 people auditioned for 5 spots on the snare line. Crazy !

[@KarlDrumTech]

Dang, on one hand that's crazy...on the other hand...I'm not surprised (everyone wants to play snare...I don't know what's so good about it...jk...lol)

[@williamechegaray542]

This vid was extremely helpful thank u dude 😄

[@KarlDrumTech]

Wow, thank you so much for the compliment! I really appreciate the feecback :)

[@servals2384]

I'm a clarinet player and I intend to learn mellophone to audition for a drum corp next year or the year after; any tips? And is it even possible for me to learn it in time?

[@KarlDrumTech]

Yes! Definitley start now and if possible, try to see if you can get a mellophone player to give you some tips and pointers. Maybe even try to get lessons from them and in exchange, you can buy them lunch for each lesson. If you can't find a mellophone player to help you, ask any brass player to help you. So yes, it is possible. Remember that there are more horn spots compared to Drumline spots, so I don't think it's as competitive compared to percussion. Depending on what kind of group you audition for, I've seen horn players with little to no experience march a Brass instrument at an Open Class level corps. This kind of thing is probably more unlikely with a World Class corps, but as long as you stay realistic, then yes, it is absolutely possible. Which group did you plan on auditioning for?

[@wei-anhsieh2853]

Are you going to watch the DCI premiere at the theaters this Thursday?

[@KarlDrumTech]

I don't believe so...too busy teaching lessons...haha, but I'll be at the shows in Cali for sure! :) well...at least one show for sure!!! lol what about you?

[@wei-anhsieh2853]

I'm going to see the premiere today, but I really want to go to a live show. never been to one before. Maybe I'll see you at one of them!

[@KarlDrumTech]

How was the premier? Everyone is hyping it for sure :) In Cali? If so, yes, feel free to say Hi!

[@kevinming7523]

It seems like you're a tenor player! I'm also playing tenor in my high school currently, and I am considering trying for Vanguard Cadets. Is there anything particular for tenor drums that I should focus on? Thanks!

[@KarlDrumTech]

Hello fellow quad playe!!! Us Tenor players need to stick together! lol hmm, the key is to stay loose, be efficient in your movements, maintain a good xy axis and have good interp like any other good percussionist should...generally speaking :) Hope this helps and I wish you all the best as you audition for SVC :) that's coming up right?

[@user-xk8yz5lq2b]

do you have any videos how to march?

[@KarlDrumTech]

I don't, but now that you ask, it looks like I have to make some ;)

[@williamechegaray542]

So I'm 16 and have about a years experience on snare but I practice my but off idk if it's even worth going to go audition next year ?

[@williamechegaray542]

I want no March gold next year

[@williamechegaray542]

+William Echegaray to*

[@KarlDrumTech]

It is absolutely worth going!!! Even if you don't make it, you can still learn a lot, so I recommend you practice your butt off until auditions. Who knows...maybe you'll make it! Even if you don't, you'll get A LOT out of the experience :) Go try out for Gold; I know the percussion caption head ;)

[@williamechegaray542]

+karldrumtech thank you dude keep making the vids 😩 they help newbies like me 😄

[@williamechegaray542]

+karldrumtech do u have any tips for auditioning for gold?

[@alexthurston9659]

Hey I was thinking about trying out for a drum corps next year but i don't know if I should try out for one of the top ones? It would be my first year but I play snare for my high school line. Any tips on what I should do and how to approach it?

[@KarlDrumTech]

Hey Alex! I mean, you see the videos on the internet right? See how your skill level compares and go from there. If it's a little far off, then you may want to wait before you audition. I mean that's one strategy. The other is, just go anyway and see what you can learn from the experience and see what you need to do to be ready next time. You may not make it, but you know that going in. If you feel like you can make it, then go for it and go for it all the way. Just make sure you are prepared by learning the material the corp may have (if any) and practice as much as possible before the audition. Work movement too and not just your hands. Hope that helps! Let me know if there is anything I can help clarify for you :)

[@sparklehill5234]

Alex Thurston dkkp♔♝♜♔●●●®®◇