Trying out for a drumline or even a new instrument on a drumline can be an intimidating experience. However, a lot of the intimidation and anxiety that come along with an audition is the result of being unprepared and overwhelmed with irrelevant thoughts. In this article, we simplify things by breaking down and discussing three ways to improve your drumline audition results.
To begin, we need to address that the results of your audition depend on your behavior, attitude, preparation, ability to learn, performance, and improvement. Auditions are, often times, not a 5 minute ordeal. Instructors observe you from the second they meet you and take note of the characteristics previously listed. These factors in addition to your formal audition, make up the vast majority of their decision when it comes time to set the line.
So, what are the three ways you can get better results at your drumline audition?
1) Be accountable. Be positive. Be proactive.
Any time you have a rehearsal, any time you’re in the band hall, any time you’re doing something drumline related, be these things. Always show up to rehearsal on time, always have the necessary materials with you (sheet music, dot book, water, shoes, etc.), always make the most of every repetition, and always go home and practice things that you struggled with so that you keep improving. If you do these things day in and day out, they’re going to become habits for you. And when an instructor sees that you have these habits, even if it’s only over the course of a weekend audition, they’re going to start trusting you and gaining faith in your abilities to make a positive contribution to the ensemble.
2) Know the Material
If the instructor has posted a set list of exercises and/or musical excerpts for you to play in your audition, be sure to spend lots of quality practice time working them up and getting comfortable with them. Start practicing as soon as the materials are available at slow tempos and take as much time as you can to continue perfecting them over time until the audition date. Be sure that you can play everything in time while maintaining pulse, with great dynamics, great tone quality, while marking time, and with the specified technique.
3) Show Improvement
A lot of auditions take place over the course of a few weeks or a few camps. Make sure that every time you make an appearance in front of the instructor you are better than you were last time s/he saw you. Instructors want motivated members on their lines, members who will work on their own to continue to get better and thus make the line better. If you show up to 3 or 4 rehearsals or audition camps in a row without having made much progress, the likelihood of you making your desired spot begin to dwindle.
CONCLUSION
While these three points may seem rather obvious, it’s amazing how many people neglect them throughout an audition process. If you want to improve the likelihood of making your dream spot on the drumline, be sure that you are making a habit of these three things.
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