Feet Guru

There's your winner. Problem solved! F. G.

Hello again everyone! It’s getting to be that time of year again, so Feet Guru thought he might update the guide by offering a sampling of links with similar types of advice. The following are a selection of threads on DCP that deal with auditions. It is not a list of EVERY audition thread, of course, but is representative of common questions and concerns those new to drum corps might have. Audition Camps http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...howtopic=104098 Summary: OP updates corps’ 2008 audition info with help from subsequent posters (SPs) Comments: Not a bad idea! Having all of the corps’ audition info together might make it easier for prospective members to schedule their tryouts. Feet Guru hopes the OP will keep on updating. What to expect at a DCI Tryout http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...howtopic=103250 Summary: OP wants to know… what to expect at a DCI tryout, mentioning where he plans on auditioning. A few SPs describe their individual experiences with tryouts. Comments: If you aren’t a vet of the corps (or don’t know one), the very best way to get information on how a corps runs auditions is to email the brass staff at that corps and ask. You will not get cut for asking! When this doesn’t work, the forums can sometimes be helpful. Auditioning for Div.1 http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...howtopic=103309 Summary: OP and SPs declare where they are trying out for the 2008 season. Comments: Looks like there is a lot of excitement. This thread might be useful to prospective members looking for a ride. Several pages into the thread, thecadet20012001 provides another take on auditions you might consider ( http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...p;#entry1991370 ) NERVOUS! http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...showtopic=89587 Summary: OP feels nervous about audition camp and group showers. SPs provide encouragement and advice. Comments: A nice little anxiety therapy thread. Nothing wrong with that! How to March in a Drum Corps http://www.ehow.com/how_2078120_march-drum-corps.html Summary: eHow’s rendering of a FUGBA-type guide. Comments: Short on details of the auditions process, but some might find it helpful. Exercising http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...howtopic=104660 Summary: OP asks how to get in shape for drum corps. SPs offer advice. Comments: This gets pretty silly midway through. Mean Guru makes a brief appearance. Rookies, take it from Feets: If you are getting enough quality food, you don’t need bodybuilding supplements for drum corps. As for exercise that will actually help you in this activity, you are better off practicing your marching and playing (or marching and “airing”) through progressive levels of fatigue than non-drum corps related activities. But Feet Guru is once again resigned to the fact that young males will be young males, and any exercise is better than none… Tips for auditioning Div 1 http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...howtopic=105155 Summary: OP asks for… you guessed it. SPs offer advice Comments: Why look, someone recommended Feet Guru’s guide! Other posters mention general pitfalls of auditions, including blown chops before playing auditions. It is VERY easy to tire chops for a drum corps audition. Refer to III-D in the Guide. I need some pointers http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...showtopic=70136 Summary: OP worries about transitioning from marching band to drum corps: switching to a corps horn, nervousness, conflicts with school, etc. SPs attempt to calm OP. Comments: Normal worries! One thing that probably strikes most people new to full-time drum corps is how over the course of the season, it competes with, and eventually replaces (temporarily), “normal life.” Thread gets into a little lighthearted conspiracy theory at the end. Div. 1 auditions http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...showtopic=70247 Summary: OP expresses concern about school conflicts with drum corps. SPs give their perspectives on various stances band directors have taken on corps conflicts. Comments: This sort of goes along with comments on “normal life” above. While “normal” life is temporarily replaced by drum corps life over the summer, normal life *is* still in existence! It is just operating “behind the scenes.” Something that drum corps rookies may not anticipate are conflicts with school. Do yourself and your corps a favor *before* auditioning and compare your school calendar with the corps schedule of rehearsals and touring. Hornline Audition http://www.drumcorpsplanet.com/forums/inde...p?showtopic=703 Summary: OP and SPs reminisce of when they auditioned for drum corps Comments: This is a very old thread, but it might provide prospective members with some inspiration. Auditions used to be (and in some places still are) a very informal process! Drumcorps FAQ 5/6 http://www.faqs.org/faqs/drumcorps-faq/part5/ Summary: A repost of a 1997 R.A.M.D. thread by Michael Fath, Donald Chinn, Cathy Doser, and Caryn Roberts. Describes what it is like to audition and travel with a drum corps. Comments: Now this is fun. Feet Guru included this for the brief section entitled: “5.13: How to join a drum corps.” much of the material is outdated, but it is still interesting to look at the differences between then and now (when you look at all of the changes, bear in mind, this is very *recent* history!). Best of Practice, -FG

Baritone is an easy instrument to play for brass beginners, and almost always in high demand by corps. But learn whatever you like or think you'd like playing! You'll spend a *lot* of time on whatever you choose in corps, and it's all for fun, after all. Practice/get instruction like you would anything else and you'll be fine. F. G.

Don't buy, unless you can get one for pennies on the dollar. You probably won't use it again after getting your Music Ed credits. Some people on here might give you grief for liking a Dynasty bari, but don't listen to them. In college marching band, it really won't matter. Mouthpiece: Whatever you like playing. Again, in marching band, it won't matter. F. G.

Winner!

There are many good responses here. However, the correct answer is Day Danse -> Dom Pedro's Revenge (closer BD 95). Thanks for playing, :P F. G.

Nothing complicated. Just ask the director or caption head, unless they've asked you already. Come to an agreement on terms. F. G.

I was told camphor breaks down muscle tissue too. Any source for this? I personally doubt it myself. My understanding is that it is a muscle relaxant (so perhaps not a good thing to put on your lips for practice anyways). Maybe there are some good post-practice uses. But then, Feet Guru is no doctor, despite what his mail-order diploma may say. Truly, a matter of life... and death.

Many thanks for all of the positive replies. Remember, the best advice for what specific corps look for will come from their staffs themselves, but Feet Guru hope this was useful as a general guide. Auditions are fast approaching, if not right around the corner for some corps. Feet Guru wishes everyone well. Best of practice, F. G.

Although it does not directly address the original poster's specific question, there seems to be some interest in marching auditions in general, so it is worth bringing up that there is a guide in the brass forums for brass players that want to audition for drum corps. Included is a large section on marching auditions. You can find it by clicking here. Information in the guide is based on common questions of prospective auditioners new to the activity, but vets may find it useful as well. As to the original question, the best source of info would be to contact the SCV vis staff and ask them. Best of practice, F. G.

Glad you're interested in corps! There is a general brass auditioner's guide on DCP for people in your position, and it even has a section on selecting an audition piece. You can find it by clicking here. You could do the author a favor by letting him know what you thought of it, the good, bad, ugly, and so forth. Also: If you are interested in finding out what Spirit "wants or expects," give them a ring or email them and ask if they have anything specific you should do to prepare for audition. hope this helps, F. G.

Dylan, There is a section in this guide that provides advice for selecting audition pieces (if the choice is yours). Take a look. "Semi-easy" is a very wise decision on your part (or on anyone's part). The capacity for emotion in an audition piece is almost a non-issue, so don't stress it (some dynamic changes are fine, but don't get carried away). A lot of bari players, if they don't use a concerto or other solo piece, use an etude out of the Rochut or Blazevich (sp?) books. You can also take any lyrical section out of a concert piece you have. Don't worry about length, as you'll only have around a minute anyways. You could also just do a flexibility exercise (if you're good at them). Hope any of this helps, F. G.

This may get "modded" anyways, but you may have better luck looking on the Colorguard Forums here. OR you could simply email someone on Crown CG staff (I notice that their "CG Faculty" page is currently down, but you might get referred to someone who can answer your question if you ask another staffer or their head office). Hope this helps, F. G.

Since a lot of aspiring brass players might be interested in this thread, this is as good an opportunity as any to mention it... There is a general brass auditioner's guide on DCP, which you can find here. Do take a look. It is meant to address many common questions and concerns of brass auditioners You could do the author a favor by letting him know what you thought of it, the good, bad, ugly, and so forth. Best of luck preparation, F. G.

Its kind of hard for brass players to pay attention to the crowd during the show. There's not a whole lot of "soaking up the moment" going on. It might occasionally get loud enough to distract the members, but this is rare. Congratulations to the members who have achieved this :) F. G.