Auditions for the 2008 Penn State Blue Band Drum Major will be held on Saturday, April 12, 2008. Warm-ups begin at noon, and the auditions begin at 12:30 pm at the Blue Band Building on the University Park Campus. All applicants must be accepted to Penn State University to be eligible for auditions; campus assignment may be transferred to University Park for a successful candidate.
We are looking for drum major candidates who can perform our traditional front flip (a Russian front or comparable gymnastic maneuver). Candidates must have prior musical training and marching band experience with preferential consideration given to (qualified) Blue Band members.
During the audition you will be required to demonstrate several front flips from a running start. You will be required to demonstrate a downfield strut entrance several times. You will be required to combine a downfield strut and front flip several times. The audition surface will be a concrete floor (strut) with a flip landing area consisting of a 1–2" thick foam wrestling pad (for safety purposes).
All applicants are advised of the potential for injury when performing any gymnastics maneuver. Personal medical insurance coverage is strongly recommended. Neither the Penn State Marching Blue Band nor Penn State University will assume responsibility for injuries incurred as a result of auditions or preparation for auditions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to seek qualified gymnastics instruction prior to attempting any gymnastics maneuver.
Additional components of the audition will include conducting basic meter patterns (2, 3, and 4) and completion of a personal interview prior to the audition. Mace work is not required. If you have a mace and would like to demonstrate any mace work, you may do so at the audition. Mace work is not scored or evaluated as part of the audition score. Auditions will be closed to the public.
Complete the Drum Major application prior to auditions, and it will serve as your registration for the tryouts. Upon receiving your application, an interview will be scheduled.
Any further questions can be directed to the Blue Band Office at (814) 865-3982.