Dear Brass Line Candidate, Thank you for your interest in the 7th Regiment Drum and Bugle Corps! This packet will serve as your primary resource for the audition process. Read everything in this booklet carefully and prepare all of the required materials to the best of your ability before coming to camp. The audition camp will be held from Friday, December 13th through Sunday, December 15th. The goal of the audition process is to provide an educational experience to all prospective members while evaluating their music and visual performance. All prospective members will be evaluated on their performance throughout the entire camp weekend as well as in a formal individual music audition and a formal group visual audition. At the conclusion of camp, you will receive one on one feedback regarding your performance, where your standing with the corps will fall into one of three categories:

1. We will offer you a contract. This means if you fulfill the obligations spelled out in the contract, you will become a member of the 2020 7th Regiment brass line.

2. We will offer you a call-back. This means that we need to see you again in January to make a final decision. If you fall into this category, we are looking for growth in the areas of music and/or visual performance between the audition and the January camp.

3. You will not receive a call-back or a contract. Video Auditions: Video auditions are only required if you are unable to attend the audition camp. It is strongly recommended that you attend the audition camp as positions in 7th Regiment will not be guaranteed by video audition alone and will not be granted until you have attended a camp. All video auditions must be submitted by Friday, December 15. Please record all required visual and music audition materials, upload to YouTube as “Unlisted”, and submit through the video audition submission form at https://www.seventhregiment.org/2020video/. All of these steps must be completed and the audition fee must be paid before you can be considered for a callback. To find additional information about the audition camp join the 20207R Interest Group on Facebook and visit our website at seventhregiment.org. If you have any questions regarding the brass program or the audition process, please contact Rachel Rubino at brass@7thregiment.org We look forward to seeing you in December!

AUDITION TIPS Preparation: The success of your audition will be directly related to the level of preparation of the audition materials. You will find the audition materials later in this packet.

● Record yourself. Watch and listen critically to your performance, and work to improve it before auditioning.

● Hydrate. The days leading up to a camp it is important to increase your water intake to prepare your body for increased physical activity. For some of you, drum corps may be the most physical activity you’ve ever done – and that’s ok!

● Rest. Drum corps is mentally and physically demanding. You will be expected to think critically, focus, and perform for the entirety of rehearsal. It is crucial that you get proper rest leading up to camp and take advantage of downtime throughout the camp weekend.

During The Audition:

● Keep in mind that the entire camp is an audition. We are looking for individuals with a strong work ethic and a positive attitude in addition to how well you play and move.

● Before arriving at camp, make sure your horn is working properly and all paperwork is completed.

● Ask questions if you are confused about any exercise before being asked to perform.

Working with Performance Anxiety and Nerves:

● Do not fight your nerves, they are a natural part of the performance process. ● Take several slow, deep breaths to calm yourself. ● Perform for friends and/or family prior to coming to camp as this will give you

experience performing under pressure. ● During the audition, do not stop or dwell on your mistakes, and NEVER apologize

for your performance. Mistakes happen and recovery is taken into consideration. ● Try to keep an open mind. You will be asked to move and rehearse in ways that

may be different from what you have practiced in your own band programs. You will feel uncomfortable at times. The staff is here to support you.

WHAT TO BRING TO THE AUDITION CAMP

For Rehearsal:

● Instrument and mouthpiece, corps baritones require large shank mouthpieces ● Audition packet and supplemental material ● Gloves (i.e. cotton, short-neck or wrist length marching band gloves) ● A black towel for your instrument, hand towels for trumpets, mellophones, and

baritones, shower towels for tubas ● A one-gallon water jug ● A three-ring hardcover binder with clear plastic sheet protectors ● Sneakers and socks: proper-fitting athletic footwear is crucial. ● Athletic clothing (i.e. running shoes, t-shirts, athletic shorts or pants, no jeans) ● A wire music stand (if you have one) ● A pencil

For the Rest of Camp:

● Medical consent form (if not already submitted through online registration) Those who do not provide us with a completed Medical Consent Form will not be permitted to participate in camp.

● Registration Fee (if not already submitted through online registration) ● Shower soap and toiletries ● Shower sandals, you will be using the locker rooms to shower. No one is

permitted to be barefoot at any time. ● Sleeping gear (i.e. sleeping bag, pillow, floor mat/air mattress) ● Inhaler or necessary medications noted on your medical consent form ● Any other necessary clothing

VISUAL AUDITION MATERIALS

You will be evaluated on your visual performance throughout the entire camp weekend. The formal audition will take place during the visual focused portion of the camp on Saturday, where you will be evaluated in group exercises. The formal audition will decide whether you are placed in Team Blue or Team Black. Be familiar with the following terms and definitions: Basics of Marching Technique: Our technique program is “straight leg” marching; that is, we strive for the longest line between our hip and ankle bone at all times. Allowing the leg to bend at the knee shortens that line. The following are basic definitions for those who are unfamiliar with our technique.

● We stand in first position. With your heels together you will turn your feet outward 45

degrees. This turnout will come from the hips. Make sure your knees are in line with your middle toe.

● Horn Carriage: Check-in with the veteran members of the corps on the specifics of how to carry your horn. When at playing position (or carry) create a wide triangle with your forearms and horn.

● Forward March: articulate each beat with the back of your heel as you move forward and generate the longest possible leg line on the crossing counts.

● Backwards March: articulate each beat with the platform of your foot keeping your heel low to the ground as you move backward and generate the longest possible leg line on the crossing counts.

● Crossing Counts: The point at which your ankle bones are right next to each other while marching. This should happen on the ‘& count’ when marching in a duple (4/4) meter.

● 5 Points of Alignment: generate uniform posture by keeping your ears (1), shoulders (2), hips (3), and knees (4) stacked vertically from your ankle bones (5).

Rehearsal Commands:

● a. SET: members will bring their equipment and bodies quickly into the defined performance position ready to execute the rep’s instructions.

● b. Most repetitions (reps) will begin with an 8-count count-off. ● c. CHECK: at the end of the rep, while staying in the ‘SET’ position, members check the

shape and/or how close they are to their ‘dot’ ● d. ADJUST: after ‘CHECK’ and while staying in the ‘SET’ position, members move into

the shape/dot if needed. ● e. LOW: members will bring their instrument and bodies to the defined stand-by

position, awaiting feedback and/or further instruction.

Video Auditions Perform both exercises. They may be a part of the same video. Please see ‘Music Audition Materials’ for details on auditioning on a non-brass instrument. Exercise #1: Perform the figure-8 exercise with your instrument at carry with an audible metronome at 120 BPM. Exercise #2: Perform the figure-8 exercise with your instrument at playing position while playing the long tone exercise below with an audible metronome at 120 BPM. Please have the camera record you from the audience’s perspective. THE FIGURE 8

● The figure 8 contains two sets of box drill with a total of 9 sets. ● Assuming the top of the diagram is the audience, perform all sets without stopping facing

the audience (camera). ● Sets 2 & 6 should be performed as a forward slide (forward march while facing the

audience). ● Sets 4 & 8 should be performed as a backward slide (backwards march while facing the

audience). ● Each set is 8 counts ● After Set 9, you will halt for an additional 8 counts.

LONG TONES FOR THE FIGURE 8 Trumpet/Mellophone

Baritone

Tuba

VISUAL AUDITION RESULTS & PLACEMENT

All members will receive 1-on-1 feedback on their audition to discuss what their next steps will be. For the visual program, members will be placed into one of two teams based on how well they understand/perform the camp’s visual assignments. This placement system allows the staff to curate their instruction to members who are at different points in their marching career. Team Black: Contracted members who show an experienced understanding of the marching technique and a basic understanding of dance fundamentals. Members will be able to perform all rudimentary visual exercises. Most veteran members of 7R will find themselves on Team Black. Team Blue: Contracted members who show an introductory understanding of the marching technique and little to no experience in dance fundamentals. Members will be introduced to rudimentary visual exercises. Most first-year members will find themselves on Team Blue.

If you have any questions with the visual audition or visual program please contact Alec Smith at visual@7thregiment.org.

MUSIC AUDITION MATERIALS You will be evaluated in the following areas: tone quality, flexibility, articulation, accuracy, and phrasing. Please prepare the following audition materials to the best of your ability.

● Concert Bb, F, and Eb major scales, two octaves when possible ● Bb chromatic scale, two octaves if possible ● Flexibility A, B, or C ● Both the lyrical and technical etudes

Any prospective member who is not a brass player or is a beginning brass player should prepare an audition piece (24-40 measures) that displays your technique and musicianship on your primary instrument. Please also prepare the required scales listed above on your instrument. If you have access to your marching instrument of choice (trumpet, baritone or tuba in Bb, mellophone in F), please bring it along. If not, please bring a mouthpiece (our baritones are large bore). If your audition will include a non-brass instrument, you must bring that instrument as well. Video Auditions Along with the visual portion of the audition, all brass auditions must include both the lyrical and technical etude, one of the three flexibility options, and one of the required scales. All videos must be recorded with the performer standing so that their torso, head, and instrument are all visible and with an audible metronome. If auditioning on a non-brass instrument, please prepare and perform the visual materials on your primary instrument.

FLEXIBILITY EXERCISES

● Prepare only one of the three options. Choose the exercise that best represents your playing ability.

● Play the exercise down and back up the valve series, i.e. open, 2, 1, 12, 1, 2, open. ● Strive for a constant airstream, smooth note changes, and a consistent sound in all

registers. ● Choose a tempo at which you will be successful.

Trumpet/Mellophone

Baritone

Tuba

TRUMPET/MELLOPHONE ETUDES Lyrical Etude

Technical Etude

BARITONE ETUDES

Lyrical Etude

Technical Etude

TUBA ETUDES

Lyrical Etude

Technical Etude