Summer Sessions will begin on June 4 and run from 6:30-9 pm at Lincoln Tower Field south of Ohio Stadium. On June 4, all Summer Sessions attendees will meet inside the Steinbrenner Band Center at 6:30 pm. For the rest of the summer, the drumline will meet at 5 pm for a sectional outside the band doors (between gates 10 & 12). Arrive early to get a drum and to set up in preparation for the 5 o’clock downbeat.
Tuesdays: Sectionals from 5:00 – 6:30 pm and full band from 6:30 – 9:00 pm (excluding June 4th when all attendees will meet in the band center at 6:30 pm)
Thursdays: Sectionals from 5:00 – 6:30 pm and full band from 6:30 – 9:00 pm
2024 Summer Session Schedule (subject to change)
June: 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27
July: 2, 9*,10*, 11*, 16, 18, 23, 24, 30*, 31*
August: 1*, 5, 6, 7
*-Denotes Focus Week
Detailed Schedule
Week One:
June 4: Posture / Attention / At Ease / Chair Step / Instruments Up & Down / In Place Movements (right face, left face, about face, step forward about-face)
June 6: Mark Time Drill / Mark Time / 8 to 5 Forward / Flanks / Regular TTR / Halt Kick Down
Week Two:
June 11: Slow Turns / Box Drills / Backward Marching / Box TTR
June 13: Step Sides and Side Steps / Lateral Slides / Slide TTR / Countdowns
Week Three:
June 18: Up Step Turns / Forward Adjusted Step (6, 12, 16) / Backward Adjusted Step (12, 16)
June 20: Review / “Horn Slides and Backwards Lateral Slides Translation”
“Fight the Team” and “Buckeye Battle Cry” memorized
Week Four:
June 25: Obliques / Hats Off
Short “Beautiful Ohio” memorized (m. 13, optional cut to m.61)
June 27: Step Kicks
Week Five:
July 2: Flex Day (weeks 1-4)
Long “Beautiful Ohio” memorized – Mock-Tryout Song
Short “Beautiful Ohio” memorized (m. 13, optional cut to m. 61)
Week Six (Focus Week 1):
July 9: Review fundamentals (week 1)
July 10:Review fundamentals (week 2)
July 11: Review fundamentals (weeks 3-4)
“I Wanna Go Back” memorized
Week Seven:
July 16: Ramp entrance
“Buckeye Battle Cry” verse lyrics memorized
July 18: Ramp review, review fundamentals
Week Eight:
July 23: Hang on Sloopy, review fundamentals
“Hang on Sloopy” memorized
July 24: Hats off-OHIO/Hats off-R123, step kicks, Hang on Sloopy review
Week Nine (Focus Week 2):
July 30: Review fundamentals (weeks 1-2)
“Down by the Ohio” memorized – Tryout Song
July 31: Review fundamentals (weeks 3-4)
August 1: Review fundamentals (weeks 7-8)
Week Ten (Focus Week 3):
August 5: Mock Tryouts
August 6: Mock Tryouts
August 7: Mock Tryouts
Focus Weeks
Two weeks of Summer Sessions will be designated as “Focus Weeks,” which will provide a review of music and marching fundamentals covered to that point over three rehearsals. If you’re an out-of-state student or simply unavailable to attend as many Summer Sessions as you’d like, these Focus Weeks are specifically designed to bring you up to speed over a short period of time. The first Focus Week will be July 9-11, and the second will be July 30-August 1. We unfortunately are not able to provide housing during Focus Weeks.
Instrument Check-Out
For those registered for auditions in August 2024: After agreeing to our instrument policies, brass players can sign out an instrument (and mouthpiece if necessary) to keep through the end of tryouts. Due to high demand, sousaphone and percussion players can only check out instruments on a per-session basis against some form of collateral (e.g. state-issued identification, car keys); however, after attending four consecutive Summer Session rehearsals, they may check out an instrument via a bond card for the remainder of the summer through tryouts.
For those not registered for auditions in August 2024: High school students who are not eligible to try out in August can sign out an instrument and a mouthpiece on a per-session basis against some form of collateral (e.g. state-issued identification, car keys).
Parking
If you wish to park on campus while attending Summer Sessions, there are a few options. All on-campus parking requires payment.
You may also park in the surface lots around Ohio Stadium. There are pay-by-plate machines that will allow you to pay for a certain amount of time, or you can use the Parkmobile app. If you use the app, please be sure to enter the correct zone number. The West Stadium Lot is 69344, the Northeast Stadium Lot is 69323, the Southeast Stadium Lot is 69331 and the Midtower Lot is 69322. Zone numbers are also posted by lot entrances.
If you plan on attending multiple sessions, you might want to consider getting a visitor permit or, if you are an Ohio State affiliate, a campus pass.
After 4 p.m., any campus pass holder (including West Campus passes) can park in a non-reserved central campus parking space in surface lots.
The Ohio State Marching and Athletic Bands is not responsible for any parking citations or fines incurred.
Out-of-State or Unable To Attend
Don’t worry about being left behind! Our veteran marching band members will help get you caught up on the fundamentals taught throughout the summer. This summer, we are offering two Focus Weeks (July 2-3 and July 23-24) that each will provide a review of music and marching fundamentals, so you can catch up without having to attend sessions over multiple weeks. Get in touch with us at osumb@osu.edu to let us know how we can best help you.
Our virtual Summer Sessions, returning in 2024, are also a tremendous opportunity to learn our marching and playing style from anywhere in the world. You can also upload a video of yourself marching to YouTube and our squad leaders will review it and give you feedback.
Incoming First-Year Students*
As an incoming first-year student, you may attend Summer Sessions during your summer orientation! Check the schedule and see if there are any sessions during your time on campus. Often, students will schedule a Wednesday/Thursday orientation to be able to attend Summer Sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
Tryouts
Tryouts will be held on August 11-12, with Candidate Days on August 9-10 being required for all who have not been members of The Ohio State University Marching Band before.
Preparing for Summer Sessions
- Drinking 8-12 ounces of water four hours before the beginning of practice, then again two hours before practice. During practice, drink fluids early and as often as thirst and common sense drive. Sports drinks might be helpful for heavy sweat situations.
- Eat healthy carbohydrates and foods with lean protein in the meals before practice (e.g. turkey sandwich on whole grain, quinoa with chicken, chicken marsala). Fruit is always a performance food for the carbs and electrolytes as you get closer to start time. Pretzels or similar low fat chips can help with fueling and hydration.
- Wear comfortable athletic clothing and good athletic shoes.
- Warm-up before marching by stretching.
- Be familiar with musical scales.
- Start becoming familiar with our school songs (Across the Field, Buckeye Battle Cry, etc.).