Tryouts

2018 Tryout Schedule:

  • Thursday, August 9………….Squad Leader Tryouts
  • Friday, August 10……………..Candidate Day #1 (2-5p, 7-9p)
  • Saturday, August 11………….Candidate Day #2 (9a-12p, 2-5p)
  • Sunday, August 12……………OSUMB Tryouts (Vets & Candidates) (8:30a-5p)
  • Monday, August 13…………..OSUMB Tryouts (Vets & Candidates) (8:30a-5p)

2018 Band Announced at “9 PM”

Tryout Links:

 

Register for Tryouts:

Visit the OSUMB website at https://tbdbitl.osu.edu/how-join/tryout-information to register for tryouts and learn more about the tryout process.

 

Class Registration:

Make sure to register for MUSIC 2205.01 (MUSIC 7205.01 for Grad Students) when signing up for AU 18 classes.

 

Summer Clinic:

If you are a high school student or incoming freshman at OSU, you can register for the OSUMB Summer Clinic, which will take place July 13-15, 2018.  This camp focuses on teaching the basics of marching and playing in the OSUMB.  Students also will learn more about Ohio State and adjusting to college life as a member of the Marching Band.  See the link above for more information on registration for the 2018 OSUMB Summer Clinic.

 

Summer Sessions:

Summer Session Calendar

Summer Sessions for the 2018 season will be held on Tuesdays and Thursdays (6:30p to 9:30p) from June to August.  These optional sessions are designed to help both prospective and returning member improve on their marching and playing.  Each Summer Session will introduce a few new fundamentals while reviewing those previously learned. During the Summer there will be two ‘Focus Weeks’ that will review material learned up to that point over three days (T,W,Th).  These Focus Weeks are especially helpful for students who live out of state or who aren’t able to make it to every summer session.

Please see the Summer Session page for a detailed schedule of the 2018 sessions.

 

Candidate Days:

Candidate Days are required for those who have not previously been a member of the Marching Band.  During Candidate Days you will learn/review every fundamental starting at the very beginning.  These sessions are designed to help prospective members learn our marching and playing style.  While Candidate Days are helpful, attending Summer Sessions allows for more in-depth teaching/learning of the fundamentals, and are highly recommended.

 

Tryout Week:

See the top of the page for the 2018 Tryout Schedule.

Tryouts consist of four days (2 candidate days (see above) for prospective members, and 2 tryout days (see below) for returning and prospective members).

Tryouts are made up of 3 main sections:

  • Music Auditions (Playing only)
  • On-the-lines (Marching only)
  • Block Band (Playing & Marching)

– During Music Auditions, you will play in front of a professional musician from Ohio State or the Central Ohio Area from a ‘Tryout Sheet.’  These Tryout Sheets become available 2 weeks before tryouts begin ONLY to those registered for tryouts. They usually consist of 3 etudes (Technical, Lyrical, Swing) lip slurs, articulation exercises, and scales.  You will also be asked to play a school song from memory (from a predetermined list of songs), and sight-read a short piece.

– During On-the-lines, you will be paired with one or two other trombone players, and given a series of drills to complete.  The Squad Leaders and Band Staff work together to evaluate you, but the final decisions are left to the Band Staff.  There are 4 total On-the-line sessions.

– During Block Band, you will march in one of the Trombone Rows (F or Q) and will be given instructions by the Band Staff.  Unlike On-the-lines, which are conducted in individual rows, the other rows will also be a part of the block.  During this time you will march up and down the field playing school songs from memory, play Hang on Sloopy! (step & swing), execute a ‘tryout drill’ (handed out to memorize during the first On-the-line block) while playing a school song from memory, and perform a portion of the Ramp Entrance.  There are a total of 4 Block Band sessions.

Notes:

  • Although you can be placed on Trombone 1, 2, or 3 (Bass) should you make band, candidates who have not previously made the band must try out on 2nd Trombone.  You can also do a secondary audition on the evening of the first day of tryouts.  These can be on any other instrument you are capable of playing but usually are for Bass Trombone and Baritone.
  • At the beginning of tryouts you will be assigned a row (F or Q) and number.  This will be your tryout row.  While you may spend most of your time in that particular row during tryouts, if you make the band you could still be placed in a different row (ex. Tryout in F, make it in Q).
  • First cuts are announced in between the 3rd and 4th sessions.  Those who do not make it past first cuts will not participate in a 4th On-the-line or Block Band.