Amy Tsou
Amy Tsou, 18 Pacific Crest, 2 years Front Ensemble 1. Go into the audition well informed. Practice a solo piece and the exercise packet that the corps provides to you beforehand so that you are prepared for the audition. I once went into an audition without knowing anything, and it took me a while to catch up to everyone else. I was called back to audition three months in a row before I earned a spot. 2. Choose a corps whose playing and teaching style suits you. Find people who have marched in the corps you are thinking about auditioning for and ask them about their experience on tour and what life is like with the corps. Also talk to them about the staff members and their approach to playing and education. 3. Be confident. You know what you are doing and what you're capable of. There will always be players who are better or worse than you. Strive to show the best of what you can do. Always be attentive to the advice the staff members give you. 4. Be excited for the audition! The process might be nerve wracking, but it's a great chance to meet new people who play the same instrument, who have the same passion for music, and who love drum corps as much as you do. With help and feedback from staff members, auditioning is a great opportunity to learn and discover new skills that can enhance your playing and performance abilities. My very first audition, the one where I went in knowing absolutely nothing about drum corps or the high caliber at which they rehearse, was where I learned the most out of all my years of playing mallet percussion. I think I learned more in those two days than I ever have in years of high school marching band. 5. Go into the audition with an open mind. During the audition process, staff members mostly focus on technique and playing ability. If they ask you to change a style or method that you are used to, don't immediately decide that it's not the corps for you. Be patient. The staff members know what they're doing, and approaching new things with an open mind is a good learning experience. View additional audition tips, and learn more about corps audition dates, locations, and more.