Tryouts for The Ohio State University Marching Band will take place August 28th-31st for the 2011 season. New candidates (individuals that have not yet been a member of the OSUMB) are to report to the Band Center located in Ohio Stadium by Gate 12. The first two days are mandatory training sessions for new candidates to learn/review marching fundamentals and playing technique. Grading of performance will not begin until the third day when veteran candidates (former members of the OSUMB) are required to report for auditions.
Each person trying out will be graded on their understanding of musical technique and marching fundamentals. The tryout process will consist of the following three stages:
1. Music Audition
2. On-The-Line Tryout
3. Block Band
Each candidate will have a one-on-one music audition with a single adjudicator. Each will perform from memory two to three predetermined exercises on the instrument/s of his/her choice. There will also be an audition piece as well as a sight-reading piece. This portion of the audition will last approximately 5 minutes per player, but will count as 50% of the overall tryout score. Adjudicators will be assessing:
- Playing Technique
- Timing
- Quality of Sound
- Musicality
- Tempo Control
The On-The-Line Tryout will test the fundamentals of the OSUMB marching style. Each candidate will march with anywhere from one to three other candidates. Squad leaders will give out “drill” (sets of fundamentals), and assess the strengths and weaknesses of all candidates. This portion of the tryout is graded by the squad leaders with the support of the directing staff and will last approximately 15 minutes per session. Throughout the last two days of tryouts each candidate will have three to four total On-The-Line Tryouts
Block Band consists of the marching and playing of all candidates simultaneously. Directors and squad leaders will be looking for strength of playing technique and marching fundamentals in a “real-world” scenario, where both responsibilities must be handled together. This portion of the audition will last approximately 30 minutes. Block Band and the previous On-The-Line Tryout will combine and account for the remaining 50% of the overall tryout score.