Additional Resources:

Mustang Band in Spanos Stadium
Photo by Ian Billings

Audition Instructions for Cymbals

Please perform the audition with an actual pair of cymbals. If you do not own a pair of cymbals, please contact your current band director to see if you might be able to utilize one for the audition. Otherwise, please email the drumline instructor in order to schedule a live audition (at which point you can use one of our instruments.)

To audition on cymbals, please submit a video recording of the following:

  1. Record Cymbal Techniques Exercise TWICE: once at 125 bpm and again at 145 bpm
    • If you are unfamiliar with any of the noted techniques, feel free to reference these videos.
  2. Record Cymbal Timing Exercise TWICE: once at 108 bpm and then again at 120 bpm.
    • Pay careful attention to tied notes and be mindful of timing
    • It may be helpful to practice this exercise with your metronome set to eighth or sixteenth note subdivisions
  3. Record the Partial Timing Exercise TWICE: once at 130 bpm and again at 155 bpm
    • Please clap this exercise (not using cymbals)
  4. Record the cymbal part for Musty Mambo at 120 bpm.
    • Please indicate which cymbal part you will be performing.
    • Please feel free to use this play-along recording of Musty Mambo.

Guidelines:

  • Be sure to save your audition video with the following naming scheme:DATE__NAME_INSTRUMENT
    For example: "2023June02_BruceWayne_FrenchHorn.mp4"
  • At the beginning of your video, state the following information for the camera:
    • Your first and last name
    • The current Date and Time
  • Stand and Mark Time during and throughout each audition excerpt
  • Play each requirement, as written, at the specified tempo with a metronome which can be heard on the recording
  • Ensure that your face, hands, feet and instrument are all clearly visible on the recording
  • Only edit video BETWEEN excerpts, but not WITHIN excerpts.
  • Mustang Band uses 18" marching cymbals -- 16" or larger is preferred for auditions.
  • If no cymbals are available, clap hands for the rhythms of the Cymbal Timing Exercise and Partial Timing Exercise. Cymbal Techniques Exercise and Musty Mambo will need to be evaluated once cymbals are made available.

Final Thoughts

If you have not done so already, please be sure to fill out our Online Interest Form. Also, please review our Band Camp Information, Marching Shoes Ordering Information, and our list of Frequently Asked Questions.

You will be asked to provide your Uniform and Apparel Fitting Information during the audition submission process. Please be prepared to provide the following measurements:

  • Height - in feet and inches (e.g. 5'6")
  • Weight - in pounds
  • Chest - measure around the fullest part of your chest, without pulling the measuring tape tight.
    See video instructions
  • Waist - measure to the nearest inch.
    See video instructions
  • Hips - measure to the nearest inch.
    See video instructions
  • Inseam - While standing tall, have another person use a measuring tape to measure from the crotch to the cuff on the inside seam of the leg. Measure to the nearest half inch.
    See video instructions
  • Outseam - While standing tall, have another person use a measuring tape to measure from just above your waistline (top of your pants) to the heel along the OUTSIDE of your leg. Do not wear shoes during the process. Measure to the nearest half inch.
  • Glove size - use the diagram below:
  • Shako/Hat size - measure your head circumference and use the chart below:


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Would you like to know more?

All prospective and current Cal Poly students interested in joining the Mustang Band should fill out our Online Interest Form.

We enjoy meeting new students and encourage you to send an email if you have any questions or plan to visit campus. Contact information for directors and all band faculty and staff can be found on our contacts page.