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Mustang Band in Spanos Stadium
Photo by Ian Billings

Drumline Auditions

The Mustang Band only utilizes a battery drumline consisting of snare drums, tenor drums, bass drums, and cymbals. If you do not own one of these instruments, 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.)

Drumline auditions are particularly competitive. Therefore, if you feel comfortable with more than one percussion instrument, it is acceptable to submit separate video auditions for each. Moreover, if you have experience (and are proficient) on a woodwind or brass instrument, you may wish to submit a separate audition on that instrument as possible fallback solution in case you are not accepted into the drumline. If you decide to pursue either of these suggestions, please email Dr. Waldron and the drumline instructor to let them know.

Please familiarize yourself with the exercise packet, as well as the cadences and other resources:

Audition Instructions

Regardless of section, please keep in mind the following when submitting your audition video:

  • Standing in view of the camera.
  • Marking time.
  • Pad to head in view.
  • Metronome is audible (please check this before posting. Usually, using a separate recording device is best).
  • Metronome should not drown out the pad or instrument.

Snare Drum, Tenor Drum, Bass Drum:

  • 1x 8-8-16 @ 110BPM
  • 1x Bucks @ 110BPM
  • 1x 16th Note Grid @ 120BPM
  • 1x Letter C - End // Pass the Bread and Butter @ 126BPM
  • 1x Mr. P’s @ 160BPM
  • 1x Kung Fu Rolls @ 158BPM
  • 1x Play a lick or show segment of your choice showcasing your abilities!

Cymbals:

  • 1x 16th Note Timing @ 100BPM
  • 1x Triplet Timing @ 140BPM
  • 1x Mr. P’s @ 160BPM
  • 1x Timing Excerpt @116BPM
Note: If you are unable to use marching cymbals for the video audition, clapping is an acceptable alternative provided you follow the same instructions listed above. For audition segments with multiple parts, choose whichever you feel most comfortable.

The deadline for submitting an audition is Thursday, July 31, 2025 @ 11:45PM PDT. Results will be announced during the first week of August.

Instructions On How to Submit Your Audition Will Be Emailed


Please be sure you have completed our Online Interest Form to receive the instructions.


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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.