How hard is it to get into a drum corp?

Answer 1

That depends on a number of different things. The corps you audition for, the type of corps you audition for, the section you are auditioning in, your experience on your instrument or in music in general, and how serious you are about the activity. These are just a few of many things that will determine whether you make it or not.

First of all, the corps you are auditioning for and the type of corps. For the most part, the corps that are not consistently in Finals are usually much less competitive in auditions. They often do not get enough auditionees at their first camps to fill the corps, so if you have what they are looking for, you have a really good chance at making it.

Once you get into the consistent top 12 placing corps, it gets quite a bit harder to make it into the corps. These corps are the ones that are shown in theaters every year for Quarterfinals, and their names are known throughout the activity. These are usually the Cadets, Blue Devils, Cavaliers, Phantom Regiment, Santa Clara Vanguard, Bluecoats, Carolina Crown, Madison Scouts, Blue Knights, and Boston Crusaders, with the 11th and 12th place corps bouncing around. Among these 10 corps, there are usually two groups. Top 5 and bottom 5.

The bottom 5 changes from year to year, but when you audition for one of these corps, you can expect a quite competitive atmosphere. Everyone there really wants to be there, and they are all skilled musicians. If you audition here, be sure to know your audition material very well(a good piece of advice regardless of the corps you are going to), and make sure you are willing to learn. You're going to make mistakes, and the staffs know that, so be ready to take any and all advice and make corrections.

The top 5 corps quite often consist of the Cavaliers, Cadets, Blue Devils, Phantom Regiment and Carolina Crown. These 5 are the elite corps, and they are usually the most difficult to make. Cavaliers is an all male corps known for their precision and power. You'll need to be in great physical condition if you are hoping to make it there. The Cadets are a very militaristic corps that are at the soul of drum corps. They have a huge fanbase in and around Allentown, PA, and you can always expect a big production from them. The Blue Devils have a reputation for being a very jazzy corps, but you never know what kind of show to expect from them. Their hornline is very powerful, and it also takes a lot of physical prowess to be part of this corps. Phantom Regiment has always been known for their epic productions and beautiful music. This is probably the easiest corps to audition for out of the top 5, but it is still quite competitive. Carolina Crown is known for having one of the best hornlines in the activity. They always play with great precision, and their shows are often very different. All 5 of these corps are difficult to make, but if you have the dedication and the willingness to learn, you can make any one of them.

Next, you have to look at the section you're auditioning into. Hornline, drums or guard. Each corps has a different staff and a different set of kids, so the quality of each section can change from year to year. But look at the scores from each year for the section you will be auditioning for. The higher the corps places in your section, the more difficult it will likely be to make that corps.

Similarly, you have to take into consideration your experience on your instrument or in guard. You know how good you are. Audition for a corps that will challenge you, but won't be impossible. If you just started playing Trumpet two years ago and you want to audition for Blue Devils, that's just crazy unless you have been practicing 20+ hours a week since you started.

Now, if I've scared you with all of this information on how hard it can be to make a corps, then good. It's not easy, and that's the first thing you have to get through your head. The most important part of auditioning for a drum corps is your dedication. Take the time to practice and get better at what you do and get in shape. Keep your mind open. Don't limit yourself to just one corps. That's what I did. I joined the Blue Knights just because they were conveniently close when I really wanted to march at Phantom Regiment. I ended up not enjoying my time at BK and dropped out, and now I'll never go back. Don't make that mistake.

If you really want to audition for one of the top 5 corps, then go for it. Just understand that you need to take the time to prepare yourself. And most importantly, once you make your corps, have fun.