Marching percussion at Washington State University includes two performing groups, one each during fall and spring semester.
- Fall Semester: Percussionists in the Cougar Marching Band perform at all home football games as well as various pep rallies, Alumni events, and a handful of catered dinners and small performances. Spots are filled via auditions held on Sunday and Monday of band camp - one week prior to the first day of classes. As the drumline meets from 5:10p-7:00p (this is different from the horns, which meet from 5:45p-7:00p) Monday through Thursday during a non-home football week and includes Friday evenings on game weeks. On game days the line meets usually around 6:00a to eat some breakfast and warm-up before the full band rehearsal.
- Spring Semester: Spring Semester: The WSU Spring Drumline is a performing group along the lines of a WGI Drumline (www.wgi.org). The addition of a front ensemble necessitates a reduction in the size of the battery. The battery spots are filled via auditions in late November or early December whereas the front ensemble spots are open to any who wish to participate. This group performs on the Spring Percussion Ensemble concert and may also travel to various high schools for both exhibition and recruiting purposes. The Spring Drumline currently meets from 4p-6p Mondays and Wednesdays (this time is open to change).
Fall Instrumentation:
Snares: As many as nine players
Quints/Sixes: Three or four players
Bass Drums: Five or six players
Cymbals: As many as twelve players
Front Ensemble: None
Spring Instrumentation:
Snares: Three to five players
Quints/Sixes: Two or three players
Bass Drums: Four or five players
Cymbals: Usually none, maybe two or three
Front Ensemble: Varies. Includes mallet instruments, timpani, concert/auxilliary percussion
The audition process for the fall drumline occurs Sunday and Monday of band camp, one week prior to the first day of classes. There is currently no individual audition. Auditions consist of members playing their instrument of choice while the instructor moves people around - between sections and within sections - to provide the best sound for the line and the best fit for the player.
Things to know before you get to auditions:
- A GREAT attitude
- Learn all the parts to the music which can be found by clicking here. **MAKE SURE YOU FULLY READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS WHEN YOU REGISTER!** Don't just blindly click the "I agree..." button.
- All 40 of the PAS Rudiments
- Some knowledge of the "21st Century Hybrid Rudiments" is desirable
- Audition packet, posted here during the prior semester
- A GREAT attitude
- Sight reading skills - a new show is learned for each game
- Memorization skills – each show must be memorized
- A GREAT attitude
- Must be a team player
- **New for the Fall 2008 season** I'd like EVERYONE to learn the snare parts AS WELL AS the part that they would like to play on the drumline. (i.e. Cymbals and Snare, Bass and Snare, Tenor and Snare.)
www.wsu.edu/~cmb/ - Washington State University Cougar Marching Band website.
- Click "Recruitment" for information about joining the WSU Drumline.
www.DrumlineMusic.net - DrumlineMusic.net website.
- Click "Education" for helpful web-instruction.
- Also a good source for marching percussion sheet music.
VicFirth.com - Vic Firth drumsticks website.
- Click "Education Resource Center" under the "Education" drop-down menu for helpful web-instruction.
- Also a drum stick manufacurer and has great artist information.
Tapspace.com - Tapspace Publications.
- Great resource for percussion sheet music for advanced players.
- "Specializes in publishing creative and modern products for the marching or concert percussionist."
