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This past weekend began what has always been a dream for me. I was filled with anxiousness and excitement as I packed my things for my audition this past weekend. Friday through Saturday, I auditioned for Bluestars Drum and Bugle Corp. I had no clue what to expect,but it turned out great. I was really pleased with Blue Stars because of the friendliness of the people, and the incredible staff they have. I gained so much knowledge even though I was only there for three days. For those who don't know what drum corp is, drum corp is like an intense marching band full of only brass instruments (trumpets, mellophones, euphoniums, and tubas). Most groups have colorguards and compete from May to August. Starting in November corps hold audition camps and practice camps all throughout the year. Drum Corp is a really intense sport that takes a lot of work. Most of the summer you are outside twelve plus hours and are constantly doing something physical. To prepare for drum corp, you train like an athlete. You have to be able to hold your horn, march insane tempos, play your music, and adjust to forms as you go in a fifteen minute period. It's a lot of stress on your body,but the experience is great. People in drum corp are as young as 14 and as old (in certain cases) 22. You get a ton of experience musically, and so many other great life experiences on the way. In the spring, you move in with the corp and train for the summer tour, and pay to be a part of the corp. The cost is around $4,000. In the summer you travel the United States competing other corps and improving your show. In August, you compete in World Finals in Indianapolis at the Lucas Oil Stadium. I have been following drum corp ever since I have been involved in marching band. My family and I have gone to finals the last three years. It's been my dream to be a part of a corp, and now I am taking the first step to making it happen. When I first got to Indianapolis for my audition I was overwhelmed with how many people were there showing off their skill while people checked in. I registered and said goodbye to my parents and began to set up my camp for the weekend. We stayed on concrete floor, so I unrolled my sleeping bag and set up shop. I met a bunch of really nice people within the first hour and visited with veteran corp members. I caught up with one of my friends, and he was nice enough to introduce me to some people he knew. On Friday we arrived at 8 P.M., so no one expected to do much. At 8 we began visual block, and proceded to go to sectionals and warm up. We continued doing things and learned our expectations for the weekend until 11:30 P.M. Then we had our fourth meal of the day. It was great! After that I checked out a brand new mellophone and rehearsed my audition pieces for the next day. Exhaustion eventually took over me, and I fell asleep. The second day we all knew we were in for a long day so we had a big breakfast. I visited with the director and my new friends while we ate and started the day off well. We went to sectionals and began introductions and warm up. The brass director told us we would be pulled out from each section starting with rookies. The previous night I didn't want to be in the back with rookies who didn't know about things so I jumped in the front in between two veterans. The next morning I was the first to audition. I was so nervous and excited,but kind of scared to be the first to audition. I warmed up and walked in the room. My audition went great, and my tone was only a little shaky. The day went on and physically I was auditioning all day. We did an eight minute run, calisthenics,dance, and other activities to test our strength. In the afternoon we were introduced to the marching style and were in visual block for about five hours. I got frustrated at myself because I didn't feel like I was where I needed to be, but I wasn't bad. That was pretty much the end of the second day. We had other things after dinner, but nothing new. Four meals a day was something really new to me. The last day we found out our status and worked harder in sectionals. We had an interview with the director and worked hard musically for our show and tell performance in the afternoon. I met with my section staff head and he told me I received a call back. In my interview with the director he said he was really looking forward to me being with the corp for the summer,and to really consider a call back. I was so excited that he said he was looking forward to me being there. I thought I would be dissappointed that I didn't get contracted on the first camp, but considering my age I knew that wouldn't happen. I am so excited to be getting another chance to show them how I have improved. So, I will do the same thing in January and prove to them that I can do this, and I want to work with them to make this the best Blue Stars season so far. If you know someone who wants to do drum corp or you yourself want to... DO IT! Even one weekend audition will change the way you view the activity and yourself as a musician. I'm not saying that it's easy,but it's the best descision you will make. There's only improvement from there. {finis coronat opus} For more information check out these websites OR message me on Flickr.
http://www.bluestars.org/ http://www.facebook.com/bluestars?fref=ts
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