2019-2020 Carolina Band Drumline

Audition Information
April 27th, 2019
 Thank you for expressing interest in the 2019-2020 edition of the Carolina Band Drumline! This
year’s drumline will consist of approximately 9 snares, 6 tenors, 7 basses, and 10 cymbals. The Carolina Band does
not have a front ensemble.

The audition for the 2019 CBDL will be held from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Saturday, April 27th at the
Copenhaver Band Hall (326 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208). The audition will consist of both solo and group
playing evaluation. An RSVP email will be sent prior to the audition, and a more specific schedule for the day will
be created once we are closer to the audition. The results of the audition will be emailed to you during the week
following the audition, or as soon as the results can be made available.

Things the Carolina Band will provide for the audition: Things YOU will need for the audition:
- Drums, carriers, and stands - Snare and/or tenor sticks
- Cymbals - Drum pads (so you can play while personnel rotates)
- Bass drum mallets - The Audition Exercises and School Songs (for your
primary instrument)
- Three-ring binder with clear plastic sheet protectors

Help Sessions will be offered throughout February and March at the Copenhaver Band Hall. These
sessions are open to any current high school junior or senior who is interested in the Carolina Band Drumline, or
who is simply interested in improving their playing. The Help Sessions will be held on the following dates:

February 10th, 2019 from 3-5:30 PM

March 3rd, 2019 from 3-5:30 PM
Saturday, April 6st, 2019 time TBD – in conjunction with the Garnet & Black Spring Game

Register for the Help Sessions here! - http://bit.ly/2019CBDL_HelpSessions

More information regarding the Help Sessions and Audition can be found at www.carolinaband.org. If you
have any more questions, feel free to contact me directly at bbaileyseabury@gmail.com.

The directors and staff are all looking forward to a great season with the “Mighty Sound of the Southeast,”
and I look forward to seeing you on April 27th!

Bailey Seabury
Drumline Instructor
Audition Procedures:
Students will select a “Primary” and “Secondary” instrument for the audition. If snare drum or tenors are
the “Primary” instrument, it is strongly suggested that the packet is memorized. If bass drum/cymbals is the
“Primary” instrument, the student must be familiar enough with the music to execute any part within that section
(memorization not required). Marking time is required for every selection located in the “Required Group Audition
Materials” category.
Students will perform on their “Primary” instrument for the solo audition. The “Secondary” instrument
should be prepared to the best of the student’s ability (memorization not required). Personnel will rotate
instruments throughout the group audition.

Required Solo Audition Materials (Primary Instrument Only):

a. Individual Audition Excerpts*
*THESE WILL BE AVAIALBE ON THE GOOGLE DRIVE MARCH 15st, 2019*
b. Sightreading

Required Group Audition Materials:

a. All Exercises from the Packet
b. CBDL Cadence Sequence (Quarter note = 116)
c. Latin Lover (Quarter note = 122)
d. Four Corner Salute (Quarter note = 138)
e. Old USC Fight Song (Quarter note = 138)
f. Gridiron Fanfare (Quarter note = 92)
g. 2001 (Quarter Note = 69)

TECHNIQUE/EXERCISE INFORMATION:

Dynamic Levels:
The following dynamic levels correspond to approximately how many “inches” the stick is raised to strike the drum
for an accented stroke. All stroke heights are to be played with the same velocity, allowing the height levels to define
the dynamic.

Fortississimo = 15” stroke (not to extend past vertical)

Fortissimo = 12” stroke
Forte = 9” stroke
Mezzo-Forte = 7” stroke
Mezzo-Piano = 5” stroke
Piano = 3” stroke

****Taps are played at 3 inches at all times, unless a crescendo or decrescendo notates a change in stick height****
Exercise Notes:

Legatos – This exercise is played with smooth, continuous motion (legato strokes). You may be asked to play at
any dynamic for this exercise – be prepared. Bass drums – this exercise will also have 2s, 3s, and 4s
substituted for the eighth note splits.

Dynamics/Accent Tap – A variation on the Legatos exercise, Dynamics/Accent-Tap is aimed at having the
performer transition the ‘legato’ stroke through all heights. In the second half , this exercise also designed to
engage the performer in all four of the main stroke types, giving you an opportunity to hone in on stick-
height separation. These four strokes are explored in different combinations.

Stick Control – This exercise is the CBDL’s take on this tried and true standard in the drumline world. This
exercise works on the evenness of the strokes from hand to hand. The performer should play this exercise
with the same feel that is used in the Legatos exercise – a smooth and continuous motion for all strokes.

Doubles – This exercise is aimed at opening up your double-stroke interpretation, as well as the transfer of the
double-stroke between the hands. The first and second endings here will not be played on a 1:1 basis. The
“tag” portion of this exercise will generally only be played on the last time through the exercise.

Triple Rolls – This exercise is designed to develop your roll technique. We play an open interpretation of rolls in
the CBDL; aim to have your rolls sound as close to two 16th notes as possible. This exercise will also be
played with buzzes in place of the diddles - be prepared. Pay attention to the markings at the top of the
page.

Flams – This exercise helps work on flams by isolating what each hand is doing during a flam-accent. This exercise
will also have other triple-based rudiments (i.e. cheeses, flam-drags, flam-fives) substituted in place of the
flam-accents in measures 17-20.

Paradiddle Flow – This exercise is specifically written to help the performer execute a variety of Paradiddle based
rudiments prevalent in the CBDL writing seen during the season. In this exercise, you should aim to have
the paradiddles and variations flow as seamless and relaxed as possible, with great stick height separation.
Notation Guide & Notes:

SNARE – THE CBDL USES TILTED SNARE DRUMS (~10 Degrees)

Please reference this video explaining the tilt
https://youtu.be/Huri3iCXg3g

TENOR – Learn each exercise on drum 2 as well as the ‘rounds’ that are in each exercise.

BASS DRUM – Learn each warm up in unison rhythm as well as your individual part.

CYMBALS – Learn the entire exercises so you are ready to play ANY part during auditions.