2023 AUDITION PACKET

Tuba Audition Information

(General information comes in a separate document)

Phantom Regiment
5608 International Dr.
Rockford, IL 61109
815-261-1956
Regiment.org
membership@regiment.org
 Tuba Audition Materials

Thank you for your interest in the Phantom Regiment Hornline! You have made the first step in
joining the long tradition of quality performance that is synonymous with the name “Phantom
Regiment” and we can’t wait to work with you. This packet contains your audition requirements
and the materials you need to complete them; please read through everything carefully and
thoroughly and reach out to brass@regiment.org with any questions.

Prospective brass members for 2023 will go through a two-step process before being offered a
membership agreement:
1. Initial Evaluation: Evaluation of current achievement level on the skill sets necessary to
perform in the hornline. This step can be fulfilled through a video submission or attendance
in-person at the November camp from 11/25/22 to 11/27/22. Returning members can be
exempted from this step at staff discretion.
2. Callback Evaluation: Assessing the ability to learn, work in a group, communicate
effectively, and other important skills that require real-time interaction and/or the passage of
time to properly evaluate. This step is by invitation based on your initial evaluation and will
involve additional materials provided with that invitation. It can only be fulfilled through
attendance in-person at a camp.
If you wish to submit a video audition for your initial evaluation, detailed information on that
process can be found later in this packet. Video submissions will receive detailed feedback along
with specific improvements we would like to see achieved in the callback evaluation, and upon
request we will provide individualized assessment of how you compare to other prospective
members.

Video submissions are not required; if you wish to perform your initial evaluation in-person at
the November camp you are absolutely welcome to do so. In-person initial evaluations will
consist of the same exercises and elements as the video submissions, so please familiarize
yourself with these same materials and be prepared to demonstrate them at camp.

If you would like the opportunity to perform your callback evaluation and receive a membership
agreement at the November camp, we ask that you submit videos by 12pm CST on Friday,
October 14th (10/14/22). You will receive your feedback by Friday, October 28th (10/28/22),
and if you are offered a callback you will also receive the additional materials to prepare for
your in-person callback evaluation. If you are offered a callback, you are also welcome to
perform your callback evaluation at the January camp from 1/20/23 to 1/22/23. We will continue
to accept videos and offer callbacks until the hornline is full, with the understanding that
membership agreements will be offered on a first come, first served basis to prospective members
that complete both steps of the audition process at the desired achievement level.
 Visual Information

The visual team is excited to work with you during the upcoming audition process! Here are
some expectations for the visual component of your audition. There are two components of the
visual audition that you will need to prepare in advance:
1. A simple drill excerpt.
2. A movement excerpt.

You’ll find videos and additional information regarding these requirements online at this link.

At camp, we’ll also spend time working through a series of simple exercises that expose the most
fundamental aspects of your visual approach:
1. Consistency: You’ll be using your own marching technique during your audition. In other
words, whichever movement technique you are most versed in from your high school, drum
corps, or college band is what you should use at your audition. What we’ll be looking for is
consistency in that technique. Do you maintain the same technique at every step-size, from
very small to very large? Is your technique exactly the same at every step, from the first to
the last in every phrase? Is your technique consistent at every tempo?
2. Tempo Control: Regardless of your particular approach to lower-body technique, your
ability to establish and maintain pulse will be critical to your success during your audition.
Do you establish pulse correctly at every step off? Is your lower-body timing consistent
going into and out of direction changes? Do you have great pulse control going into and out
of halts?
3. Posture: Your body alignment will be the very first visual impression you make during your
audition. Your body carriage should be tall, but relaxed; broad, but natural; aligned without
introducing tension. More importantly, your posture should look the same whether you are
standing still or moving at 200bpm. It is important that you are able to maintain your upper
body approach regardless of what you are doing with your lower body.
4. Physical Conditioning: Excellent physical fitness is one of the most important prerequisites
for members of the Phantom Regiment. In all likelihood, touring with Phantom Regiment
will be the hardest physical challenge that you have ever undertaken. The show itself will be
incredibly demanding. Add to that the intensity of long rehearsals and the physical stress of
constant travel, and you can see how important fitness is to injury prevention and the overall
success of the corps. For the corps to achieve success each summer, every member must
not just survive these conditions but thrive in them. Excellent physical conditioning is what
makes this possible.
5. Awareness and Focus: We’ll be moving quickly at the audition camp, layering different
responsibilities, modifying exercises, and testing to see what you can handle. Expect to make
a few errors. The visual staff will be watching to see how you react to new information, and
more importantly, how well you recover from mistakes. The performers we are looking for
not only have great fundamental skills, they rapidly absorb high-level concepts and they have
the awareness to recover from errors quickly and professionally. In short, absorb information
and apply it as quickly as possible.
At the end of your audition experience, we will evaluate auditionees in groups as they perform
both the drill excerpt and movement excerpt several times. Your performance in these group
auditions will be a major factor in our membership decision, but the staff will also be evaluating
your progress over the entire weekend, using the criteria listed above. As such, you should
approach every moment of the weekend as a performance. Every repetition or interaction
with the staff is an opportunity to demonstrate what kind of a member you will be. If you are
auditioning via video, please provide as many skills or examples of what you can do. It would be
great if we can get to know a little bit about you and your experience in the marching arts.

In the meantime, think through the criteria above. Take videos of yourself at different step sizes,
tempi, and directions, then evaluate whether you’re really achieving the consistency we’ve
described. I highly recommend that you post your recordings for feedback in the facebook
audition group where you will receive direct feedback from staff members. Start expanding
your movement skills by taking a dance class or researching dance fundamentals online. And,
if you’re not already executing a regular fitness regimen, get started immediately! Run, bike,
strength train, participate in classes at a gym, or find fitness resources on YouTube. Early
preparation on your part will ensure that your audition experience is a positive one.

And of course, if you have questions or concerns about the visual component of your audition,
please feel free to send an email to brass@regiment.org so we can assist you. We look forward
to meeting you and helping you on your journey toward membership in the 2023 Phantom
Regiment!

-Matt Hartwell

Phantom Regiment Visual Caption Head

 Musical Information

As always, our main goal is the education of brass students. If you are having trouble with any
of these segments we recommend the following guidelines:
• Practice the material slowly at first. Use a metronome and do not proceed to a higher tempo
until you have mastered the slower speed(s).
• Embouchure and technical development will progress at a faster rate if the exercises are
practiced every day. Try practicing for shorter amounts of time but more often. 15-minute
sessions several times a day will produce superior achievement than a once a week “cram”
session.
• Even if you are not recording a video submission, please record yourself and actively listen
to your recordings! You will be amazed at the amount of progress you will make by simply
listening to your playing with an active ear. Awareness is the key to success, and nothing
increases this awareness like listening to recorded segments of your own practice. Be
forewarned; at first you might be discouraged by what you hear on the recording but stick
with it and you will be surprised at the amount of progress that you make.
• Perform your audition materials for or watch your recordings with a teacher, friend, or
colleague. Remember that an audition is a performance so make sure you get comfortable
with the idea that you are performing for an audience.
• Finally, relax and don’t get frustrated. Tension will hinder your performance. This music
will stretch your musicality and technique, so simply do your best! We are not looking for
robots that only avoid errors, we are looking for students that are open-minded and have an
enthusiastic attitude. Most often, these traits produce better musicians and performers in the
long run and that is what we are seeking for the Phantom Regiment.

Phantom Regiment Mouthpiece Policy

The Phantom Regiment uses specific mouthpieces for each section to get the desired sound,
which may require you to use and/or purchase a specific mouthpiece for use during the season.
However, for audition purposes you should play whatever you have available and are most
comfortable with at home. For reference, during the season we will use the following (or
something similar):
• Trumpets: Bach 1.5C or 3C (upper leads
may use other appropriate equipment)
• Mellophones: Hammond Design 6MP
• Euphonium: Schilke 51D
• Tuba: Conn Helleberg, Laskey 30H

If you or your private teacher want you to

use specific equipment and you can get the
desired sound, we are open to making that
accommodation on a case by case basis.
 Video Audition Submission Requirements

Before you begin recording, please read these guidelines carefully:

• Completion of many of these segments will require a marching instrument. If you do not
have access to such equipment we completely understand, so please reach out to brass@
regiment.org and we will discuss how best to complete your audition.
• Please record all submissions as videos where your entire body is clearly visible at all times.
Make sure you are wearing:
• Low-top gym shoes with good arch support and decent traction.
• Shorts or athletic pants that can be rolled up to show foot/ankle movement.
• A t-shirt or other shirt that allows us to see upper-body shapes.
• Be conscious of your microphone settings. While we do not expect “studio” quality, we do
require recordings of sufficient audio quality to discern your musical achievement.
• At the beginning of each video, please clearly state:
• Your name
• Your age
• The city/state where you currently live
• What school you currently attend (if any)
• Please record each segment in a single take. You may, and should, record as many takes as
you like and choose the best one but please do not splice together multiple takes of a single
exercise. It is fine if you splice in the same introduction or have all your exercises in a
playlist with a single link as long as we can quickly find each exercise.

Once you have recorded your videos:

• Create your own youtube channel (if you do not already have one).
• Upload your videos and change the privacy settings for each to “Unlisted” (instructions can
be found here). NOTE: “Private” videos will not be viewable by staff reviewers, and
“Public” videos are searchable and viewable by everyone. Please ensure your videos
are “Unlisted” for proper results.
• Upload links to your videos by copying and pasting them into the form found here.

Following this process will allow you to retain private control of your videos while allowing
the instructional staff to review your submissions. If you have concerns regarding this specific
method, please reach out to brass@regiment.org with these or any other questions.

Video Audition Timeline:

• In order to perform a callback evaluation and potentially receive a membership agreement at
the November camp, video submissions must be received by 12pm CST on Friday, October
14th (10/14/22). Feedback for these submissions will be sent by Friday, October 28th
(10/28/22).
• Video submissions will continue to be accepted for initial evaluation purposes after the
October 14th deadline. However, the timeline for receiving feedback on these submissions
will be based on staff availability, and callback evaluations cannot take place until that
feedback is given.
 Tuba Audition Materials

1. Articulation Study: Record the following exercise twice, once single-tonguing at q=96-100
and once double-tonguing at q=120-156.

2. Chromatic Scale: Record the following chromatic scale exercise within the tempo range of
q=90-120. If you are able to demonstrate extended range, please record an additional example
following the same format to the extremes of your range.

3. Step Outs and Mark Time: Using the videos found on the visual information document as a
reference, record yourself demonstrating proper step out and mark time technique while playing
the following excerpt. Tempo should be q=120 and step out and/or halt as indicated.
4. Move and Play Excerpt: Using the videos found on the visual information document as a
reference, record yourself demonstrating and play drill excerpt and the music below. Please be
as detailed as possible in your preparation and be sure to maximize your dynamic contrast as
indicated.

5. Movement Excerpt: Using the videos found on the visual information document as a
reference, record yourself performing the movement excerpt. Be as detailed as possible in your
preparation.

6. Articulation Excerpts: Please record the following excerpts, paying particular attention to
style of articulation. It is highly recommended to find and study reference recordings of each
excerpt.
7. Additional Etude: Record yourself playing another etude of your choice, roughly 30-45
seconds and preferably something that showcases lyrical playing. The excerpt below is a
recommended example, and may be used if you choose.