<p>Hey, I plan on applying to U of M this fall and I was curious about how difficult it is to get a spot on the Michigan Marching Band Drumline as a freshman. I know there is now way for you to determine my skill level, but do you have to be absolutely amazing and perfect to make it or is it plausible for someone coming from what I consider an average high school drumline to make it?</p>
<p>Auditions are competitive; you’ll need to be pretty good, but it’s certainly attainable. </p>
<p>Here’s the MMB website if you haven’t found it already: [University</a> of Michigan Marching Band](<a href=“http://mmb.music.umich.edu/]University”>http://mmb.music.umich.edu/)
Once you receive your decision, contact Chuck Ricotta (our percussion director) and talk to him about audition details. </p>
<p>Practice, practice, practice, and I think you’ll be just fine. Hopefully we’ll see you in the MMB in a few years! It’s an amazing organization; it’s really made my college experience.</p>
<p>The MMB Drumline does take freshmen, but a lot start out as reserves. The audition process is pretty intense, you start getting evaluated at Winter Drum Tech (and incoming freshmen are encouraged to attend these during senior year of high school, I think). You should email Chuck Ricotta for more info; he’s basically the drumline guru and even runs their auditions separate from the rest of the band.</p>
<p>[Join</a> the Band | University of Michigan Marching Band](<a href=“http://mmb.music.umich.edu/joinTheBand]Join”>http://mmb.music.umich.edu/joinTheBand)</p>
<p>Couple more questions:</p>
<p>How many new people usually audition?</p>
<p>If you audition for one drum can you be placed on another?</p>
<p>Are you basically guaranteed a spot on if you have made it once already?</p>
<p>Unless beatohio is a drummer, you’re not likely to get answers to your first two questions here. (Ask Chuck.)</p>
<p>I remember one guy making tenors as a freshman and being a reserve as a sophomore, but I don’t know the story or if there were extenuating circumstances. I would guess that if you’re talented enough to make it once and learn everything, you should be fine.</p>
<p>I have been auditioning, summer camps have already started, and you will need to get in touch with chuck quickly. If you have not already talked to him, I think it might be too late, but I dont know for sure. Our second camp is this coming friday/saturday/sunday.</p>
<p>im APPLYING this fall…im wouldnt enroll until fall of 2013</p>
<p>Ah ok got it. If you live close, there are drum techs through out the winter… And then camps during the summer. Drum tech is recommended but not required, and camps are required unless you have a valid excuse (marching dci etc). The competition differs from year to year but in general you have to be a very good player</p>
<p>Steaming off of bschultz1122’s question, how hard is it to get into the Michigan color guard? Do you have to demonstrate your knowledge in sabre, rifle, and swing flag, or is the audition only with the regular flag? If i get accepted, i’d be enrolling fall of 2014.</p>