<p>How difficult is it to make the Penn State Blue Band? Do you have to try out for the pep band or does everyone allowed to join?</p>
<p>No no no - there are tryouts, they are rigourous, and most people do not get in. Remember, just like the football team the Blue Band can draw from thousands of solid high school performers. While many will choose not to try out, a great many do, and that lets them be pretty selective.</p>
<p>That having been said, there are no other requirements to join - it is not limited to members of other bands or music majors, it can be the only musical thing you do on campus should you so choose.</p>
<p>As always, cosmicfish is correct. Tryouts are during rookie week and are extremely competitive and physically/musically demanding. I know many Blue band members who tried out multiple years before making it. Anyway, if you don’t make BB, you can be offered a spot in one of the pep bands. There is also Symphonic wind ensemble (audition) or Concert band (non-audition) for places to play, as well.</p>
<p>Agreeing with the above - it is a very competitive tryout, with both music and marching parts to the audition. Of course, in addition to your level of ability, the chance of getting in depends on other things - like how many returning members there are in your section and how many new students are trying out. (Even returning members have to re-audition each year)</p>
<p>To be honest, someone on the Blue Band staff told us that the number of new auditioners often depends on the past year’s football season. So, there is a “chance” that the numbers might be down this year. But that won’t change the intensity of the audition process.</p>
<p>My son did the Pep Band his first year and enjoyed it - playing for both the men’s basketball and women’s volleyball games. </p>
<p>Looking forward to being a 3rd year Blue Band Mom!</p>
<p>Does the pep band also require a tryout?</p>
<p>I am not sure about the pep band. I will ask my son.</p>
<p>My son says there is no audition for the Pep Band. It’s a 1-credit class, so you just have to enroll.</p>
<p>Yes, as everyone has said, Blue Band is tough to get into. I started freshman year as a music education major (which you have to audition for) and did NOT make Blue Band. Some sections are also tougher than others. Saxophone is highly competitive. Trumpet? Not as much, because they have more than 60 trumpet players.</p>
<p>As far as other ensembles, you have the Fall Athletic Band in the fall, no audition required. In winter, you have Pride of the Lions, another pep band without an audition, which plays for the basketball teams. </p>
<p>All year round you have:
Campus band, a concert ensemble with no audition
Concert band, a concert ensemble that doesn’t have auditions in fall but does in the spring
Symphonic band, a concert ensemble you must audition for and is somewhat selective
Symphonic wind ensemble, a concert ensemble you must audition for and is very selective</p>
<p>Also, realize that Blue Band is a HUGE time commitment. This is why I chose not to audition a second year in a row. You rehearse every weekday except Thursday, and spend all Saturdays at games. Two of my 3 suitemates are in Blue Band, and they are always busy, but love it. It’s great if you can make it and if you’re up for that type of commitment, but know what you’re getting yourself into! Blue Band will be pretty much the only activity you’ll have time for in the fall.</p>
<p>Thanks Caramello. My son is a clarinet player and has done 4 years of marching band. He loves it. A friend from his high school is in the Blue Band and loves it. He is going to take some lessions & give it his best sho.</p>
<p>carmello12 is right - in that some sections are smaller than others, so of course, the individual spots are more competitive. But no matter the section - the auditions are tough and you have to be able to make the cut. And, yes, the time commitment is huge. </p>
<p>Thinking back - when my son tried out the first year, he laughed that he had it much easier than many kids because he was used to marching in south Texas in August. So while everyone was complaining of the heat, the 80-degree temps were refreshing for him!</p>
<p>Challenger - see if your son’s friend can give him some advice. I don’t know where you’re from, but the marching style used by the Blue Band is somewhat different. Around here, the marching style is more like drum corps and the Blue Band isn’t. Last summer, my son went straight from Drum Corps finals to Blue Band tryouts. He said he really had to remember “where” he was and swtich his marching style.</p>
<p>Grcxx3 - yep, same for me, we marched corps style and it was certainly challenging. The high step is exhausting at first!</p>
<p>Sent from my ADR6400L using CC Appe</p>