What are some things that I can be doing the month before the Blue Band auditions to prepare (preferably physically, but any help would be great)
(just as an aside, I will be auditioning as a baritone player)
My son was in the Blue Band (trumpet) for all 5 years of his Arch Engr degree. He just graduated this past May. Some thoughts…
(1) Practice marching. The Big Ten school have a certain way they march - so try to find some YouTube videos to get an idea. (Side story - for the 3 years that my son was in the Madison Scouts, there was another member from Purdue. During DCI finals, in the “tunnel” of Lucas Oil Stadium and while waiting to go onto the field - they would practice their “Big Ten” marching. Mainly for fun, and partly to calm nerves before the final competitions!)
(2) Practice your audition piece. Practice, practice, practice. Pick a piece that shows your range (notes, tempos, whatever) and master it.
(3) Practice sight-reading. One of the things you need to be able to do is learn music quickly and being able to sight-read is a huge part of that. As I recall - sight reading is part of the audition process.
(4) Practice memorizing music. Band members need to memorize tunes that are played frequently.
(5) BE OPEN to other options. I don’t know what other options there are for Baritones - but I know my son was asked to consider playing mellophone instead of trumpet. Good thing he learned to have an open mind - because the Madison Scouts chose to have him play lead mellophone.
The Blue Band was one of the best experiences my son had at Penn State. Best of luck to you and please let us know how things work out!!!
Okay - missed your comment about preparing physically. For that - march, march, march!!!
euphstudent - please let us know how your audition goes! Good luck!
I will!! Music auditions are exactly two weeks from today, and then marching auditions are the day after that. I’m really excited to see how everything goes. 
Sending lots of luck!!!
Good Luck! I would recommend watching the documentary “Making the Blue Band” (you can search for it on you tube). I happened to have just watched it last night (its an hour long) and is very entertaining, following a bunch of different prospective band members. Physically it looks like you need to prepare yourself for a lot of marching, and longgggggggg days in the hot sun.
Great suggestion hockeymom12! I have 3 copies of that (on CDs) - and I forgot to mention it!
Please go get adequate sweat-wicking clothes, sun hat, and industrial sunscreen…the weather here is about to turn brutally hot, just in time for auditions. Good luck! Be safe!
So just an update: I did get into the Blue Band! Out of 7 baritones auditioning, I was one of 4 that made it. The marching was difficult, but honestly, they look for musicianship more anyways (you can teach someone to march easier than teaching them to play well). The audition process and band camp was intense but definitely worth the commitment!
Congrats!!!
Congratulations!!! We were at the Arboretum Friday and heard you practicing, I think.
Enjoy the rewards of your hard work and commitment.
Congratulations!!! :D/ It is an intense audition process - but so worth it! You are going to have a great time and based on my son’s experience - you will probably meet your best friends. My son loved marching alongside his 3 best friends! And that first time you go thru the tunnel onto the field will be a thrill. Here’s a video you might like. It was made (go cam) by a trumpet player. It’s from 2010 - and it was fun for me to try to spot my son. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LQ1zw4iqcmg
Now - if you are interested in doing drum corps …just let me know! I have lots of info on that, too!
euphstudent - how are you enjoying the Blue Band???