Athletic Band Auditions
Whether you're returning for your senior season with us or are just starting your college career, we strive to make Tiger Band auditions a simple and straightforward process across all disciplines.
Read on to explore the process or reach out to us at bands@lsu.edu with any questions you may have. For directions to our facilities, please visit the LSU Campus Map.
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Round One // Registration & New Member Videos
Timeframe: Spring 2023
The first round of auditions consists of all wind players, new and returning, filling out the preseason registration form.
Additionally, new members will also submit a YouTube audition video of themselves playing repertoire outlined below. If you are an incoming music major and already auditioned for the LSU School of Music, you will still need to submit a video for Tiger Band.
Returning members do not need to submit a video audition.
Both new and returning members will need to complete the 2023 Wind Player Membership Form which will be available in January 2023.
If you are a new member, the form has a space for you to include your video audition link. Video links must be submitted along with the registration form. While the deadline is typically in late June, you are strongly encouraged to submit your materials as soon as possible for priority selection.
Step 1: Record
- Video record yourself playing the following. This must be done in one take, with no edits in between performances.
- Chromatic scale showcasing your full range (tongued ascending & slurred descending)
- An etude showcasing your musical technique, facility, and talent. This could be a solo from Solo & Ensemble or an etude you used to audition for an honor band or all-state band. Minimum 30 seconds in length.
- Your chosen etude should NOT be music from your concert band literature or pop music performed in marching band.
Step 2: Upload
- Upload video to YouTube and make sure the file is marked 'Unlisted". Marking your
video as unlisted is extremely important to preserve the privacy of your audition.
- If you encounter issues uploading to YouTube, please contact us at bands@lsu.edu.
Step 3: Submit
- Copy the URL of your unlisted video and submit using one of these two methods:
- Include the link in your Wind Player Membership Form.
- Email the link (along with your name and instrument) to bands@lsu.edu.
Round Two // Tiger Band Camp
Timeframe: Early August 2023
Once you have filled out the wind player membership form and submitted your video audition (if applicable), you will be contacted directly with your results. Passing the first round means you are automatically invited to the second round, the Tiger Band Camp, an immersive training camp held just prior to the start of classes in August.
During this camp, we will teach you our two marching styles for pregame and halftime shows, learn and practice drill, and rehearse school songs. We will evaluate marching and playing throughout the camp, and determine the final 325-member roster of the Tiger Band through several rounds of cuts at the end of the camp.
Further information about the camp will be provided to you directly once the first round of auditions have completed.
Clinic Information
Prior to the final audition date, several clinics will be offered where instructional staff will review our style, exercises, and audition materials. We strongly encourage candidates to prepare an audition on multiple sub-sections. This will increase your chance of placement even if you aren’t selected for your first choice (snare, tenor, bass, etc).
Additionally, the drumline captains maintain a private Facebook audition group to answer questions and share further aspects of our drumline technique, warm-ups, cadences, and the audition process. You will receive the Facebook group link after you complete the 2023 Drumline Audition Registration Form.
Audition Process
If you are auditioning for drumline, your entire audition process occurs prior to the start of the Tiger Band Camp. All members, new and returning, must fill out the 2023 Drumline Audition Registration Form.
Unless otherwise noted, all events at held at the Tiger Band Hall on the LSU campus.
- TBD
Drumline auditions will be held TBD.
- These will be held at Tiger Band Hall. Check-in begins at 10:00 a.m. CST.
- You must complete the 2023 Drumline Audition Form to audition.
Clinic Information
Clinic Dates: TBD
Location: Tiger Band Field and Rehearsal Hall
Two clinics will be offered prior to the start of the audition process. To attend a clinic, you must register through the 2023 Golden Girl Clinic Registration Form which will be available in early 2023. Clinic capacity is limited to 60 participants. A waitlist will be kept, and more dancers will be added if COVID restrictions allow. COVID protocols are subject to change; up-to date info will be emailed the day before each clinic.
Clinic attendance is NOT a requirement for auditioning. Clinics are open to all high school and college-aged dancers. Upon arrival you must show your LSU symptom checker approval or fill out a similar form if not a current LSU student.
The first portion of the clinic will be held outside, socially distanced, on the band field; the end portion will be held in Tiger Band Hall in smaller groups at a time. Masks must be worn when entering/exiting the Tiger Band Hall.
Important Audition Process Dates (below are 2022 dates for example)
March 7 – Online audition registration closes at midnight.
March 16 - Round 1 video submission deadline.
March 22 – Round 1 finalist announcement.
March 28 – Finalist technique video submission deadline.
April 2 – Finalist in-person auditions.
Clinic Information
Clinic Dates: TBD
Location: Tiger Band Hall
Three clinics will be offered prior to the start of the audition process. To attend a clinic, you must register through the 2023 Colorguard Audition Clinic Registration Form which will be available in early 2023. Clinic attendance is not a requirement for auditioning UNLESS you are a returning member. Returning members must attend at least one clinic.
Clinics are open to all high school and college students interested in auditioning. Upon arrival you must show your LSU symptom checker approval or fill out a similar form if not a current LSU student.
Audition Process (2022 process below as an example)
Attire
- Hip to ankle black leggings or black jazz pants.
- Black jazz shoes, if possible.
- Black (preferably fitted) sleeveless top.
Hair/Makeup
- Gameday makeup (heavier natural)
- No red lipsticks, strictly neutral colors.
- No bright, too dark, or neon color eyeshadows.
- Gameday hair
- Refer to this link for hair tutorial: Golden Girl and Colorguard Hair Tutorial
- If you have short hair, please make sure hair is appropriately groomed for both rounds.
All Phase 1 content is to be submitted directly via email to lsucgofficial@gmail.com and consists of the following items and due dates:
- Proof of enrollment or admissions letter.
- Due April 22 at 11:59 p.m.
- One Fundamentals Routine Video
- Follow the template / example video linked here.
- Due April 24 at 11:59 p.m.
- For new members only, two recommendation letters are to be sent, by the person referring, NOT the student.
- Due April 24 at 11:59 p.m.
You will receive an email informing you if you are accepted to Phase 2 of auditions. If accepted, you must submit your solo routine music for Phase 2 by April 28 at 11:59 p.m. (See below for more information on the solo routine requirements.)
Phase 2 auditions will take place on April 30, 2022 at the Tiger Band Hall, beginning at 8:00 a.m.
Please plan for the process to take the majority of the morning and afternoon, with a lunch break provided.
Phase 2 auditions will consist of two rounds:
Round One (Solos)
- Solos should consist of some dance but majority flag work.
- Routines must be at a minimum of 1 minute but not exceed 1:30 seconds.
- You may use your own equipment for this portion.
- Routines must be your own original choreography.
- Cuts can be made in this round.
Round Two (Fundamentals, Group Routine, etc.)
- This round will consist of some review of the fundamentals from the videos sent in and two routines taught on-the-spot (stand dance and flag routine.)
- You MUST use LSU Colorguard equipment for this portion.
- Cuts will be made after auditionees perform the on-the-spot flag routine in front of the judges to make the preliminary team.
Important Audition Process Dates
April 22 – Deadline to send proof of enrollment or admissions letter.
April 24 – Deadline for recommendation letters to be sent. (New members only!)
April 28 – Deadline to submit solo music if you are accepted to the in-person round.
April 30 – Finalist in-person auditions.
Links
No, as a matter of fact, the majority of Tiger Band (over 75%) is made up of majors from other colleges and schools across campus including Engineering, Mass Communication, etc.
Yes! There are several opportunities. If you are selected as a member, you will automatically receive a $1000 stipend. Additionally, we do have additional scholarship opportunities based on director recommendations, the department’s instrumental needs, and the student's playing ability.
Every member of Tiger Band must have a minimum 2.0 GPA. Additionally, all members must be full-time students at LSU with a minimum of 12 credit hours. However, if you drop below full-time status after you make the band, you will forfeit your membership stipend.
Tiger Band rehearses Tuesday through Friday for an hour and a half each day. If we have a home football game, we have a rehearsal the morning of the game. When you enroll for the course (MUS 4250) you will receive one credit-hour from the university.
We pay you! The Department of Bands covers all costs such as dry cleaning of your uniform, instrument repairs, and official travel, in addition to your $1,000 stipend. For returning members, we also offer student staff positions to assist with band operations. These are roles such as equipment managers, music librarians, social outreach team members, and more. Student staff positions receive additional payments.
Tiger Band tries to take one full band trip during the regular season, a 100-member pep band to all other away games, and another full band trip for any postseason game(s). Once again, the Department of Bands covers your costs for all of this travel, including per diem for meals.
The number of shows can vary slightly depending on the football schedule, but we typically perform 5 to 7 different shows per season. Shows never become dull because we are always learning new ones!