2025 Cowboy Marching Band Drumline Audition Information
To request a OSU Drumline audition, please visit our audition information page.
All first round auditions for percussionists wanting to gain membership in the OSU Drumline will do their their first audition via YouTube (or other video submission). All that is necessary is a video of you playing the requested exercises described below. Due date for first round video submission is April 1, 2025. This is NOT a hard deadline - Prof. Bovenschen will begin reviewing videos submitted on the weekend of April 1 and continue to accept them up until the live auditions in April-May (outlined below). Just realize, the video is a benefit to YOU - we will give feedback on what to improve upon before the live auditions.
Also, videos do NOT need to be one take - you can record each exercises individually and then combine them into one video, uploaded as an unlisted video to YouTube and send us the link. Good Luck!
BASS DRUMS: Be familiar with various drums but you only need to send the video playing one part (unison and split). All drums are open, but veterans have an obvious advantage.
This first audition will consist of exercises on one of the following instruments:
• snare drum (traditional grip) - snare audition packet
• tenors - tenor audition packet
• bass drum - bass audition packet
• cymbals - cymbal audition packet
• front ensemble - pit audition packet
To be included in the video:
• Volume Six (all up and variation 1) @ 132
• 7/8 Double Beat @ 132
• Stick Control @ 128
• Derp Diddles @ 160
• Seivac @ 120
• Monkeybles @ 120
• Bluelight Special @ 160
• Martian Mambo @ 128 (no pit)
• "X" @ 172 (only B to 2 before K) (no pit)
• PIT ONLY - Ride Em Cowboys, OSU Chant, Oklahoma @ 160 (marimba or vibraphone)
YouTube videos to help with audition material:
PASIC 2011 Preview Basic Exercises
Big 4 Exercises - Preseason 2015
After the first round videos have been viewed, live auditions will occur on campus April 26 from 9-4 and May 3 from 9-4.
Size of the line will vary dependent upon the talent level of those auditioning. The most likely instrumentation is:
• Snares: 9
• Tenors: 5
• Basses: 7
• Cymbals: 6
• Front Ensemble: 9