IWU Marching Wildcats FAQ
Be a part of IWU’s Newest Tradition!
- Indiana Wesleyan University will field the school’s first-ever Marching Band during the 2021 football season. The Marching Wildcats will capture the hearts of the fans assembled at Wildcat Stadium. This is YOUR chance to create a legacy and be a part of something very special!
Membership is open to IWU – Marion students, with auditions that occur throughout the year. Members typically have prior marching experiences in high school ensembles. If you are not a music major, this is not a problem. We welcome members from all majors and areas of study. All marching band members must go through an audition process (see bottom of webpage).
- The addition of a marching band program adds a dimension to the Music Education curriculum that will help prepare future teachers in the marching arts.
- This program complements a new (and flourishing) football program which began in 2018.
The marching band season runs concurrently with the football season. The Marching Wildcats will play at all home football games, select away games, and occasional parades and functions.
While high schools tend to compete throughout the fall season, marching band competitions do not exist at the University level. Nevertheless, the Marching Wildcats will strive to put on the best show each and every week to entertain IWU fans.
- Scholarships are available for all IWU Marching Band members. Contact briana.blankenship@indwes.edu for more information.
- Create friendships that can last for years as you make music with your fellow band members.
- Brass: Trumpets, Mellophones, Trombones, Baritones, Sousaphones
- Woodwinds: Flutes, Piccolos, Clarinets, Saxophones
- Percussion: Snares, Bass Drums, Toms, Cymbals, Mallet Instruments (Front Ensemble)
- The band will also have Colorguard and at least one drum major
Check out the online registration link https://admissions.indwes.edu/register/MarchingBand.
Thanks and Go Wildcats!
Marching Band Interest Form
https://admissions.indwes.edu/register/MarchingBand
Audition Procedures
All music majors will go through the regular audition procedure (link to “scholarships and auditions). Due by March 1, 2020
Non-Music Majors will need to go through the following audition procedure (Due by April 15, 2020):
Brass & Woodwind Requirements (those receiving scholarships will need to be a part of the wind ensemble or concert band when marching band is not in session.)
- 2 major scales (Student’s choice. 2 octaves where appropriate.)
- A chromatic scale
- A 1-2 minute prepared piece that demonstrates your best qualities as a musician
- Feel free to play what you have prepared for Solo and Ensemble Festivals.
Percussion Requirements (drumline will begin during the 2020-2021 school year; those receiving scholarships will need to be a part of percussion ensemble, wind ensemble or concert band when marching band is not in session.)
- Snare drum
- 5 rudiments (student’s choice. Open-closed-open)
- Long roll
- A 1-2 minute prepared piece (on concert or marching snare) that demonstrates your best qualities as a musician
- Mallet Percussion
- Same as Brass & Woodwind requirements
- Toms players should audition on snare or play a timpani solo/etude.
- Bass Drummers should select an area from above, but please mention in your video that you are interested in bass drum.
Auxiliary Auditions
- Auditions for colorguard will not occur until school begins in Fall 2020.
If you cannot set up an audition on campus, we ask you to make a recording of the requirements above and follow this procedure:
- Upload the finished video to YouTube as an UNLISTED video. By doing this no one can see the video with the exception of whoever has access to the link. Copy and paste the entire URL (the YouTube web address) from the address bar to the box below labeled “Video URL.” We will correspond with you promptly regarding your entrance into our band program after we have reviewed your completed video.
- The final step, your Scholarship/Commitment agreement, will be assigned accordingly following your audition video submission.
- Students may only submit one video. If you are not selected during the audition process to participate in the marching band and wish to discuss your audition further, please contact Briana Blankenship, Director of Athletic Bands (briana.blankenship@indwes.edu).
- To create a YouTube Account and Upload Your Video:
- To begin, click “Sign In” on the YouTube homepage in the upper right corner.
- Select the option to “Create An Account”
- You will need to establish a Google account, if you already have a Google email you can use that email as your username.
- Fill in the required information to finalize your YouTube account.
- Once your account has been set up and you are logged in, select the “Upload” button on the YouTube homepage, located to the right of the search engine.
- Select the Arrow to upload your video.
- There will be a drop-down menu with options to make the video Public, Unlisted, or Private. Select the option for UNLISTED (this ensures that only those who have the link can view the video).
- Title the video with your Name (i.e. John Smith Marching Band Audition)
- Copy and paste the entire URL (the YouTube web address) from the address bar to the box labeled “Video URL” on the Application/Audition page (you will need to log-in to this link again exactly as you did previously for the Application portion
Audition Form
https://admissions.indwes.edu/register/audition