IWU Marching Wildcats

Create a Legacy

Be a part of IWU’s newest tradition! Indiana Wesleyan University's first-ever Marching Band debuted during the 2021 football season. The Marching Wildcats have captured the hearts of the fans assembled at Wildcat Stadium. This is YOUR chance to create a legacy and be a part of building something very special!

marching band interest form

marching band audition form

Audition Requirements

All students must complete their Marching Band audition by April 15. If a student is auditioning to become a music major in the Division of Music on a wind instrument, a separate Marching Band audition is not required.

brass and woodwind requirements: new members

2 Major Scales (Student’s choice. Two octaves should be played where appropriate.)
A chromatic scale
1-2 minute prepared piece that demonstrates your best qualities as a musician
- Suggestions: Solo & Ensemble literature; A previous marching/concert/jazz band song

percussion requirements: new members

- Front Ensemble Audition (please perform on a marimba)
  1. Major Scales (2 octaves ascending and descending)
    - C Major; D Major; Bb Major
  2. “Eights” (from the Front Ensemble Warmups Packet)
    - 100 bpm
    - 120 bpm
    - 132 bpm
  3. “Burton Octaves” (from the Front Ensemble Warmups Packet)
    [please use RR LL sticking on the first 2 lines]
    - 100 bpm
    - 112 bpm
    - 120 bpm
  4. (OPTIONAL) Solo Excerpt/Etude demonstrating 4-mallet technique (any grip style)
- Piano/Synthesizer Audition
  1. 3 major scales and arpeggios (2 octaves) of your choice
  2. A prepared solo (1-2 minutes)
- Drumline Audition (snare/tenors/bass)
  please perform on a marching snare drum
  1. “Eights” (from the Drumline Exercise Packet)
    - 112 bpm
    - 128 bpm
    - 144 bpm
  2. “Timing Check Patterns #1-5” (from the Technique Development Packet)
    - 116 bpm
  3. “Binary Roll Breakdown” (from the Technique Development Packet)
    - 92 bpm
  4. (optional) Rudimental Solo/Etude of your choice
- Cymbal Line Audition
  1. Please demonstrate the following techniques, in addition to performing items #1 and #2 from the above Drumline list:
    - Orchestral Crash (4 whole note crashes @ 100 bpm)
    - Choked Crash (8 half note crashes @ 100bpm)
    - Hi-Hat Choke (16 quarter note chokes @ 100 bpm)
    - Sizzle (4 whole notes @ 100 bpm)
-All auditions should utilize an audible metronome at the listed tempos-

returning members

Front Ensemble Audition (please perform on a marimba)
1. Major Scales (2 octaves ascending and descending)
  - F Major; A Major; Eb Major
2. “All exercises from the Front Ensemble Warmup Packet
  - “Eights” @ 124 bpm
  - “Accent/Tap” @ 132 bpm
  - “Burton Octaves” @ 120 bpm
  - “Green Scales” @ 112 bpm
  - “Triplets” @ 132 bpm
3. (optional) Solo Excerpt/Etude demonstrating 4-mallet technique (any grip/style)
Piano/Synthesizer Audition
1. 3 major scales and arpeggios (2 octaves) of your choice
2. A prepared solo (1-2 minutes)
Drumline Audition (snare/tenors/bass)
please perform on a marching snare drum
1. All Exercises from the Technique Development Packet
  - “Timing Check Patterns, #1, 6-9” @ 116 bpm
  - “16^th Independent – Check” @ 116 bpm
  - “Sub 16” @ 124 bpm
  - “Sixes” @ 100 bpm
  - “Binary Roll Breakdown” @ 96 bpm
2. Duple Rolls (from the Drumline Exercise Packet)
  - 128 bpm
  - 138 bpm
3. Triplet Rolls (from the Drumline Exercise Packet)
  - 128 bpm
  - 138 bpm
4. (optional) Rudimental Solo/Etude of your choice
Cymbal Line Audition
1. Please demonstrate the following techniques:
  - Orchestral Crash (4 whole note crashes @ 100 bpm)
  - Choked Crash (8 half note crashes @ 100bpm)
  - Hi-Hat Choke (16 quarter note chokes @ 100 bpm)
  - Sizzle (4 whole notes @ 100 bpm)

-All auditions should utilize an audible metronome at the listed tempos-
-Schedule your audition directly with Percussion Director, Michael Rennaker.

auxiliary auditions

To audition for the color guard, you will be expected to demonstrate the following:
1.) 100 Drop Spins
2.) Demonstrate all of the tosses you know.
3.) Perform 32-64 counts of work. This can be any work from a previous marching band show, winter-guard show, or something you create yourself.
4.) Learn the routine to the IWU Fight Song.

Please watch the following video for an explanation of requirements and a step-by-step demonstration of the routine to the IWU Fight Song.

SCHEDULING YOUR IN-PERSON AUDITION

To audition in person, you may choose one of the following:

-Schedule an in-person campus visit with Admissions and note that you would like to Audition for Marching Band during your visit.

-Contact Division of Music Administrative Assistant, Shawna Metzcar at 765-677-2569 or shawna.metzcar@indwes.edu to schedule an appointment.

COMPLETING YOUR Off-Campus Auditions

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:
1. To begin, click “Sign In” on the YouTube homepage in the upper right corner.
2. Select the option to “Create An Account”
3. You will need to establish a Google account, if you already have a Google email you can use that email as your username.
4. Fill in the required information to finalize your YouTube account.
5. 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.
6. 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

Marching Wildcats Practice Facility

The Marching Band Practice Facility is complete with Color Guard (left) and Instrumental (right) rehearsal spaces!