DCI Auditions | A Complete Beginners Guide to Success!

Welcome to Forte Athletics' comprehensive guide on how to audition for DCI (Drum Corps International) if you're new to the process. Coach Daniel will walk you through the 7 key elements to secure your spot with a drum corps this summer.

In this video, you'll learn how to choose the right corps, register for your audition, prepare physically and mentally, and what to expect on your audition day. We'll also cover post-audition steps and frequently asked questions. Whether you're a brass, percussion, or color guard performer, we've got you covered!

DCI auditions can be daunting, but with the right guidance, you can take that first step towards your dream of marching in a drum corps. If you found this video helpful, don't forget to like and subscribe to join our community of marching athletes.

Remember, your DCI journey starts with that first audition. Stay hungry, stay humble, and let's get those reps in! #DCIAuditions #DrumCorps #MarchingAthletes

[Wembul]

W Forte, great job at the clinic yesterday. Had a great time there with the snares! Mandarins 24!

[stevanbustos]

You should make a callback specific video. It would be helpful to go more in depth with the things to prepare for at a callback camp

[jasonteeple]

Hey Daniel, thanks for the video. I'm auditioning for BDB for snare this coming january and I appreciate all the tips you've given to help me be successful!

[Clefnett.]

As a woodwind player that is learning trumpet, this helped a lot since I’m going to play trumpet next year instead of clarinet at my highschool lol

[remswebs]

I’m planning to audition a DCI corps either next season or the following. I’m at the younger side of the age range and I want to audition mallet percussion. I understand that it would be extremely difficult for someone my age and someone with minimal experience to audition however that won’t stop me. The worst possible answer you can get is “no” and even then all that is saying is “try again next year” which will never be the end of the world. I’m confident in my skill to audition and even if I fluke an audition that just means they tell me what I did wrong. Therefore making me more prepared for the next audition. I would love for anyone who reads this to give any audition tips for mallet percussion. Thank y’all, have a great day.

[rattlesss]

Got a callback with Spirit of Atlanta, and im super nervous about being as perfect as possible. Thanks for making this video and guiding rookies like me to our greatest potential as musician and performer.

[alexmichnowicz]

Thank you for this video, it gave me so much motivation! I want more than anything to march a top 12 corps, I’m currently a senior in HS and I joined Marching Band as our only senior rookie. Marching has become my whole world but I’m nowhere near where I need to be to march DCI (mostly musically) and that discourages me a lot but this video made me feel more confident about my ability to eventually march Drum Corps than I’ve ever been before, thank you so so so much. I’m gonna work hard every single day till I make it and it might not be till the 2025 season or even beyond that, but I will make it one day. I will.

[windlesstar]

I’m planning on auditioning this year for tuba. I only started playing tuba 6 months ago, but I’ve got high school marching experience, and a lot of musical experience, so as long as I practice practice practice, I got a chance

[saltboy]

Thank you for this video Mr. Daniel! I’m auditioning for Mandarins this year and so nervous, but with your guide it’s helped ease my nerves. Can’t wait for the NorCal camp!!! 😆😆😆

[Preclamation]

I would recommend marching for a DCA corp before marching a DCI corp if you're a percussionist.

[Moosepants]

Thanks for this video! I know dci is a lot about connections so this is a great way to introduce people to auditions. I'm hoping to march this 2025 season so this is a great help!

[garischmidt]

What about tips for parents? :-) I would volunteer if it was local, but I can't travel along with them.
How safe are callback camps if my kid is younger than most?
I don't want to ask the directors a bunch of questions before the camp - what if it affects what they think of my kid? But we're new to this.

[Henry_GamesX]

Yeah, don't be like me lol. I always went to my Drum Corps and University Marching Band practices later. While I still make made them, I encourage everyone to NOT do what I did lol 🤣

[austincarlson]

I’m terrible at solos, I can have a peice mastered but then I walk into the room with a judge and it all just disappears.

[hmythical]

For reference, i've only played baritone for about 1 years worth of time and I do have drum corps experience (3 seasons with Impulse). I dont consider myself ready for world class, but at the same time, I really want to audition and get the experience.

What would I need to work on to strengthen my foundations?

[cheesebiscuit]

So, as a trombone player, would I have to learn to march euph? I heard DCI doesn't match trombones.

[weirdworld]

This is an awesome video! I do unfortunately have a question. I’m a tuba player, still have a long way to go, but if a tuba were to try out, but doesn’t have contra, how would they prepare for the audition?

[elims]

I just started learning baritone in hopes of making it into Carolina crowns, do you think I have a chance if I practice a lot and try my best at auditions?

[ultra]

I have my audition in a month maybe for dci open class and i honestly don’t know if i wanna get it, there is something i wanna do in june that lasts from sunday to saturday for 1 week in late june but i also don’t know if i’m ready to march it
I wanna audition on snare and i’ve only crabbed with a bass drum before however i marched 2 full seasons in high school on different bass drums and i have marched parades on snare drum before and had standstill performances on snare drum, my other big fear is that i have had very little training on traditional grip and i’m mostly self taught in it but i believe i have it pretty decent to the point where it’s much cleaner than matched for me and i have already performed with it before, the wind director in my hs marching band is the director of the drum corps i’m auditioning for and our visual coordinator marches in it and i talked with them to get some knowledge on that drum corps

[thryvonn]

Is there any financial aid provided? I want to audition for phantom regiment