Audition/Placement Assessment

The Vanderbilt Athletic Bands accept all persons willing to put in the effort to make the band successful. The purpose of the Placement Assessment is to make sure everyone is placed in a role that allows for success without undue stress. The Athletic Bands move quickly, and we understand that our members are students. Every year, we have members who have never marched before and quickly become valuable members.

Submit Placement Assessment
Mellophone

Spirit of Gold Marching Band

  • Woodwinds & Brass

    Woodwind & Brass players should submit a video (cell phone works well) of themselves playing the following...

    • 2 Scales (of your choosing)
    • 1 Chromatic Scale (demonstrating your full range)
    • 1 Etude/Excerpt/Piece of Music (approx. 2 minutes in length)

    Each component may be a separate video, so attempt as many takes as you need to produce your best work.

    Upload the videos to your favorite platform (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) and submit links to your video(s) using the link above.

    The deadline to submit Placement Assessments for the 2024 Spirit of Gold is August 1st, 2024.

    If you do not have an instrument available to you, please contact Dr. Morin and we will work out alternate arrangements.

    Those who do not submit a recording will be placed in an alternate role until the Placement Assessment is complete.

    * If you are a returning member of the Spirit of Gold, you do not need to submit a placement assessment.

    ** You may use a flute if a piccolo is unavailable, a horn if a mellophone is unavailable, or a tuba if a sousaphone is unavailable.

  • Drumline

    The Spirit of Gold Drumline will hold placement assessments in three stages.

    *Remember, everyone who puts in the effort to be on the drumline makes the line. The Placement Assessments are used to determine specific part assignments (snare, tenor, bass, cymbals).

    • Prior to the Placement Assessment

    After you submit the Intent Form, you will be added to a virtual forum (typically a Facebook group) where you have the opportunity to submit practice recordings, in preparation for the Placement Assessment, and receive feedback from Kenny Swartout (our drumline instructor) as well as student leaders and other members of the drumline.

    For the Placement Assessment, the three stages are:

    1. Preliminary Placement Assessment
      • Members will submit a Placement Assessment video performing specified exercises and/or cadences.
        • The specific requirements will be distributed via the virtual forum and email.
      • The deadline to submit the Preliminary Placement Assessments for the 2024 Spirit of Gold Drumline is July 15th, 2024.
    2. Placement Assessment
      • Members will submit a Placement Assessment video performing specified exercises and/or cadences.
        • The specific requirements will be distributed via the virtual forum and email.
      • The deadline to submit the Placement Assessments for the 2024 Spirit of Gold Drumline is August 1st, 2024.
    3. Band Camp, Final Placement
      • While the Preliminary Placement Assessment and Placement Assessments give our staff a good idea of the best spot for you on the drumline, nothing is better than hearing you play in person!
      • Throughout band camp, drumline members may be asked to swap positions and/or instruments on the drumline to find the best fit for everyone.
  • Colorguard

    The Spirit of Gold Guard will hold placement assessments at the start of band camp. Contact us here to request more information and materials.

  • Twirlers

    Learn more about the Spirit of Gold Twirler audition process here.

Trombone

Anchor of Sound Basketball Band

  • Woodwinds, Brass, Bass, & Keyboard

    Woodwind & Brass players should submit a video (cell phone works well) of yourself playing the following...

    Each component may be a separate video, so attempt as many takes as you need to produce your best work.

    Upload the videos to your favorite platform (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) and submit links to your video(s) using the link above.

    The deadline to submit Placement Assessments for the 2024 Anchor of Sound is October 30th, 2024.

    If you do not have an instrument available to you, please contact Dr. Morin and we will work out alternate arrangements.

    Those who do not submit a recording will be placed in an alternate role until the Placement Assessment is complete.

    * If you are a returning member of the Anchor of Sound, you do not need to submit a placement assessment.

    ** If you are a new member of the Anchor of Sound and are a current member of the Spirit of Gold, you do not need to submit a placement assessment unless you are playing a different instrument in each ensemble.

    *** You may use a flute if a piccolo is unavailable, a horn if a mellophone is unavailable, or a tuba if a sousaphone is unavailable.

  • Drum Kit

    Drum Kit players should submit a video (cell phone works well) of yourself playing the following...

    Each component may be a separate video, so attempt as many takes as you need to produce your best work.

    Upload the videos to your favorite platform (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) and submit links to your video(s) using the link above.

    The deadline to submit Placement Assessments for the 2024 Anchor of Sound is October 30th, 2024.

    If you do not have an instrument available to you, please contact Dr. Morin and we will work out alternate arrangements.

    Those who do not submit a recording will be placed in an alternate role until the Placement Assessment is complete.

    * If you are a returning member of the Anchor of Sound, you do not need to submit a placement assessment.

Bass Drum

Dore Slam Drumline

  • Snare, Tenor, Bass, & Cymbals

    Attend the in-person Part Placement Session.

    During the Part Placement Session, you will play through various exercises and cadences as an ensemble. Members may be moved around to different instruments throughout the session to find the best fit for each member of the ensemble.

    This in-person session is typically held in November-December.