Drum Major - United States Marching Bands - High School - Selection and Auditions

Selection and Auditions

The process of appointing high school drum majors varies based on the school, though it is recognizably up to the director's discretion as to who to select, which is done typically through an audition process where potential drum major candidates must display their conducting skills, their ability to successfully call and execute commands, and to answer questions that demonstrate what type of leader they are and what they can bring to the band. The director may, in such cases, ask one of the previous marching season's drum majors to join him or her for the auditions to help make a decision as to who to pick (though such an opportunity is usually brought upon the lead drum major). In addition, the opportunity to be a drum major may not be open to everyone in a band, as potential candidates may be required to first serve as a section leader/captain/officer, and/or that they are a junior or senior.