How to audition

1. Apply for admission to Marian University at

http://www.marian.edu/apply-now 

2. Contact shearn@marian.edu to schedule an

audition visit.

3. Prepare the exercises listed below.

4. Perform your audition by March 1 to receive full

scholarship consideration.

Audition Exercises 

Horn Line Exercises (link)

Mark time and perform exercises 4, 5A, and 13 at

MM=120 from our “Lucky 13” exercises. Exercises

available with this QR Code.

Percussion Exercises (link)

All percussionists will prepare the “Polly” rudimental

exercise on snare (with mark time and spoken part)

and the mallet exercises at the noted metronome

markings. Exercises available with this QR Code.

Color Guard

Our color guard audition process takes advantage of

21st Century technology! To audition for the MU

Color Guard, post to YouTube a video of yourself

performing work that you choreograph to music.

Videos should be no longer than three minutes and

feature movement and flag work. Contact

shearn@marian.edu to send your video link.

What you should know: 

Our audition process is different from most

university marching bands. We come to you!

In the same way that an athletic coach “scouts” a

player, we’ll come observe you rehearse and/or

perform with your band first, then we’ll watch and

listen to you alone. Your high school band director’s

endorsement is another important part of your

audition.

Following your audition, we’ll notify you of the status

of your audition. If your audition was successful,

we’ll send a recommendation to the Office of

Financial Aid that you receive a band scholarship as

a member of the MU Marching Band! Students who

audition prior to March 1 will receive full

consideration.

Our Office of Financial Aid will then put together the

best possible Financial Aid package for you

including your band scholarship and other types of

aid. Award Letters go out in early March.

 

2015 Marching Band

Audition Guide

 

History 

• September 19, 2009 - First performance

• 2009 band included Horn Line and Battery only

• 2010 added Color Guard

• 2011 added Front Ensemble/Pit

The MU Marching Band performs for home football

games, parades, pep rallies, campus sporting events,

community concerts, and private events. Recently, the

band has become widely requested as an exhibition

band for high school band competitions across the

Midwest, and at the Bands of America Grand National

Championships held each fall at Lucas Oil Stadium in

downtown Indianapolis.

The MU Band provides

opportunities to develop

leadership, perseverance, and

musical expertise that

contribute to professional

success for a lifetime.

Things to do before your

audition:

• Apply to MarianUniversity

• Contact us to schedulean audition visit

! Prepare the exercises

in this guide 

! Rock your audition!

Horn Line instruments

• Piccolo/Flute

• Clarinet

• Alto Saxophone

• Tenor Saxophone

• Trumpet

• Mellophone

• Trombone

• Baritone

• Sousaphone

Percussion instruments

• Snare Drum

• Tenor Drums

• Bass Drum

• Marimba

• Vibraphone

• Synthesizer

• Drum Set

• Auxiliary Percussion

Who are we? 

The MU Marching Band is the most visible ambassador

of Marian University in Indianapolis, Indiana. Comprised

entirely of full-time, degree-seeking undergraduate

students, the band performs each fall for over 45,000

people in addition to its slate of NAIA football games.

• Every member of the band receives a scholarship

(brass, woodwind, percussion, and color guard)!

• Every member of the band is issued a professional

quality instrument!

• There are absolutely NO FEES to participate and no

out of pocket cost. We pay for everything!