Placement in the Vanguard can only be accomplished by auditioning in front of the staff in Santa Clara, CA. You may send in a video audition, but you will not be offered a position in the Vanguard solely based on the video audition. (Also, video auditions will not be returned). Based on your video audition, we may request you to attend the next camp to audition in person.
Part of the audition process is making sure that you are committed to being here in Santa Clara. We understand the cost of traveling to camps, but many people travel across the country, and the world, to march here. So therefore, our audition process must be fair to everyone. Attending camps is crucial to your membership in the Santa Clara Vanguard.
By attending the audition, you will also become familiar with the Santa Clara Vanguard. This can also help you decide for yourself if this is something you want to do. Commitment, dedication, work ethic, and attitude don't always show up in a video. Those qualities would best be shown in person.
If you are auditioning for the percussion section, you are encouraged to send in a video audition so that the staff can get a viewing of you before you show up. But, please understand that a video audition doesn't take the place of the actual audition.
If you would like to send in a video audition, please include a note with your address, email address, phone number, and your section of interest. Video audition materials cannot be returned, nor can we guarantee that all video auditions will be viewed before the auditions in November. We will reply as soon as possible.
REQUIREMENTS
- Video auditions must be either DVDs, CDs with video files. VHS tapes are not recommended, and may not be viewed. You may also email the caption head a link to a video posted on YouTube or other video sharing site if you cannot create a DVD or CD.
- Video auditions should be no longer than 8 minutes in length.
- See Audition Expectations for some ideas of what to include in your video.
- Cut out any "dead time" between excerpts.
- Please don't include any footage from your past band, corps, etc. (Color Guard applicants may include close-up footage or excerpts from winter guard shows or dance ensembles if you are easily distinguishable on the tape.)
- Send the video audition in a padded envelope or box.
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IMPORTANT NOTE
DVDs or CDs with video files (QuickTime or Windows Media) are preferred. Please make sure that it can be viewed on BOTH the Mac and PC operating systems (use formats like Quicktime or MPEG). Failure to do so may result in your video audition not being viewed. VHS tapes are not recommended, and may not be viewed. You may also email the caption head a link to a video posted on YouTube or other video sharing site if you cannot create a DVD or CD. |
A NOTE REGARDING VIDEO AUDITIONS FOR PROSPECTIVE BATTERY MEMBERS:
SNARES & TENORS:
When making your video, please note the following guidelines:
- Play each exercise twice: once at the slowest tempo marking and once at the fastest tempo marking
- Include the independence exercises with the check pattern played with the RH; play each rhythm from the rhythmic series twice with the left hand and then move on to the next
- In Warm Rolls play the 4-measure version of the long roll at the end
- For Diddle McNuggets play all variations back to back
- For Cheezy Poofs play the flam fives variation
BASSES:
When making your video, please note the following guidelines:
- Play the exercises on a snare drum or a pad, not a bass drum
- Don't worry about including Basic Strokes, 8-8-16, or Stick Control
- Play Warm Rolls as if it was all one part on a snare drum; do the same with Cheezy Poofs, Flammus, High Steppin' Rolls (stick to the 1st bass drum part near the end), and Tightrope
You are encourage (but not required) to use YouTube for posting your audition videos. Doing so gives us the greatest flexibility to distribute them to the right staff members for viewing, and saves you the time and cost of mailing a CD or DVD with the postal service. If you elect this method, email Murray Gusseck at mgusseck@scvanguard.org with the link(s).
WHERE TO SEND THEM
For Vanguard Brass audition tapes, send them to:
SCV Brass Auditions
c/o Bob Chreste
2800 Greenlee Dr
Leander, TX 78641
For Vanguard Battery Percussion audition tapes, send them to:
SCV Battery Percussion Auditions
Murray Gusseck
c/o Tapspace Publications
P.O. Box 55753
Portland, OR 97238-5753
For Vanguard Pit Percussion audition tapes, send them to:
SCV Pit Percussion Auditions
c/o Lonnie Benoit
4705 DeSoto St.
Lake Charles, LA 70607
For Vanguard Colorguard audition tapes, send them to:
SCV Colorguard Auditions
c/o Dave Meikle
1795 Space Park Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Put together a short piece spinning flag, and weapon (if you do that) with movement. This is for us to see you perform in context. Don't worry about it looking DCI/WGI ready, it can be very simple. It is just for the staff to get to see you and your strengths. Also, please take a few minutes to spin your equipment demonstrating basic technique. If you would like to include movement principles as well, that will be great. You may want to include a video of yourself performing with another unit, or the corps, as long as we can see you clearly.
For all Vanguard Cadets audition tapes, send them to:
Vanguard Cadets Auditions
Brass or Percussion or Color Guard (choose one)
1795 Space Park Drive
Santa Clara, CA 95054
Remember: This is a very short amount of time to show off as many skills as you can; however we don't expect a flawless performance. Don't spend a lot of time making your video. Just relax, and do your best. Good Luck!
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