The Yellow Board

Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by Obi Ron Kenobi on 2/3/2021, 12:20 pm

It appears I'll have only one kid audition for drum major this year.

I'd often assume this is an indicator of a weak program, but our numbers are good, we're earning plenty of trophies and admin/community is happy with us.

Our typical DM auditions go like this:
Anyone who wants to be a leader of any sort goes through the audition process. Top score decides if they want to be drum major. If not, we go to second score. In my 7 years, the top score has never said "no" but we always had 3 or 4 auditioning.

I'm open to changing the entire process.

So... advice?

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by One and done on 2/4/2021, 12:50 pm, in reply to "Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

If you're at all on the fence about the kid, I would do the audition process anyway. Maybe wrap DM auditions with leadership selection process. Even section leaders should have an idea of how to conduct so they can run sectionals. If the kid is a strong leader, name them DM. If this isn't the kid you want to be DM, don't have a DM. It's not really a necessity.

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by Recently retired on 2/4/2021, 11:17 am, in reply to "Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

If only 1 person wants to be DM, then allow them to be the Drum Major. Just have it documented that you did open the position up for auditions. That way you are covered.

If it makes you feel better, than have them go through the audition process.

Good luck!

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by 4add on 2/4/2021, 11:08 am, in reply to "Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

Could be that they want to play. When I was asked if I wanted to try out for DM, I told the director I was only interested in playing. I'd have probably quit band if I were forced to conduct.

Looking back, it's strange that I chose the conducting part as a career, but that's how I felt at the time.

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by 2A BD on 2/4/2021, 9:05 am, in reply to "Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

Whatever you do, have a process and stick with it.

Even if there is only one auditionee, that student completing the process sends a message that their position is earned by meeting your standard for leadership. I would communicate they must complete the process to a satisfactory degree to EARN the privilege of serving as Drum Major.

Having a drum major who feels entitled to the position can cause a lot of damage to a marching season and the morale of the program. Submitting to your process also communicates to the other students that you support the DM and their "authority" comes from you, not just being the only candidate.

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by old on 2/4/2021, 8:32 am, in reply to "Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

Stopped auditions years ago. Picked the best candidates. Worked well for me.

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by really retired on 2/3/2021, 10:39 pm, in reply to "Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

years ago, I quit having actual auditions. I would ask who might be interested; then, I would pick who I wanted to have. After the first year, I never had any questions asked. Does the football have auditions for quarterback? Why should we?

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by This on 2/4/2021, 9:09 am, in reply to "Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

This is the answer. Tell your band that they are auditioning every single day to be drum major, year around. I got tired of drum major wanna-bees.

My best ever drum major was a trumpet player who declined repeatedly. But he was an outstanding student and leader who was well respected, which was recognized by everyone. He finally accepted and was truly outstanding. Long story short he ended up in the Navy Band.

Your choice possibilities will expand if they know that every single day throughout the year they are all demonstrating the skills it takes to be drum major.

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by WW Guy on 2/4/2021, 8:57 am, in reply to "Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

I mean technically they kind of do...They may not have a formal audition but they do put them through tests and puts them through the paces of the sort to see who gets the top spot

Also we cant be a direct comparison to football...professional orchestras have auditions and hiring processes for their members and their conductors so I think it is more like that process than football

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by bassrocks on 2/3/2021, 6:15 pm, in reply to "Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

I don't really think it is anything you are doing, so there's no need to change. It seems like kids are just not wanting to do anything during this time. My 7th graders were such great kids last year and this year, 80 percent of them are not showing up to class at all this year. There is just no motivation for these kids to do anything.

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by Me on 2/3/2021, 3:42 pm, in reply to "Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

If no one wants to be drum major, don't have one. Less frustration most of the time anyway.

Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice

Posted by Yep on 2/4/2021, 9:13 am, in reply to "Re: Just 1 DM auditionee. Need advice"

This year, I did not have a drum major at all. The student from the year before turned out to be a slug, and with COVID, my numbers were way down, so I just directed everything.

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