School of Music
goin' band
Auditions

2026 Winds Online Music Auditions

Thank you for your interest in auditioning for the award-winning Goin' Band from Raiderland. The program seeks students who are actively engaged in making positive contributions through music and service. Below you will find general information about the Goin' Band and detailed information on the online music audition process.

The Goin’ Band audition process requires wind players to video record themselves playing the required audition music. Additionally, they will video record themselves displaying their marching technique while playing. Both videos must be uploaded on YouTube as an unlisted video. Students may edit the two separate videos into one video before submitting. For more information on uploading videos and changing their privacy settings, visit the How to Upload YouTube Videos Link and the How to Change YouTube Video Privacy Settings Link. Test your video link before submitting. Log out of YouTube and send the link to a second email address or family member to ensure the video link is viewable.

Who Needs to Audition?

All new and returning Goin’ Band members are required to audition every year. This includes music majors who have been accepted into the School of Music. The School of Music audition does not count toward your Goin’ Band audition.

Wind Instrument Requirements

The Goin' Band uses the following wind instruments: piccolo, clarinet (no bass clarinet), alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, trumpet, mellophone, marching baritone, trombone, and sousaphone. Specialized instruments may use the more common concert instrument for their audition (e.g., flute, concert horn, concert baritone/euphonium, tuba).

YouTube Video Details

Music Audition Video

The music audition must be recorded in one single, unedited take. Your face and hands/fingers must always be visible in the video.

Marching Audition Video

The marching audition must be recorded in one single, unedited take. Your entire body and instrument must always remain visible. The recording device must be positioned to record your marching from a side profile. Imagine the recording device is on the front sideline while you forward and backward march from one yard line to the next.

2026 Goin’ Band Wind Audition Music and Marching Requirements

Wind Audition Music

Click on your instrument below to view the 2026 wind audition music.

*You also have the option of downloading a digital version of the audition material using the XML files below. You must use a music notation program to open these files. You can visit the MuseScore website to download their free, open-source music notation program.

Marching Audition Requirement

The marching audition consists of forward and backward marching at an 8 to 5 step size (i.e., 8 equal size steps for every 5 yards) while playing three major scales of your choosing. At least one of those scales must be played in two octaves. This can be recorded on a practice field with yard lines or any indoor/outdoor space. If your space does not contain yard lines, you can use two strips of tape five yards apart (aka 15 feet) or any two markers five yards apart (e.g., cones). While the Goin’ Band uses a corps-style marching technique, auditionees may march using the style most familiar to them.

The marching portion requires you to forward march 8 counts and immediately transition to an 8-count backwards march, followed by a halt (i.e., forward 8, backward 8, and halt). You will do this a total of three times, each time at a different tempo and on a new major scale. The tempo will consist of 80 beats per minute, 120 beats per minute, and 160 beats per minute. Use an audible metronome in your video. Watch this video demonstration for a more detailed explanation of the marching audition. You can also reference the following sheet music example for your marching and playing portion. 

Submitting Your Audition Video

The deadline to submit your audition video is Friday, May 29, 2026, by 11:59 PM CST. The submission form will collect information related to demographics (e.g., name, email, address, phone number, etc.), size information for attire, medical-related information (e.g., medical insurance, allergies, etc.), and more. The final step is to copy/paste your audition video link. Your music and marching audition video must be completed and uploaded on YouTube prior to opening the submission link.

• Goin’ Band 2026 Music and Marching Audition Submission Link

Audition Results

Audition submissions will be evaluated during the first week of June. Students will begin to be notified of their acceptance status during the second week of June via the email address(es) on their audition submission form. 

2026 Percussion Audition Info

*Drum line audition deadline extended. Drum line auditions for 2026 will be conducted via YouTube video upload. Videos are due by May 29th, 2026 11:59 PM CST. Each individual exercise must be recorded in a single take. You may then edit your video into single video or include your audition exercises in a single YouTube playlist. Your face and hands/feet (mark time) must always be visible in the video. Refer to the 2026 Drum Line Audition Packet for the required audition material. 

Drum Line Instrument Requirements

Snare drums and tenor drums may use drums or practice pads to record the audition. Marching bass drums auditions must be recorded on a marching bass drum or marching band drum practice pad. Cymbal auditions must be recorded using crash cymbals.

Drum Line YouTube Video Recording

Videos must be uploaded on YouTube as an unlisted video. Do not set your video to “private”. For more information on uploading videos and changing their privacy settings, visit the How to Upload YouTube Videos Link and the How to Change YouTube Video Privacy Settings Link. Test your video link before submitting. Log out of YouTube and send the link to a second email address or family member to ensure the video link is viewable.

Drum Line Audition Submission Link

Use the Drum Line Audition Submission Link to upload your 2026 drum line audition. Please email Dr. Benjamin Holmes with any questions regarding drum line auditions.

Goin’ Band Class

Class Times

Students selected for the Goin’ Band must sign up for the Goin’ Band course. The Goin’ Band class meets/rehearses five days a week:

• Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 12:00 PM – 12:50 PM
• Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:30 PM – 1:50 PM

During the week of a home game, there is an additional Thursday night Stadium Rehearsal 7:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

The drum line has an additional drum line class the meets:

• Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, 11:00 AM – 11:50 AM

Attendance is required at all rehearsals and performances. Class conflicts can often be resolved through advanced planning and communication and should not deter you from auditioning.

Course Codes

All Goin’ Band members must enroll in the following Goin’ Band course:

MUEN 3103-201, CRN 11349

Drum line members have an additional drum line class they must enroll in:

MUEN 3103-204, CRN 11350

If your major has a Personal Fitness & Wellness requirement, the Goin' Band class can fulfill that requirement. You must contact the directors to request permission for that section of Goin' Band.

Court Jesters Indoor Athletic Band

Court Jesters is our volunteer indoor athletic band that performs at all home basketball games for the Red Raiders and Lady Raiders and select Lady Raider volleyball games. Your Goin' Band audition will double as your Court Jesters audition. Non-Goin’ Band students interested in auditioning for Court Jesters must schedule a separate audition at the start of the fall semester. Please contact the Goin' Band office via email to schedule an audition.