Color Guard Auditions
Auditions - May 2, 2026
Auditions for the Fall 2026 Color Guard will take place:
Saturday, May 2, 2026
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Haas Center for Performing Arts, Room 1515 (Band Room)
- Submission deadline for the audition registration form: Friday, May 1, 2026 11:59 p.m.
- You must attend the entire time (9:00am-5:00pm).
- If any person auditioning for the Laker Marching Band is under the age of 18 on May 2, 2026, they are required to have a parent/guardian with them on campus during the listed audition time (9:00am-5:00pm).
- Those under the age of 18 who are unable to have a parent/guardian present during the listed audition time of 9:00am – 5:00pm can submit a video audition. Please email [email protected] for more information about the video audition option.
- All accepted members must register for MUS 107 (marching band). This is a one (1) credit class.
- All accepted members must attend the Summer Color Guard Camp on Saturday, July 11, 2026 (9:00am - 6:00pm).
Audition Process
- Submit the Color Guard Audition Registration form before the Saturday audition date.
- Review the Color Guard Audition Youtube Videos entitled, "Flag Warm Up 1, 2, 3, and 4" and the count-notes listed in the Audition Materials section below.
- The Flag Warm Up Videos 1, 2, 3 and 4 and the associated notes will prepare you to perform to Taylor Swift's "Out of the Woods" video that is linked in the Audition Materials section below.
- Mastery of technique and following the count-notes are keys to a successful audition.
- Auditions will also include learning a new routine and performing the routine in groups.
- Attention to learning concepts and technique with openness to critique and a positive work ethic are additional keys to a successful audition.
Audition Materials
(con't)
Verse 2 64 counts 8 sets of 8
Drop spins; move on ones
1st: plié
2nd: second position
3rd: plié
4th: second position
5th: lunge left, but leave flag centered
6th: second position
7th: lunge right, but leave flag centered
8th: second position
Chorus 2 32 counts
Repeat Chorus 1, this time in Second Position
Instrumental 8 counts
1 down of a drop spin
2 fish hook at tape
3 squeeze to continue spin to stop flag straight down, tape and bottom cheater (ready for pull hits)
4-8 hold
Bridge 64 counts
Use this sequence for each position: 1-2 pull hit, 3-4 hold, 5-6 pull hit, 7-8 hold, 1-8 continuous pull hits
1-16 Vertical
1-16 Angle
1-16 Flat
1-8 Vertical, Angle, Flat, Vertical prep for
1-4 toss to R Slam
5-8 hold
Chorus 3 & 4 Cone Exercise
1-32 Checkpoints on 1s and 5s
1-16 Checkpoints on Odds
1-8 Checkpoints on All counts
1-8 Smooth Cones
Counts/Notes
Flag Warm Up
Taylor Swift - "Out of the Woods"
Instrumental 16 counts
1-4 hold
5-8 slow up to right shoulder
1-8 drop spins in first position
Verse 1 64 counts, 8 sets of 8Drop spins; move feet on 1s
1st: lunge left
2nd: first position
3rd: lunge right
4th: first position
5th-8th: repeat
Chorus 1 32 counts
1-4 drop spins
5-8 double fast (down, flat, up, flat)
9-12 thumb flips (down, up, down, up), left arm palm down, out parallel to ground
13-16 flourish
1-16 repeat
Instrumental 8 counts
1-8 drop spins opening left foot to 2nd position on 1