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.
Full Time Students attending area Colleges or Universities are Welcome to audition!
Non-GVSU students who are attending at area colleges/universities full-time can audition for the Laker Marching Band but will have to complete the Guest Application to GVSU and be admitted by GVSU. Guest Students who are Returners in the Laker Marching Band have to complete the Guest Application to GVSU but do not have to re-audition. The course number for the GVSU Marching Band is MUS 107 Section 01.
MUS 107 is a one (1) credit course, and the cost can be found on the Tuition and Fees page of the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships.
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