Audition/Placement Assessment

The Vanderbilt Athletic Bands accept all persons willing to put in the effort to make the band successful. The purpose of the Placement Assessment is to make sure everyone is placed in a role that allows for success without undue stress. The Athletic Bands move quickly, and we understand that our members are students. Every year, we have members who have never marched before and quickly become valuable members.

Submit Placement Assessment

Spirit of Gold Marching Band

Woodwinds & Brass

Woodwind & Brass players should submit a video (cell phone works well) of themselves playing the following...
The 2026 requirements are being updated!
Check back soon!
Each component may be a separate video, so attempt as many takes as you need to produce your best work.
Upload the videos to your favorite platform (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) and submit links to your video(s) using the link above.
The deadline to submit Placement Assessments for the 2026 Spirit of Gold is August 1^st, 2026.
If you do not have an instrument available to you, please contact Dr. Morin and we will work out alternate arrangements.
Those who do not submit a recording will be placed in an alternate role until the Placement Assessment is complete.
* If you are a returning member of the Spirit of Gold, you do not need to submit a placement assessment.
** You may use a flute if a piccolo is unavailable, a horn if a mellophone is unavailable, or a tuba if a sousaphone is unavailable.
Drumline

The 2026 requirements are being updated!
Check back soon!
*Remember, everyone who puts in the effort to be on the drumline makes the line. The Placement Assessments are used to determine specific part assignments (snare, tenor, bass, cymbals).
Colorguard

The Spirit of Gold Guard will hold placement assessments at the start of band camp. Contact us here to request more information and materials.
Twirlers

Learn more about the Spirit of Gold Twirler audition process here.

Anchor of Sound Basketball Band

Woodwinds, Brass, Guitar, Bass, & Keyboard
Woodwind & Brass players should submit a video (cell phone works well) of yourself playing the following...
- 2 Scales (of your choosing)
- 1 Chromatic Scale (demonstrating your full range)
- "Dynamite" (at 144bpm) sheet music available here
Each component may be a separate video, so attempt as many takes as you need to produce your best work.
Upload the videos to your favorite platform (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) and submit links to your video(s) using the link above.
The deadline to submit Placement Assessments for the 2025 Anchor of Sound is October 29th, 2025.
If you do not have an instrument available to you, please contact Dr. Morin and we will work out alternate arrangements.
Those who do not submit a recording will be placed in an alternate role until the Placement Assessment is complete.
* If you are a returning woodwind or brass member of the Anchor of Sound, you do not need to submit a placement assessment.
** If you are a new member of the Anchor of Sound and are a current member of the Spirit of Gold, you do not need to submit a placement assessment unless you are playing a different instrument in each ensemble.
*** You may use a flute if a piccolo is unavailable, a horn if a mellophone is unavailable, or a tuba if a sousaphone is unavailable.
**** Guitar, Bass Guitar, and Keyboard applicants do not need to submit the Chromatic Scale.
Drum Kit
ALL Drum Kit players should submit a video (cell phone works well) of yourself playing the following...
- Play a groove (8 measures of 4/4) in the following styles sheet music available here
  - Rock
  - Pop/Dance
  - Hip-Hop or Rap
  - Funk
- "Thnks Fr Th Mmrs" sheet music available here
Each component may be a separate video, so attempt as many takes as you need to produce your best work.
Upload the videos to your favorite platform (YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.) and submit links to your video(s) using the link above.
The deadline to submit Placement Assessments for the 2025 Anchor of Sound is October 29th, 2025.
If you do not have an instrument available to you, please contact Clark Hubbard and we will work out alternate arrangements.
Those who do not submit a recording will be placed in an alternate role until the Placement Assessment is complete.

Dore Slam Drumline

Snare, Tenor, Bass, & Cymbals

Attend the in-person Part Placement Session.
During the Part Placement Session, you will play through various exercises and cadences as an ensemble. Members may be moved around to different instruments throughout the session to find the best fit for each member of the ensemble.
This in-person session is typically held in November-December.