Drumline Information

The Western Thunder Drumline consists of marching snare drum, tenors (5 drum), bass drums, and cymbals. Students need to complete an audition so that we can place you on the instrument that fits you and the line best.  All new members are encouraged to audition on multiple instruments and indicate which instrument is your first and second choice.  You will do this on our registration form and will need to create a new entry for each audition you submit.  For example, if you wish to audition for snare and bass drum, you will complete the form twice indicating which instrument you are submitting the audition for and pasting the link to that audition.

The drumline audition packet contains all the audition material you will need to submit a video.  Once we select the drumline, all members will be given the full drumline packet which includes full exercises, cadences, and short drum cheers.  The audition will consist of the following provided criteria which differs for each instrument.

2026 Drumline Audition Packet

Audition Information

Students are encouraged to audition on multiple instruments so that they can be considered for membership in the drumline. For example: someone auditioning for snare drum could score too low to earn a spot in that section but would score high enough on a bass drum or cymbal audition to march one of those instruments. 

 

Snares & Tenors

*Tenors: Play the around patterns on a set of drums or tenor pad if possible

8th Accent Tap (7531) - 140bpm

Triplet Diddle (1 rep with buzzes, 1 rep with open diddles) - 160bpm

Flams - 116bpm

Bass Drum & Cymbals

8th Accent Tap (7531 A to C) - 140bpm

16th Grid - 108bpm

Bass Drums: As written

Cymbals: play only the accent pattern with cymbal taps

Bass Drums ONLY: Triplet Diddle (1 rep with buzzes, 1 rep with open diddles) - 160bpm

 

Please do your best to complete the audition on a drum or cymbals.  If you do not have access to a drum or cymbals, you can play it on a drum pad. You might consider recording your audition before you lose access to your high school's drumline equipment.

Drumline Audition Demonstrations

Cymbals

Snare

Tenor

Bass 

Questions?

Reach out here to Drumline Captain, Brock Huntington:

email