Online Recruitment Brochure

Joining Us

Membership

Each year the Cal Band welcomes new members (or newmen). The majority of members in our newmen classes are first year students at Cal; however, these newmen can be any Cal student, new or old, or students from the Fall Extension Program who will officially enter the University in the spring of the same academic year. You may want to check our Perspectives page to see some of the variety in our members. Newmen may or may not have prior marching band experience, and, due to our Band's distinctive "high-step" style, which is unlike that of most high schools or drum corps, many of our members find it helpful to have never marched before.

Instrumentation in the Band includes the following:

Each of these sections has their own traditions, which you can learn about from their respective websites, maintained by members of the sections. You can find these websites on our links page. The Cal Band does not have a color guard or drill team but encourages anyone with musical experience to apply. Often newmen can be trained on a secondary instrument if their primary instrument is not used within the Band.

Music Audition

Check out the audition music if you're ready.

Go Bears! The purpose of the musical audition for the Cal Band is to demonstrate a necessary level of musical ability. The standards for musical ability vary from year to year depending on the level of talent among our prospective members. While the performance standards for the Band are high, they are by no means unattainable to any musician with a basic understanding of music. Perspective members are encouraged to audition in person whenever possible. However, those musicians living out of state may send in their auditions by tape.

What to expect for woodwinds and brass:
  • Sight reading exercises
  • 2-3 major scales and a chromatic scale from the lowest note to the highest note of your ability, ascending and descending
  • One prepared piece no longer than three minutes in length (optional)
For percussion instruments (drums, cymbals, glockenspiel), the audition differs slightly. Percussionists should be prepared to perform the following:
  • The rudiments and exercises that the Band provides
  • The Cal songs that the Band provides
  • Applicants with experience on the piano or another instrument may consider playing either cymbals or glockenspiel.

These auditions may sound intimidating to some, but there are currently around 200 members in the band who have successfully completed them.

Where and When:
Our director Auditions are typically held in the spring before joining or over the summer if you live close to Berkeley. It is also possible to audition in the days leading up to check-in for the Fall Training Program. If you would like to audition by tape, please include the expectations listed above for your instrument. For more information please contact our recruiting coordinator by filling out our Interest Form or by e-mailing our public relations director at calband-prd@lists.berkeley.edu.
The Cal Band wants YOU!

Would you like more information?

If you want to find out more about joining the University of California Marching Band, please fill out the interest form. A Cal Band student recruiter will contact you shortly. Recruits can fill out Big Bear/Little Bear forms here.

Thank you for your interest in the Cal Band. See you at practice!

GO BEARS!