HMB e-News

The Drum Major Squad

The first step in maintaining a unique band tradition

With the football season over, the attention of the staff and students now turns to the selection of next year’s student leaders, as some hopeful Husky Band members gear up for the spring quarter drum major auditions.

All members of the Husky Band, no matter what instrument they play, must audition. However, unless you have ever gone through the process of trying out for drum major, you may not realize the immense amount of preparation that goes into auditioning for this unique position.

While many college drum major positions have evolved into primarily conducting from the sideline, to be drum major of the Husky Band means that you must be more than a confident conductor.  You must also demonstrate a high degree of showmanship while mastering the traditional 38-inch signal baton as well as the smaller “mini-mace.”  All of these requirements, as well as being a confident student-leader on and off the field, present an enormous challenge to the students who try out for the coveted position.

To help candidates develop the necessary skills in the months leading up to try-outs, the band started the “Drum Major Squad.” The DM Squad begins working out in the fall, after marching band rehearsals. The squad consists of all current members who are considering trying out for the DM position in the spring. For the past few years it has been the responsibility of the current drum majors to run the squad and to teach the necessary skills to the drum major recruits. However, this process took more and more time away from the current drum majors, who may be planning to try out for the position as well. We turned the organization of the squad and the management of the workout sessions to former HMB Drum Major John Aguilar. John served as DM for the 2013-2015 seasons and was also a drum major for the Seattle All-City Marching Band, under the tutelage of another former HMB drum major, Marcus Pimpleton ’02. This exciting enhancement to the Husky Band’s drum major candidate development program is just another step towards ensuring that the tradition of excellence and showmanship—and the leadership qualities that have become synonymous with the position—continue to remain at a high level every season for years to come.