Drive

Honestly, the chances of beating a vet are slim, but still not impossible. I can rattle off about four or five people who have done it right now. That being said, if you can't march better, then at least try to drive harder. Don't let the vets out drive you. I remember one of my first on the lines, Colin was with me and he was literally roaring down the field (the man is seriously a beast). I almost fell over. I almost fell over the first time I heard someone screaming at tryouts. Try not to scream, just yell. its usually easier to have better drum control if you yell through a breath, otherwise your diaphragm is moving a lot which moves your chest which moves your drum.

Some of the best advice I ever got was to make the squad leaders and staff, when they walk into that room to select the band, believe that not having you will hurt the band. Remember, this is a band. We play TOGETHER. We also march while we play. We are not a park and play line. I promise you will have almost just as much drill as the rest of the band and twice as much black stuff on your music.

Train harder! Go out there everyday as if it were tryouts. We expect no less from any of you. Don't let other people beat you back from water breaks/ to block / whenever. Show us that you don't only just want to be here but you BELONG here.