How hard is it to make a DCI trumpet section?

[BandG33k73]

Mainly i was wondering how hard is it to make a dci trumpet section? Mainly the blue devils and carolina crown is what I was wondering about, how would I know when I'm ready to audition? I'm currently a sophomore in high school.

[takigan]

I knew a guy who made 6A All-State on euphonium, was a member of a state-ranked Texas HS marching band, but was turned down from a Top 7 drum corps because they figured he didn't "fit in".  I know another guy who didn't even play Euphonium as a primary instrument (Woodwind player) who was accepted into the same corps during roughly the same time period.   Corps aren't necessarily looking for the best players or marchers...they're looking for people who they predict will provide the greatest long term benefit to the corps.  The hotshot who spent all his time in a different corps but decides he wants to age-out with Blue Devils may get turned down in favor of a promising rookie who could become a stronger asset to the corps than the hotshot due to his likelihood to commit several years to Blue Devils and thus be a greater investment in the long run. Or they might pick the hotshot because he's too amazing to pass up.  You Never Know.

So it's really hard to say.  I will say you shouldn't be afraid to audition.  You're only a sophomore, but you have to remember you're from Texas.  You're going to be a stronger player than many similarly-aged HS musicians from other states purely due to the opportunities you had in your musical development, including elementary music programs (which are uncommon outside of Texas) and in your beginner band program, where I imagine you were taught in a homogenous setting where all the other kids in your class were also Trumpet players--an aspect also uncommon outside of Texas.  Most beginner classes in other states involve a heterogeneous class with all instruments (Oboe, Flute, Tuba etc.) being taught in one big beginner class at the same time by one teacher....which means you learn more slowly than in a homogenous setting because the teacher has to teach all the different fingerings.  In some communities, beginner band meets only once a week (sort of like elementary school music).....so rest assured as a Trumpet player in a varsity group from a Texas school, you're going to have some advantages over many of the HS musicians there.

Also don't be afraid to learn Baritone or Mellophone.  I think you'll find the switch to be not that difficult, and the level of competition much less stiff.

[BandG33k73]

I'm actually in a school that doesn't do that, but my old school (Holliday) had us in instrument classes at the beginning for a year, although I am then 4th chair in my band I found that when we played halftime with the Azle band their higher chair trumpets were much better than me. I feel like I have a good tone but my range only goes up to a high C regularly and occasionally a double C. But I find its generally rhythms that trip me up, is an I a good trumpet player for that?

[Sorge]

For a corps like Crown or BD, incredibly tough. You're still a sophomore, so you've got a few more years to improve; and you seem like you're doing pretty good already.  Not discouraging you from trying, of course, but making any top 12 corps (and even non-finalists can be very hard) is no walk in the park.