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The Army Band Program is open to talented musicians, male or female, who are qualified to enlist in the Army and can pass a prearranged audition. But more importantly, the program is for anyone who has a passion for his/her instrument and a love for playing and performing music.

Once you are accepted into the Army Band Program, you will be required to complete nine weeks of Basic Combat Training (BCT) — just like any other recruit joining the Army — where you will learn the fundamentals of being a Soldier.

But, after BCT, you'll get down to 24 weeks of serious musical study — Advanced Individual Training (AIT) — at the School of Music in Norfolk, VA. Once you've completed AIT, you'll then be assigned to a band and will begin doing what you love -- practicing, playing and performing.

The first step to joining the Army Band Program is the audition. When and where this takes place will be worked out with your Recruiter, the auditioner and you. Below is what is expected from you at the audition. The main interest is in your sight-reading ability and demonstrated musicianship, i.e. tone, technique, rhythm and intonation.

It's more than an audition. It's the first step in shaping your musical career.

Prepared selection: grade four or higher (40%)
Major scales: arpeggios, two octaves where possible,
memorized (10%)
Sight read: marches and concert/jazz band literature (50%)

Two prepared snare drum selections (one rudimental and one concert solo), grade four or higher
Rudiments on snare from the standard 26 rudiments, memorized
Major scales on a mallet up to one sharp and one flat,
two octaves, memorized
Demonstrate the following idioms on drum set: swing, rock,
funk and multiple Latin styles
Sight read representative literature on snare drum, drum set and mallet instrument
Snare (50%), Drum Set (40%), Mallet (10%)

Prepared selection from each of the following: swing, pop/rock, ballad and Latin (40%)
Major scales with arpeggios, two octaves, memorized. Starting on the 1st, 2nd and 4th fingers (10%)
Demonstrate the following chords:
Maj 7, Min 7, Dom 7, Min 7 Flat 5
Sight read representative literature, bass lines (bass only), chord changes and the ii-V7-I progression (guitar only) (50%)

Prepared selection from each of the following: swing, pop/rock, ballad and Latin and classical (optional) (40%)
Major scales with arpeggios, three octaves, memorized, both hands (10%)
Demonstrate the following chords: Maj 7, Min 7, Dom 7, and the ii-V7-I chord progression
Sight read representative literature and chord changes (50%)