Hey I'm a trumpet player and I'm planning to join FSU's band when I graduate in a couple years. Did you join FSU's band as soon as you graduated or did you need a gap year to get to their level? Just curious :)
I joined the year I graduated, and most people I know did that. Most people who audition make it fully, and alternates are basically full members who alternate between marching pregame and halftime. If you give it your best shot, you’re more than likely to make it. Half of the audition is visual, which is taught during the audition process so the best way to learn the technique is to audition. Honestly taking a gap year would have just made me worse at trumpet because I wouldn’t have an incentive to practice, so the best advice I can give is to audition as soon as you can. Good luck!!
Sorry about the hamstring. Last year I was playing an archaic wind instrument in a parade at the local Renaissance Faire, and took a wrong step or something on the rough terrain, and my left calf screamed bloody murder. After trying to continue to walk in step for another hundred feet or so, I had to drop out of the parade and get off my feet pronto. So you have my admiration for continuing while injured.
