Summer Sessions | The Ohio State University Marching and Athletic Bands

Summer Session registration will open in May!

Summer Sessions take place from 6:30-9 p.m. at Lincoln Tower Field south of Ohio Stadium. For Week One and Week Two, sessions will begin at the Steinbrenner Band Center located between Gates 10 and 12 of Ohio Stadium.

Students who play percussion instruments will find useful information, including sheet music, on the drumline's website. The drumline will typically meet for a sectional before Summer Sessions begin each day at 5 p.m. For the first Summer Session on June 6, the drumline will NOT hold a sectional.

For the fifth consecutive year, There will also be a virtual component for students unable to attend or uncomfortable with attending in person. The virtual component of 2024 Summer Sessions will be held on Google Classroom. Downloading the Google Classroom app (Apple Store, Google Play store) is recommended as well.

Our virtual component for 2024 is intended to be asynchronous with the in-person element for students who cannot be in Columbus. The virtual component will contain information on fundamentals and allow students to communicate with others who are auditioning as well as members of our student leadership. More information on the content of our Summer Sessions virtual component for 2024 will be forthcoming.

Summer 2024 Schedule
Focus Weeks
Instrument Check-Out
Parking
Out-of-State or Unable to Attend
Incoming Freshmen
Tryouts
Preparing for Summer Sessions
Sheet Music

Summer Sessions are optional practices that take place in June, July, and August and help both prospective and returning candidates prepare for tryouts. Summer Sessions provide instruction in marching and music fundamentals in a fun, informal setting. They are open to all high school students, Ohio State students and students enrolled at a member college or university of the Higher Education Council of Columbus. A one-time advance registration is required for all students who wish to participate in Summer Sessions. Summer Session registration will open in May!

While a syllabus of fundamentals will be followed during the summer, missing a rehearsal will not put you behind. Squad leaders and veteran marching band members can help you with whatever fundamentals you may have missed. While Summer Sessions can be very beneficial in learning our fundamentals, we like to stress that attendance at Summer Sessions is not factored into the audition scoring process.

Summer 2024 Schedule

Summer Sessions will begin on June 4 and run from 6:30-9 p.m. at Lincoln Tower Field south of Ohio Stadium. For Week One and Week Two, sessions will begin at the Steinbrenner Band Center located between Gates 10 and 12 of Ohio Stadium.

2024 Summer Session Schedule (subject to change)
June: 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, 27
July: 2, 9*,10*, 11*, 16, 18, 23, 24, 30*, 31*
August: 1*, 5, 6, 7

*-Denotes Focus Week

Detailed Schedule

Week One (Sessions for Week One will begin inside at the Steinbrenner Band Center)
June 4: In-place movements (attention, directional facings, chair step, horns up, horns down, posture)
June 6: Mark time, mark time drill, arm swing, 8-to-5, marching and playing

Week Two (Sessions for Week Two will begin inside at the Steinbrenner Band Center)
June 11: Flanks, flashes, step-forward about face, box drill
June 13: Regular TTR, box TTR, countdown drill

Week Three
June 18: Backwards marching, slide TTR
June 20: Lateral slides, backward lateral slides, horn slides
"Fight the Team" memorized

Week Four
June 25: 6-to-5, adjusted step, backward adjusted step, slow turn
Short "Beautiful Ohio" memorized (m. 13, optional cut to m. 61)
June 27: Obliques, side-steps/step-sides, up-step-turn, bow-tie drill

Week Five
July 2: Review fundamentals (weeks 1-2)

Week Six (Focus Week 1)

July 9: Review fundamentals (weeks 1-2)

July 10:Review fundamentals
July 11: Review fundamentals (weeks 3-4)

Week Seven
July 16: Hang on Sloopy, review fundamentals
"Hang on Sloopy" memorized
July 18: Hats off, step kicks, Hang on Sloopy review

Week Eight
July 23: Review fundamentals (weeks 1-3)
July 24: Review fundamentals (weeks 4, 6-7)

Week Nine (focus week 2)
July 30: Review fundamentals
"Down by the Ohio" memorized - Tryout Song

July 31: Review fundamentals

August 1: Review fundamentals

Week Ten

August 5: Review fundamentals

August 6-7: Mock tryouts

Focus Weeks

Two weeks of Summer Sessions will be designated as "Focus Weeks," which will provide a review of music and marching fundamentals covered to that point over three rehearsals. If you're an out-of-state student or simply unavailable to attend as many Summer Sessions as you'd like, these Focus Weeks are specifically designed to bring you up to speed over a short period of time. The first Focus Week will be July 9-11, and the second will be July 30-August 1. We unfortunately are not able to provide housing during Focus Weeks.

Instrument Check-Out

For those registered for auditions in August 2024: After agreeing to our instrument policies, brass players can sign out an instrument (and mouthpiece if necessary) to keep through the end of tryouts. Due to high demand, sousaphone and percussion players can only check out instruments on a per-session basis against some form of collateral (e.g. state-issued identification, car keys); however, after attending four consecutive Summer Session rehearsals, they may check out an instrument via a bond card for the remainder of the summer through tryouts.

For those not registered for auditions in August 2024: High school students who are not eligible to try out in August can sign out an instrument and a mouthpiece on a per-session basis against some form of collateral (e.g. state-issued identification, car keys).

Parking

If you wish to park on campus while attending Summer Sessions, there are a few options. All on-campus parking requires payment.

You may also park in the surface lots around Ohio Stadium. There are pay-by-plate machines that will allow you to pay for a certain amount of time, or you can use the Parkmobile app. If you use the app, please be sure to enter the correct zone number. The West Stadium Lot is 69344, the Northeast Stadium Lot is 69323, the Southeast Stadium Lot is 69331 and the Midtower Lot is 69322. Zone numbers are also posted by lot entrances.

If you plan on attending multiple sessions, you might want to consider getting a visitor permit or, if you are an Ohio State affiliate, a campus pass.

After 4 p.m., any campus pass holder (including West Campus passes) can park in a non-reserved central campus parking space in surface lots.

The Ohio State Marching and Athletic Bands is not responsible for any parking citations or fines incurred.

Out-of-State or Unable To Attend

Don’t worry about being left behind! Our veteran marching band members will help get you caught up on the fundamentals taught throughout the summer. This summer, we are offering two Focus Weeks (July 2-3 and July 23-24) that each will provide a review of music and marching fundamentals, so you can catch up without having to attend sessions over multiple weeks. Get in touch with us at osumb@osu.edu to let us know how we can best help you.

Our virtual Summer Sessions, returning in 2024, are also a tremendous opportunity to learn our marching and playing style from anywhere in the world. You can also upload a video of yourself marching to YouTube and our squad leaders will review it and give you feedback.

Incoming First-Year Students*

As an incoming first-year student, you may attend Summer Sessions during your summer orientation! Check the schedule and see if there are any sessions during your time on campus. Often, students will schedule a Wednesday/Thursday orientation to be able to attend Summer Sessions on Tuesday and Thursday evenings.

Tryouts

Tryouts will be held on August 11-12, with Candidate Days on August 9-10 being required for all who have not been members of The Ohio State University Marching Band before. Tryout registration is now open!

Preparing for Summer Sessions

Drinking 8-12 ounces of water four hours before the beginning of practice, then again two hours before practice. During practice, drink fluids early and as often as thirst and common sense drive. Sports drinks might be helpful for heavy sweat situations.
Eat healthy carbohydrates and foods with lean protein in the meals before practice (e.g. turkey sandwich on whole grain, quinoa with chicken, chicken marsala). Fruit is always a performance food for the carbs and electrolytes as you get closer to start time. Pretzels or similar low fat chips can help with fueling and hydration.
Wear comfortable athletic clothing and good athletic shoes.
Warm-up before marching by stretching.
Be familiar with musical scales.
Start becoming familiar with our school songs (Across the Field, Buckeye Battle Cry, etc.).