The UWA Band Program is dedicated to creating rewarding musical performances at concerts and athletic events through our numerous ensembles.
Prospective Members
Are you thinking about joining the UWA Band Program? Click on the link below and fill out our potential member information form. One of our staff members will be in contact with you shortly about how you can be part of our program!
All members of the West Alabama Marching Band receive a scholarship! Additional scholarship money is available for those who perform with UWA concert ensembles in the fall and/or spring, Side Court Pep Band and the LU Jazz Band. Auditions for placement into concert ensembles occur prior to the beginning of each semester. Auditions for LU Jazz occur prior to the beginning of the spring semester.
Audition Eligibility
All candidates must be accepted to the University of West Alabama prior to auditioning. If a candidate has not applied, they should do so immediately. Note that candidates’ acceptance to UWA will be verified prior to the audition. A candidate who is a current UWA student must have an overall GPA of at least 2.0. All candidates should be aware that band camp dates are mandatory upon their selection into the organization.
Prospective Woodwind/Brass
Scheduling an in-person audition or submitting a video audition for UWA Athletics Bands can be completed using the link below.
A woodwind/brass audition consists of:
- Three major scales of your choice
- Chromatic scale from lowest to highest of your comfortable range
- A 60-90 second etude or solo that you have prepared on your instrument (all-state etude is acceptable)
Prospective Auxiliary Members
Candidate Checklist
- Incoming Students: Acceptance Letter — Turnaround time is typically 3 weeks (Email to Director/Assistant Director)
- Current Students: Transcript (Email to Director/Assistant Director)
- Audition Application (with solo music mp3/wav file attached for approval; the attached file should be cut to the exact start and stop points of your routine.)
Audition Prep Clinic
Optional (but highly recommended) audition clinics will occur a few days before auditions.
At the clinics, auditionees will be taught the group routine that will be performed at auditions. Videos will also be available for those who cannot attend. Additionally, auditionees will have the opportunity to ask questions, clarify technique on required fundamentals, receive audition tips, and more.
Clinic Times
May 17, 2025 — 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
May 19, 2025 — 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Clinic Location
Hughes Gymnasium on the campus of The University of West Alabama
Clinic Attire
As long as choices are appropriate, participants may attend in any attire they see fit
Audition Schedule/Format
Candidates will select a time block during the week of May 19th-24th that works best for them to complete their in-person audition. At auditions, auditionees will perform the required basics, the group routine, and their prepared solo routine.
*Candidates may choose to schedule their audition at the same time as other auditionees.
Audition Times
Monday, May 19
- 12:00pm
- 2:00pm
- 4:00pm
Tuesday, May 20
- 10:00am
- 12:00pm
- 2:00pm
- 4:00pm
Wednesday, May 21
- 10:00am
- 12:00pm
- 2:00pm
- 4:00pm
Thursday, May 22
- 10:00am
- 12:00pm
- 2:00pm
- 4:00pm
Friday, May 23
- 10:00am
- 12:00pm
- 2:00pm
- 4:00pm
Saturday, May 24
- 10:00am
- 12:00pm
- 2:00pm
- 4:00pm
Order of Events
- Basic Skills
- Group Routine — taught at clinics or by video
- Individual Solo Routines
- Flag Line: 60-second minimum/90-second maximum time limit
- Majorettes: 90-second minimum/120-second maximum time limit
Audition Attire
- Black leotard (with black shorts over if you prefer)
- Neutral face, red lip
- Closed-toed jazz shoes
- “Half-up, half-down” hair
- Skin-tone tights (your skin tone)
- No jewelry
Audition Eligibility
All candidates must be accepted to the University of West Alabama prior to the audition. If a candidate has not applied, they should do so immediately. Applications can be completed online at https://uwa.elluciancrmrecruit.com/Apply/Account/Create. Note that candidates’ acceptance to UWA will be verified prior to the audition. A candidate who is a current UWA student must have an overall GPA of at least 2.0. All candidates should be aware that band camp dates are mandatory upon their selection into the organization. The dates for band camp are August 5-18.
| Majorette Basics Click the link above for video examples | Color Guard Basics Click the link above for video examples |
|---|---|
| One Baton – Little Joes – Vertical Finger Twirls (Left/Right) – Horizontal Finger Twirls (Left/Right) – Figure 8’s (Vertical) – Horizontal Toss – Horizontal One Turn – One Turn – Two Turn – Elbow Roll Extended – 1 to 2 (Vertical and Horizontal) – Illusion – Toss Illusion – Back Catch – Toss Bow – Jazz Bow Two Baton – Toss Two Hand Spin – Toss Pass Pass – Toss Pass Over Both Shoulders – Toss Taffy Pull – Horizontal/Vertical Toss Other – Skater Spin – Fan Kick (Right and Left) – Split Leap (Toss) – Pas de Bourree | – Drop Spins – Stirs – Butterfly – Extensions – Angel – Pull hits – Ballerina – Brush Toss – Single 45 Toss – Horizontal Toss |
Prospective Drumline/Front Ensemble Members
Audition Registration
The due date for registering to attend the 2024 Drumline/Front Ensemble Audition is June 20th.
What to Bring
- At least one pair of sticks for the drumline/front ensemble section for which you intend to audition
- Water bottle
- Sunscreen
Tentative Schedule
TBA
Housing Information
Details on housing and meals will be provided soon, but there will be no cost for the auditionee.
Frequently Asked Questions
We currently offer four ensembles.
The UWA Wind Ensemble is made up of woodwinds, brass, and percussion and meets during the fall and spring semesters.
The West Alabama Marching Band (WAMB) performs at all UWA home football games, and travels as a full band to one away game per year. There are additional opportunities for a smaller group to travel to other away games. This ensemble is made up of woodwinds, brass, battery percussion, front ensemble, and auxiliaries (majorettes, color guard).
Side Court Pep Band performs at all UWA men’s and women’s home basketball games. The group may also travel for tournament appearances. In March 2023, Side Court traveled to Fort Lauderdale, Florida for the Men’s NCAA D2 Basketball Tournament!
LU Jazz Band is a standard big band style jazz ensemble made up of saxophones, trombones, trumpets, and rhythm section. This ensemble meets in the spring semester and performs jazz standards as well as contemporary repertoire.
The baseline scholarship for each member of the UWA Band Program (auxiliary included) is $1,500.00.
Members of the UWA Band Program will receive higher awards by:
- Audition quality
- All-State selection
- Participating in other ensembles (wind ensemble, jazz band, Side Court Pep Band)
- Being selected for the leadership team
Sure! All members of the UWA Band Program receive a band scholarship. As we mentioned previously, those vary depending on a number of factors. This fall, we had incoming freshman band scholarships ranging from $1500 per year (only participating in one ensemble) to $4000 per year (participating in all ensembles). We also have some upperclassmen receiving $5000 in band scholarship money per year.
Many of our band students also receive academic scholarships based on their high school/community college GPA or standardized test scores. Additionally, a number of our students receive Trustee Leadership Awards for their involvement in their school or community. You can find more information about those and other scholarships here.
Below are a few examples of scholarship packages. Keep in mind that many of our students also receive Pell Grants (62% of UWA students over the past 6 years) and private scholarship awards from outside UWA. Those help to grow your total scholarship/award package!
Example 1
28 ACT – $5000 per year academic scholarship
SGA Officer – $2500 per year Trustee Leadership Award
Excellent audition and participation in WAMB, UWA Wind Ensemble, and Side Court Pep Band – $4000 per year UWA Bands Scholarship
Total award per year from UWA scholarships – $11,500 (over half of the total cost per year for a freshman to attend UWA, including housing and meals!)
Example 2
3.48 High School GPA – $3000 per year academic scholarship
Club President – $2500 Trustee Leadership Award
Average audition and participation in WAMB only – $1500-$2000 per year UWA Bands Scholarship
Total award per year from UWA Scholarships – $7000-$7500
Example 3
3.76 GPA – $4000 per year academic scholarship
Qualified for Trustee Leadership Scholarship – $2500
Excellent audition for color guard – $2000 per year UWA Bands scholarship
Total award per year from UWA Scholarships – $8500
These are examples of scholarship packages for some of our current band students. If you qualify for and receive Pell Grant money, it will add to your total award package. Academic and other scholarships must be applied for, and band scholarships are received through an audition. Band scholarships can increase each year as the student improves their ability.
Indoor rehearsals are currently located in the Student Union Building. Outdoor rehearsals are currently located on the intramural football fields.
Requirements for wind instruments are as follows:
- Video or in-person audition
- Three major scales of your choice
- Chromatic scale from your lowest comfortable to your highest comfortable range
- A 60-90 second solo or etude that you have prepared (one can be provided upon request)
Requirements for percussion are as follows:
- Percussion auditions depend on the ensembles in which you would like to perform
- Drumline audition clinics and camps occur on campus in the spring/summer to determine WAMB Battery and Front Ensemble personnel
- Wind ensemble percussion placement requires an in-person audition on snare/timpani/mallet etudes prepared in advance by the student
- Jazz Band/Pep Band drum set placement requires an in-person audition on drum set
Being a part of the UWA Band Program doesn’t cost anything!
- No participation/rental fees
- High quality equipment available (instruments, mutes, etc.)
- WAMB/Side Court uniforms provided (auxiliaries included)
- Additional gear provided to ALL WAMB members:
- WAMB dri-fit shirts, shorts/skorts, backpacks, caps.
Current Members
Alumni Members
Alumni are an essential part of our history, and the West Alabama Marching Band staff invites you to stay connected with your band community in Livingston by joining our Alumni Band database. By becoming a part of this database, you play a pivotal role in strengthening the sense of community among our alumni. This collection helps in documenting our band’s history and keeping you informed about the latest developments, upcoming alumni band events, and opportunities to support and connect with current students.
Concert Program Archive
- UWA Wind Ensemble Concert | April 25, 2023 | 7:00 p.m. | UWA Auditorium
- UWA Wind Ensemble Concert | October 17th, 2023 | 7:00 p.m. | UWA Auditorium
- UWA Wind Ensemble and UWA Choral Union Concert | November 28th, 2023 | 7:00 PM | UWA Auditorium
- UWA Wind Ensemble | February 20th, 2024 | 7:00 PM | UWA Auditorium
- UWA Wind Ensemble | 2024 Concert Honor Band | April 5th, 2024 | 11:00 a.m. | UWA Auditorium
- UWA Wind Ensemble and UWA Choral Union Concert | April 23rd, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. | UWA Auditorium
- UWA Wind Ensemble Winter Concert | December 4th, 2024 | 7:00 p.m. | UWA Auditorium
UWA Bands Contacts
Dr. Tyler Strickland
Director of Bands
UWA Station 16
Livingston, Al 35470
(205) 652-5475 (call or text)
tstrickland@uwa.edu
Ms. Brianna Jarvis
Assistant Director
UWA Station 16
Livingston, AL 35470
(205) 652-5412
bjarvis@uwa.edu