{"id":41,"date":"2014-07-19T13:57:44","date_gmt":"2014-07-19T18:57:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band-dev\/?page_id=41"},"modified":"2026-04-09T13:47:36","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T17:47:36","slug":"percussion","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/percussion\/","title":{"rendered":"MT Herdbeats"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Marshall University Marching Thunder Percussion \u201cHerdBeats\u201d<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

HerdBeats is the The Marching Thunder Percussion section, which consists of the battery, front auxiliary ensemble, and electronic section. Membership is open to any student regardless of major and auditions for all percussion sections membership (snare, tenors, bass drum, cymbals, & front enesemble) are held in the spring each year.<\/p>\n \n \n \n \n

\n 2026 Clinics and Auditions\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
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We are excited about this year’s clinics and auditions. The Herdbeats line will be bigger and better in 2026! Our clinics are open to ALL Marshall students, as well as any high school student wishing to better themselves and\/or have a desire to be a member of the Marching Thunder drum line or front ensemble! The clinics will be from 9am – 3pm<\/strong> and students should plan to arrive no later than 8:45 to help with set up of equipment.<\/p>\n

Spring Clinics Days<\/strong><\/p>\n

Our MT HerdBeats percussion clinics for battery percussion are available to any high school student who is interesting in learning more about the fundamentals and rudiments of battery percussion performance. These clinics are free to whoever would like to attend and will take place at the Henderson Center Marching Thunder facilities:<\/p>\n

April 25th
\nMay 16th<\/p>\n

If you are still interested in joining the percussion section next fall, please check out the audition information below. We look forward to having you all there!<\/p>\n

Auditions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Auditions for all percussion sections are open to all Marshall University students. Audition for the front ensemble are new this year, and we recommend coming to the clinics to help developing techniques and learning music, especially for those who wish to audition. All new and returning students are more than welcome to audition for any section. The line will be decided after the second audition date (June 13th). The auditions will take place on the following dates from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Henderson Center Marching Thunder facilities:<\/p>\n

May 3oth & June 13th<\/strong><\/p>\n

More detailed information can be found in the “Fall 2026 Audition Information” section below.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n

\n Fall 2026 Audition Information\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
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Students wishing to audition for the percussion section should come to all auditions prepared with necessary materials. We recommend that prospective members come with a binder with sheet-protectors that has the audition music and technique packet, an instrument and\/or drum pad, appropriate sticks and mallets, pencil, water- bottle, sunscreen, and appropriate mask. If a student has any questions, they can contact Dr. Schletter<\/a> or the percussion staff.<\/p>\n

How to audition for the Marching Thunder drum line:<\/strong><\/p>\n

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  1. Register for the fall 2026 Band Camp here<\/a>!<\/li>\n
  2. The password to the audition material is provided in the camp registration submission message.<\/li>\n
  3. Go to the audition material site here.<\/a><\/li>\n
  4. Practice.<\/li>\n
  5. Attend spring and summer clinics\/auditions.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Additional Audition Considerations:<\/strong>
    \nSeveral aspects of the candidate are considered during the audition process. Most obviously, the technical abilities of the individual are a primary consideration. However, there are several other qualities the staff and director consider during the audition and rehearsal process which are equally important. Some of these would include character<\/strong>, integrity<\/strong>, and attitude<\/strong>. Additionally, the candidate should demonstrate the ability to take and apply criticism for further personal growth and development<\/strong>, as well as the ability to work as part of a team<\/strong> in collaboration toward a common goal.<\/p>\n

    The Marching Thunder is a highly visible entity of Marshall University and we hold our member to a high musical and social standard.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n \n \n \n

    \n 2026 Percussion Leadership\n <\/div>\n\n \n \n <\/path>\n <\/svg>\n <\/span>\n <\/button>\n\n \n
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    TBA<\/p>\n\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n

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    Marshall University football vs. James Madison University (JMU) at Joan C. Edwards Stadium on the campus of Marshall University in Huntington, WV. November 8, 2025. (J. Alex Wilson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Marshall University Marching Thunder Percussion \u201cHerdBeats\u201d HerdBeats is the The Marching Thunder Percussion section, which consists of the battery, front auxiliary ensemble, and electronic section. Membership is open to any student regardless of major and auditions for all percussion sections membership (snare, tenors, bass drum, cymbals, & front enesemble) are held in the spring each<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":370,"featured_media":3292,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-41","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/370"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41"}],"version-history":[{"count":43,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3297,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/41\/revisions\/3297"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3292"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.marshall.edu\/band\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}