This section provides answers to the frequently asked questions that current high school students may have about becoming a member of the UCLA Bruin Marching Band.

Do I have to be a full time UCLA student to be a member of the Bruin Marching Band?

Yes.

Do I have to be a Music Major to join the Band?

No, not at all. Music Majors generally account for only about 10% of the Bruin Marching Band. Actually, we almost always have more Engineering majors than Music Majors, and proudly represent over 40 different majors in the Band.

Do I have to audition to join the Band?

Yes. See “Join the Band” on the main page to follow the links to audition information for each section. All auditions for the Bruin Marching Band are accepted electronically, through a simple, straightforward process. Most people who audition are accepted, although placement in some sections is more competitive than others. Music Majors are automatically offered positions in the Band once they are admitted to the Department of Music.

When are rehearsals for the Bruin Marching Band?

Band Camp begins ten days before the start of classes for Fall Quarter. Once classes begin, the regular rehearsal schedule is Tuesdays 5-7pm, Thursdays 4-6pm, and Fridays 3-5pm. The Band will sometimes cancel Friday rehearsals later in the season if there is no home game the next day.

How many shows does the Band perform each fall?

The Band performs a new halftime show at every home football game during the Fall Quarter. At least two of these shows are usually quite demanding in terms of both music and marching. The Band also performs its traditional Pregame Show at every home football game once classes begin.

Do I have to be a member of the Bruin Marching Band to play in the pep band at basketball games and other events?

Yes. The Band learns most of the year’s music during the Fall marching season, and there are few rehearsals once football season is over. Every member of the Marching Band is automatically offered participation in the pep band, which performs at all Men’s and Women’s home basketball games, one event each for all of the “Olympic” Sports, and many other fun events throughout the year. With very few exceptions (post-season tournaments for example), all pep band events are open to everyone. The ability to participate in the pep band is one of the great perks of being a member of the Bruin Marching Band.

Is there a band at home games before Band Camp begins?

Yes. We put together a group of returning band members to perform at the games that occur before Band Camp starts. Every home game after Band Camp starts uses the full band.

Does the Band travel?

You bet it does! We travel to either the Cal or Stanford game each fall, and the Band has sent pep bands to football games at Texas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Miami, Washington, Illinois, Colorado, Ohio St, Tennessee, Arizona State, and Arizona. Pep bands have traveled all over the USA with the Men’s and Women’s basketball teams to NCAA Basketball Tournament games.

A group of 50 band members traveled to Hong Kong in 2006, and again 2008, to perform in that city’s Chinese New Year Night Parade. Fourteen members of the Drumline traveled to Nagoya, Japan in May 2010 to perform at the 27th Annual Ekitopia Festival, and in May 2016, 50 members performed at the Taoyuan International Band Festival in Taiwan. In May 2018, a 20-piece band returned to Nagoya to perform at the 35th Annual Ekitopia Festival.

So the answer is YES, the Band does travel!

Do any of the band members get paid?

Yes, there are some paid opportunities. There are over 30 Band Staff positions available to band members after their first year in the band, such as Drum Major, Section Leaders, Rank Leaders, Recruitment Crew, Uniform Crew, Library Crew, and Equipment Crew. In addition, the band performs at many paid gigs throughout the year, both on campus and off campus, where individual band members are paid for their performance. Groups for these events are smaller bands, with members selected based on the individual needs of each event. All members are eligible to “bid” for each gig as it comes up, and although band seniority is one factor in selection, underclassmen can and do participate in these small band paid gigs.

What are the coolest gigs the Band has ever done?

There are so many to pick from! The UCLA Band opened for the Rolling Stones on their “50 & Counting” Tour at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, was featured on “Pressure” with English rock band Muse, backed up Gwen Stefani at the Hollywood Bowl’s 100th Anniversary Gala Concert, and recorded “ON” with international K-pop sensation BTS for their album Map of the Soul: 7 (the 2020 best selling album in the world!) It doesn’t get much cooler than that! Or how about performing for Former First Lady Michelle Obama and a packed Pauley Pavilion at 2019 College Signing Day? The Band also appeared prominently in the premiere episode of season 24 of “The Amazing Race” in 2014, and has been featured in commercials for Honda, NCAA, Delta Airlines, and McDonalds, and appeared on TV shows such as “The Goldbergs,” “Lip Sync Battle,” and the “Ellen DeGeneres Show.” The international trips to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan were also cool, but performing regularly at our world-famous home venues, The Rose Bowl and Pauley Pavilion, might be the coolest thing of all!