ABSTRACT
It is marching band audition day at Eastern State University (ESU), a large research institution with a reputation for its enthusiastic school spirit, and soon to be first-year students are each awaiting their turn to try out for one of the most prestigious marching bands in the country. The ESU Marching Band, known for the drum corps marching style and exciting half-time shows, draw as much attention and excitement from fans at the football games as the game itself. Students, alumni, and members of the local community are highly committed to upholding the many and rich campus traditions, which often seem antiquated to outsiders. There is a strict chain of command in the ESU Marching Band's leadership that starts with the band director and proceeds down to the assistant band directors, specialty music faculty, and then down to student leadership such as the drum major and section leaders.
