Any interested CSU student can audition to join the Marching Band. We march the following instruments: flute/piccolo, clarinet, alto sax, tenor sax, trumpet, mellophone, trombone, baritone, sousaphone, a full battery, color guard, and the renowned CSU Golden Poms dance team. Sign up for our email list to get more information about auditions and joining the band.

The Marching Band rehearses Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 4-6 p.m. On game days, a rehearsal at the stadium 4.5 hours before game time is necessary, and lasts about an hour. Students then eat, change into uniforms, and begin the series of performances for fans in and around Hughes Stadium.

Other special performances are planned each year. Please refer to the performance schedule. Though the fall is a busy time for marching band members, studies regularly show that students actively engaged in campus activities are significantly less likely to drop out of college, and more likely to graduate in four years. We care about your academic success and try hard to make sure all of our students are succeeding.

Band camp, or preseason rehearsals as we call them, is our opportunity to learn not only our method of marching, our pregame show, and begin on our first halftime show, but it's a chance to learn about the history of the CSU Marching Band and its traditions. Even better, it’s a chance to meet new friends and people as you transition to college life. These rehearsals are mandatory. We coordinate with Ram Welcome to ensure that our new marchers have a chance to participate as fully as possible in both activities.

We practice 4.5 hours before the game on the field at Hughes Stadium. Equipment is loaded and taken to the stadium the night before or the morning of the game. After rehearsal we get into uniform and parade around the stadium on our way to Ram Walk, the traditional walk for the football team into the stadium. We parade back into the stadium for a meal, which is provided, and a break. After our meal, we’re back in uniform, parading around the stadium, letting the tailgaters know that it’s nearly time for PREGAME! We run from the tunnel onto Sonny Lubick Field, cheering, playing school songs, and getting the crowd excited for another Rams victory. Throughout the game, we perform in the stands, taking the field once again for our halftime show. After every Rams victory, we play a short post-game show, including our famous version of “Black Betty,” that we’ve renamed “CAM the RAM!” We end our gameday together by singing the CSU Alma Mater. That’s a typical, but anything-but-average game-day for a CSUMBand member!

M,W,F practices are held at the University Center for the Arts (UCA). Some student parking is available on the streets, and the UCA is close enough to easily walk or ride your bike from campus. Carpools are usually organized by each section for game day transportation to Hughes Stadium.