Any interested CSU student can audition to join the Marching Band. We march the following instruments: piccolo, clarinet, alto 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 4:15-6:15 p.m. Drumline and Color Guard will have an extra sectional 1-day per week after rehearsal. On game days, a rehearsal at the stadium six 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 Canvas Stadium. 

Other special performances are planned each year; please refer to the performance schedule. Though 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 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 six hours before the game on the field at Canvas 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 through campus on our way to Ram Walk, the traditional walk for the football team into the stadium. We then transition to the Lory Student Center for a meal, which is provided, and a break. After our meal, we’re back in uniform, parading to the stadium with a stop at the Iris and Michael Smith Alumni Center for the ringing of the Old Main Bell before reentering the stadium for PREGAME! We perform in the stands, taking the field again for our halftime show. After the game, we play a short post-game concert in the stands. Finally, we end our game day together by singing the CSU Alma Mater. That’s a typical but anything-but-average game-day for a CSUMB member! 

Monday, Wednesday, and Friday 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 walk or ride your bike from campus easily. Parking for gamedays is also usually available at the UCA with a short walk to Canvas Stadium.

All band members (including Golden Poms) should register for MU 204 and will receive one credit for being in the marching band.