OOH..you're trying out for Drum Major?? cool!! i didn't know if i wanted too..i decided that drum major was too much comitment. staying drum major for 4 years is long. i mean if it was one year sure, i'll do it. i've decided to hang and march around with my flute buddies...will be better..
BUT , GOOD LUCK!!! that's really exciting.i'm still having doubts if i want to become one..only freshmans can apply so...hope you make it!!
sry, can't help because i'm not a director..
best of luck!!
*HUG*..*blow kiss*..HEEHEE:D

I am a drum majorette for my marching band (check my profile). We were learning about this just the other day. Subdivide as you conduct using triplets or eighth notes. Take your tounge and, as you go for the downbeat (the ictuse (sp?) ) tap your tounge against your teeth as you conduct and make sure you have a steady beat. I usually go "tic a taa" for every beat I conduct. Keep your arms steady and be very alert.
If you have to mark time when you try out for drum major (I was chosen by my director, we don't really have try outs where I live) then use your left leg to help you conduct. When you put your left leg down, make sure your arm movements match that; make a pattern for yourself. If you use your whole body to conduct (don't sway, just keep an internal movement) then you will fall into place when you conduct.
If you have questions, please drop me a private message... I could tell you some more as I learn, too.
I marched outside for the first time today with my band... Beware, your legs are going to hurt! It might not seem like it now, but marching backwards fast while conducting; it's something akin to cruel and unusual punishment. But, I love it.
Do you have to know your whistle commands for try out, too?

I was drummajor in highschool but our auditions were more philosophical. "What do you do if half the band is with you and the other half is dragging?" "What is the measurement for an 8 to 5 step?" etc... The main piece of advice that I have for conducting is, keeping time is more important than complexity. A really showy routine is ONLY effective if you stay in time well. If that is too difficult, then just maintain a simple pattern even if it means resorting to conducting in one. A director realizes that anyone can be taught to add cues but they want to know that you have an innate rhythm. Hope this helps!! GOOD LUCK!!

Are you actually referring to subdividing in your head or subdividing while you conduct?

The reason I ask is because when you are conducting a marching band your movements have to be somewhat large and accurate for sure. Most of the time in order to keep fast tempos and such going you are not going to be able to subdivide your conducting pattern to the point where it will be useful for the band. There will be certain instances where it is necessary, but on the whole you will wear yourself out.

My suggestions for a drum major try out (from experience ) are to make sure you have a definite clear pattern to your conducting. Make you if you are yelling commands you do it from your diaphram. It sounds better that way and will keep your from going horse. Try to keep your body frame as still as possible and let your arms do the work. I would not ever tap my foot. Usually tapping your foot is just a distraction, and if you are properly subdividing in your head you will not need to tap your foot.

There will be instances at competitions and such where you are scored on how you conduct and your movements etc. while you conduct. Wait to work on those type of movements until after you get the drum major part. Good luck with your auditions, and if I can help any more than that, feel free to let me know.

What do you mean, subdividing when you conduct? Always, ALWAYS stick to the original conducting pattern (4/4, 3/4, ect...) Doing anything else wears you out.
If you are marching backwards, conducting the band, I don't see how you could tap your foot. Like DottedEighthNote said, don't make any extra movements when you march than what you have to do (my fellow drum majorette and I realized today in practice that, if we don't work out, we are going down! )
Keep an internal sway going on and you should keep your pattern as crip and clear as possible so the band understands. (like it said in the previous post, too... )
Good luck...

actually, I was assuming you would be conducting a field show for a football game and that you would be on a podium. Are you going to be conducting for a field show or for a marching band? Do you do work with a mace? Do the drummajors at your school generally mark time? DO you know what your audition consists of? I got a rubric before my audition. Will there be an interview, whistle command, mace routine, conducting routine, vocal command section of the audition? Will the conducting be for a live pep band or with a recording?

<Added>

ack! I'm sorry! I ment to ask are you going to be conducting for a field show or for a parade?? Or will your band do both? In Louisiana parades are kind of a big thing so we do both. But there are some places where a school marching band might just be around for homecoming parades etc...or it may just be around to march field shows at football games and festials.

Same where I live, fauna. I don't know, Toni, if your drum major position involves everything (fieldshows, parades, ect...) and what you all have to learn. If you could be really specific, then we could give you more advice and help a few other majors or majorettes out!

What do you mean, subdividing when you conduct?

There are various ways of actually adding the "and" beat to your pattern when conducting. Usually in 4/4 time for instance you would do the normal 4/4 pattern however on the 4th beat you would actually raise your hands up higher than the normal pattern to recgonize the "and" beat. I don't know if that properly explains it, but it is difficult to explain over the internet.

I understood what you meant. My former post was kind of a joke, but I should have known that, without the voice, it wouldn't have been taken as one. I am taking classes in conducting to become a band director in a few years and I know how to subdivide the beats. Thank you, though, and I bet your explination has helped other people, too.
In regards to a major or majorette conducting and subdividing what they conduct, though, I think it would take more energy if one was to constantly subdivide what they are conducting. If a band is having that much trouble understanding the song or if they get off track so much that they need subdividing all the time, a director needs to step in!

In regards to a major or majorette conducting and subdividing what they conduct, though, I think it would take more energy if one was to constantly subdivide what they are conducting.

Exactly my point which is why I hoped the original poster would come back and clarify. I think the auditions were today though, so hopefully the OP did well!