Cyclone Marching Academy - June 13 & 14, 2025

REGISTER TODAY

One of the most popular marching band camps in a 300-mile radius, the Cyclone Marching Academy provides three unique single-day tracks: Percussion, Color Guard, and Leadership.  Every year, we strive to offer instruction from some of the most accomplished educators in our state and bring world-class marching arts professionals to Ames, IA, to provide a worthwhile experience for high school students at any knowledge level. 

2025 Camp Fees:

The $50 individual registration fee includes the following:

• Enrollment in one of our single-day tracks featuring instruction from world-class marching arts professionals
• the official Cyclone Marching Academy t-shirt
• a pizza lunch that is provided.

Tentative Camp Schedule for 2025:

8:00-8:45 am - Check-in at Simon Estes Music Hall (2427 Union Dr., Ames, IA 50010)

9:00 am-12:00 pm - Instruction, Masterclasses, and Sectionals

12:00 pm - Lunch (provided pizza lunch) and Staff Performances

1:00 pm-4:00 pm - Instruction, Masterclasses, and Sectionals

4:00 pm-4:30 pm - Snack break (provided) 

4:30 pm-5:30 pm - Final performances for other campers (not open to the public)

Frequently Asked Questions (2025):

What do you mean by a single-day track?

• The single-day camp started as a safe way to make our way back after all of the events of the 2020 school year.  However, we have received tons of positive feedback on our single-day offerings and believe this is the way forward for this program.

There used to be an "advanced" percussion track - where did it go?

• The "advanced" percussion track still exists; we've just integrated it into our offerings for both days!  Our clinicians will assess students participating in the percussion track during the early portions of the day, and they will be divided into groups based on skill level.

I'm interested in more than one track (percussion and leadership, for example). Can I choose to participate in both?

• Yes! One of the benefits of our single-day offerings is that students can attend one track on Friday and a different track on Saturday!  

Can I come to both days of one track?

• We plan to offer the same or similar content each day of the camp, so you wouldn't get as much benefit from attending a second day - plus, we would be able to reach fewer students across the two-day experience.  Our goal is to impact and improve as many students as possible, so we ask that you choose just one day to attend -- or choose a different track for the second day.
• Color Guard will only be offered on Day 1, so there will not be an opportunity to attend a second day.

What age/experience is this camp designed for?

• Overall, the camp is designed for students entering 9th grade through senior year of high school.  Students who have just graduated high school are also welcome.  Our percussion and guard tracks are tailored for the individual student - beginner through advanced.  For percussion, we suggest that students have familiarity with percussion as this would not be a camp to teach the basics of music.  Students should have completed a few years of band experience before tackling marching percussion.  For color guard, we recognize that some students might be brand new to color guard, and we can accommodate that.  For the leadership track, we suggest that these students have at least one year of marching band experience and either exhibit an interest in being a leader within their band or are already on the leadership team for their band.

Do I need to bring my own equipment?

• Percussion - you should bring sticks and a pad if you own one (make sure to label it with your name!), and we'll provide all the drums and music!
• Guard - we will provide a flag to spin (with a 6-foot pole) and have some rifles available (if you are signed up for the rifle track). All other accessories (such as gloves) are your responsibility.
• Leadership - we will provide materials for you to take notes during your sessions to help you retain the valuable information you'll receive!