APS - Symphonic Band marching band requirement

[Anonymous]

Is there any flexibility with the requirement to participate in marching band if you are in symphonic band at W&L? My DC participates in a regional youth orchestra that meets at times that are not compatible with marching band and she can't miss those rehearsals (that is her highest priority extracurricular activity and she is first chair). I realize we will have to reach out to the band director, but just wondering if anyone else has had experience with this.

[Anonymous]

As someone who did marching band in high school, that sucks. Marching bad is a huge commitment, involves long travel, uncomfortable routines outside in all weather, and honestly is derided by most of the school. Being forced into simply because you want to play in symphony is ridiculous.

[Anonymous]

The W-L band director is new this year. The prior director had been there 30+ years so prior experience won't tell you much. My DD did marching band all through W-L and I think he was pretty strict but you'll need to talk to the new director for current policy.

[Anonymous]

Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

+1. I’m pretty sure this is the policy pretty much everywhere around here. But she can still do band— just not advanced band.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

+1. I’m pretty sure this is the policy pretty much everywhere around here. But she can still do band— just not advanced band.

Thanks. Op here, our child's teacher strongly recommended she not do lower level school band, that it would be too boring for her. To give you an idea, DC practices three hours a night and is planning to apply to Julliard weekend program. As it is she is bored in middle school advanced band . Sounds like she may just not pursue music at school, which is a bummer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:As someone who did marching band in high school, that sucks. Marching bad is a huge commitment, involves long travel, uncomfortable routines outside in all weather, and honestly is derided by most of the school. Being forced into simply because you want to play in symphony is ridiculous.

I don't think it's "ridiculous." She isn't being "forced." She doesn't have to play in Symphonic Band. If the regional symphony is her priority, then can't she just do that instead? Doesn't WL have a Concert Band she can play in and not "have" to do marching band? They are apparently trying to find a way to have their cake and eat it, too by participating in all the most advanced stuff they can but not having to follow the part they don't want to/don't have time to/can't. If she can't, then don't do Symphonic Band - do Concert Band or just the regional symphony thing.

This may be one of those times the student has to make some choices.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

+1. I’m pretty sure this is the policy pretty much everywhere around here. But she can still do band— just not advanced band.

Thanks. Op here, our child's teacher strongly recommended she not do lower level school band, that it would be too boring for her. To give you an idea, DC practices three hours a night and is planning to apply to Julliard weekend program. As it is she is bored in middle school advanced band . Sounds like she may just not pursue music at school, which is a bummer.

She might look into whether or not it's possible to just do symphonic band in Spring semester. I don't know if there are alternative electives you could do for Fall semester, or just do concert band in Fall. She definitely sounds like she'd be out of place in concert band. Could she use it as an opportunity to try out a 2nd instrument to stretch herself in a different way?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

+1. I’m pretty sure this is the policy pretty much everywhere around here. But she can still do band— just not advanced band.

It should be the other way around. If you are good enough for advanced band you should be able to opt out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who did marching band in high school, that sucks. Marching bad is a huge commitment, involves long travel, uncomfortable routines outside in all weather, and honestly is derided by most of the school. Being forced into simply because you want to play in symphony is ridiculous.

I don't think it's "ridiculous." She isn't being "forced." She doesn't have to play in Symphonic Band. If the regional symphony is her priority, then can't she just do that instead? Doesn't WL have a Concert Band she can play in and not "have" to do marching band? They are apparently trying to find a way to have their cake and eat it, too by participating in all the most advanced stuff they can but not having to follow the part they don't want to/don't have time to/can't. If she can't, then don't do Symphonic Band - do Concert Band or just the regional symphony thing.

This may be one of those times the student has to make some choices.

DP. It’s absolutely ridiculous to force kids to do marching band if they want to be in the higher band level.

-Someone who did marching band - by choice

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

+1. I’m pretty sure this is the policy pretty much everywhere around here. But she can still do band— just not advanced band.

Thanks. Op here, our child's teacher strongly recommended she not do lower level school band, that it would be too boring for her. To give you an idea, DC practices three hours a night and is planning to apply to Julliard weekend program. As it is she is bored in middle school advanced band . Sounds like she may just not pursue music at school, which is a bummer.

Yeah, I get that. But "lower band" is boring for some kids who aren't at your child's level, too. My child didn't want anything to do with marching band so stayed in concert band for four years. Not a musician, didn't practice, didn't take lessons outside of school. But for some reason, liked band anyway. Strange being one of only a few upper classmen and having to deal with the immaturity and beginner-level playing skills of the younger kids; but the only way to play in band and not do marching band.

It would be a bummer if she doesn't do music in school; but if the music isn't really benefiting her skill development anyway, doesn't seem it would be much of a loss. More of a loss for the other students and the WL bands than for her. And I do know how much of a social thing band is - believe me! But it likely wouldn't be the end of the world on that front, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

+1. I’m pretty sure this is the policy pretty much everywhere around here. But she can still do band— just not advanced band.

Thanks. Op here, our child's teacher strongly recommended she not do lower level school band, that it would be too boring for her. To give you an idea, DC practices three hours a night and is planning to apply to Julliard weekend program. As it is she is bored in middle school advanced band . Sounds like she may just not pursue music at school, which is a bummer.

She might look into whether or not it's possible to just do symphonic band in Spring semester. I don't know if there are alternative electives you could do for Fall semester, or just do concert band in Fall. She definitely sounds like she'd be out of place in concert band. Could she use it as an opportunity to try out a 2nd instrument to stretch herself in a different way?

That's a fabulous idea!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:As someone who did marching band in high school, that sucks. Marching bad is a huge commitment, involves long travel, uncomfortable routines outside in all weather, and honestly is derided by most of the school. Being forced into simply because you want to play in symphony is ridiculous.

I don't think it's "ridiculous." She isn't being "forced." She doesn't have to play in Symphonic Band. If the regional symphony is her priority, then can't she just do that instead? Doesn't WL have a Concert Band she can play in and not "have" to do marching band? They are apparently trying to find a way to have their cake and eat it, too by participating in all the most advanced stuff they can but not having to follow the part they don't want to/don't have time to/can't. If she can't, then don't do Symphonic Band - do Concert Band or just the regional symphony thing.

This may be one of those times the student has to make some choices.

DP. It’s absolutely ridiculous to force kids to do marching band if they want to be in the higher band level.

-Someone who did marching band - by choice

I think it's ridiculous to put all the better players in symphonic band and call it "advanced band" and therefore require them to be in marching band. I think it takes away from the lower-level players and the concert band. I went to school with a different system where concert band = freshmen and sophomores and symphonic band = juniors and seniors. Under that system, everybody also had to be in marching band; but that doesn't have to be the policy. Personally, I think marching band can do as much for skills development.

Having more skilled players in concert band gives less-skilled students opportunities to learn from and be inspired/challenged by the better players; and the better players (who might not be the best players) opportunities to be section leaders, have solos, and shine more than they otherwise might in "advanced band" where most are theoretically the same level with some standouts and where those middle players will never have a chance to standout.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

+1. I’m pretty sure this is the policy pretty much everywhere around here. But she can still do band— just not advanced band.

It should be the other way around. If you are good enough for advanced band you should be able to opt out.

Why would you want a marching band without the best players?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Is this not APS policy? It's the same at WHS.
But students in Concert Band do not have to participate in marching band; so maybe do that instead? I know it's not as challenging; but clearly your child has other avenues for that. (It would also help out the concert band overall to have more of the advanced students in it)

+1. I’m pretty sure this is the policy pretty much everywhere around here. But she can still do band— just not advanced band.

It should be the other way around. If you are good enough for advanced band you should be able to opt out.

Why would you want a marching band without the best players?

Moreover, why would you "force" the poorest players to do marching band?