How time cosuming is marching band in high school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Definitely depends on the school. Some are bare minimum football games only and a practice outside of school each week, some are very intense and do marching band competitions that require travel and tons of practice time.

It can be an amazing way to make friends with lots of different kids and at most schools band is a very supportive environment.

+1 I did band in HS, and it provided friends but also kept me out of trouble.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For my band kid, marching season looked like this:

Mon-Thurs Practice after school until 6:30

Friday They stayed at school. Boosters fed them. Football game at 7. Home….whenever.

Saturdays Competition or some kind of band thing.

It’s very busy from summer band camp through about December (Christmas parades). Also, add in a band trip.

I’m 14:47. I forgot about the trip. We went to Disney in January for part of winter break and missed a little school. This definitely was not a one quarter commitment.

Was Disney a marching band trip or concert band? There is an option to do concert band and not do marching band. But based on the various responses, there does seem to be differences between schools. Our school's marching band rehearsals were Tues - Thurs, then if there is a home football game they just stay after school for rehearsal, parent-provided buffet dinner, and the game. No Monday rehearsals. And no Friday rehearsals if no home football game.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:For my band kid, marching season looked like this:

Mon-Thurs Practice after school until 6:30

Friday They stayed at school. Boosters fed them. Football game at 7. Home….whenever.

Saturdays Competition or some kind of band thing.

It’s very busy from summer band camp through about December (Christmas parades). Also, add in a band trip.

I’m 14:47. I forgot about the trip. We went to Disney in January for part of winter break and missed a little school. This definitely was not a one quarter commitment.

Was Disney a marching band trip or concert band? There is an option to do concert band and not do marching band. But based on the various responses, there does seem to be differences between schools. Our school's marching band rehearsals were Tues - Thurs, then if there is a home football game they just stay after school for rehearsal, parent-provided buffet dinner, and the game. No Monday rehearsals. And no Friday rehearsals if no home football game.

It was marching band but this was me in high school, many years ago. I don’t know what they do now since neither of my own kids ended up joining band. I was at one of the more intensive schools so it was football games, competitions, that trip and parades. Schools are going to vary widely on this. It’s best to contact your specific school to see what it’s like.

[Anonymous]

From mid-August thru Oct it’s busy, but so worth it. They are a tight family.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From mid-August thru Oct it’s busy, but so worth it. They are a tight family.

+1000
Even for my kid who really didn't want to do it. Definitely set him on a much better start to high school - particularly socially - than he otherwise would have had coming from an isolating middle school experience.
Absolutely no regrets from child or parent.