Time commitment for marching band in Madison HS

[Anonymous]

I was thinking of a different word for him, but I'll resist the temptation

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The parents are fanatical and the band director is a tyrant, FYI.

That has not been my experience.

Mr. H. does demand a l lot, but he cares about the kids. He routinely excuses kids from Tag Day because of the SAT's/ ACTs.

And when my family traveled -- missing 1 day of band camp -- for a once in a lifetime event, he had no problem (the event was the 2017 eclipse).

I have seen him turn the tyrant mode on and off -- you have to yell to get 16 yo's to do what needs to be done at times.

For my DD, band was probably the only thing that allowed her to survive HS when she was depressed. (her words).

And finally, after her last chair test/audition, we got a not from him telling us how proud he was -- DD did not show any anxiety and remained relaxed. You can hate Mr. H. He has a pretty thick skin, but I have a lot of respect for him.

(as for the parents, some are fanatical, some are not. I had a role which I did for every performance for 4 years. Out of privacy for my daughter, I will not say what it was.

[Anonymous]

Obviously it is not a good experience for some kids even if the one Madison parent constantly tries to dominate any discussion of the program with her lengthy posts.

[Anonymous]

I wont trash him, but it's fair to say that while he might have thick skin, when he gets anxious or depressed he begins to treat people pretty terribly.

[Anonymous]

Doesn't Madison have a new band director? I'm confused. Also, is band happening this year? VHSL is happening. What about marching band in FCPS schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The parents are fanatical and the band director is a tyrant, FYI.

This can and will be said about every outstanding band program. My HS Director WAS a tyrant and yes, some of the parents were fanatical. Oh well. We went to the state competition almost every year, marched in Inaugural parades twice, Rose Bowl, etc, etc. I'm 49 and we had a band reunion five years ago. I am still in touch with many, many of my bandmates and still have my instrument.

Band taught me a lot about perseverance, things worth working hard for, a work ethic geared towards excellence, and leadership. It was a great teenage experience and has served me well in college, the courtroom and now as a member of the intel community. Let your kids be challenged and grow up a little.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents are fanatical and the band director is a tyrant, FYI.

This can and will be said about every outstanding band program. My HS Director WAS a tyrant and yes, some of the parents were fanatical. Oh well. We went to the state competition almost every year, marched in Inaugural parades twice, Rose Bowl, etc, etc. I'm 49 and we had a band reunion five years ago. I am still in touch with many, many of my bandmates and still have my instrument.

Band taught me a lot about perseverance, things worth working hard for, a work ethic geared towards excellence, and leadership. It was a great teenage experience and has served me well in college, the courtroom and now as a member of the intel community. Let your kids be challenged and grow up a little.

Many academic and athletic activities also teach perseverance, hard work, etc. Just wanted to get your opinion if you think band is unique in any way in teaching these things. We are considering band but conflicting with another activity. DD likes both and conflicted on what to choose.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents are fanatical and the band director is a tyrant, FYI.

This can and will be said about every outstanding band program. My HS Director WAS a tyrant and yes, some of the parents were fanatical. Oh well. We went to the state competition almost every year, marched in Inaugural parades twice, Rose Bowl, etc, etc. I'm 49 and we had a band reunion five years ago. I am still in touch with many, many of my bandmates and still have my instrument.

Band taught me a lot about perseverance, things worth working hard for, a work ethic geared towards excellence, and leadership. It was a great teenage experience and has served me well in college, the courtroom and now as a member of the intel community. Let your kids be challenged and grow up a little.

Many academic and athletic activities also teach perseverance, hard work, etc. Just wanted to get your opinion if you think band is unique in any way in teaching these things. We are considering band but conflicting with another activity. DD likes both and conflicted on what to choose.

PP here. For me, I loved music and I loved my instrument (flute). I was also in the color guard during marching season. For me, it was a lot of fun as well. I was the color guard captain my senior year.

I was not hugely athletically talented or inclined, so pushing myself in a sport wasn't something that was going to happen at the high school level. There are other activities I think I would have done well at - debate, student government, but found my niche in band. It gave me a community and lots of friends. You're competitive within your instrument group, but usually not in a toxic way. But you're friends with everyone else, and during marching season you are all pulling together towards your goal, so there's a great sense of camaraderie and teamwork. The games are fun, competitions and trips are fun. My parents were pretty hands off with the whole thing so I was pretty responsible for getting myself where I needed to be and on time. And while I can't speak to the Madison band in particular, at my high school the band was pretty diverse - racially and socioeconomically. And we had people with very different motivational levels. That can be where leadership comes in - how do you motivate the person who's just there to pass the time to give it their all for the team? I personally think that's different from some other activities where being really competitive is necessary.

The flip side is that I was in band and it takes up a lot of time, so if you're not happy with it that won't be much fun. But I worked it all in - I got good grades, worked part-time, etc. It didn't lead to a scholarship and I didn't have to write a college essay way back then so that was not my motivation.

Good luck to your child!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Doesn't Madison have a new band director? I'm confused. Also, is band happening this year? VHSL is happening. What about marching band in FCPS schools?

No.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The parents are fanatical and the band director is a tyrant, FYI.

Quoting my DD, when they won the BOA Mid-atlantic regional in 2019 -- first time for Madison and only the second time for a Virginia Band,

it was "F***ng Amazing. Highlight of my four years at Madison. Work was worth it".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My first chair in middle school kid didn’t continue on at Madison bc of the commitment and her desire to do other activities.

This is us. I don't like continuing band in JMHS requires being in the marching band - should be two separate activities.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The parents are fanatical and the band director is a tyrant, FYI.

This can and will be said about every outstanding band program. My HS Director WAS a tyrant and yes, some of the parents were fanatical. Oh well. We went to the state competition almost every year, marched in Inaugural parades twice, Rose Bowl, etc, etc. I'm 49 and we had a band reunion five years ago. I am still in touch with many, many of my bandmates and still have my instrument.

Band taught me a lot about perseverance, things worth working hard for, a work ethic geared towards excellence, and leadership. It was a great teenage experience and has served me well in college, the courtroom and now as a member of the intel community. Let your kids be challenged and grow up a little.

Many academic and athletic activities also teach perseverance, hard work, etc. Just wanted to get your opinion if you think band is unique in any way in teaching these things. We are considering band but conflicting with another activity. DD likes both and conflicted on what to choose.

PP here. For me, I loved music and I loved my instrument (flute). I was also in the color guard during marching season. For me, it was a lot of fun as well. I was the color guard captain my senior year.

I was not hugely athletically talented or inclined, so pushing myself in a sport wasn't something that was going to happen at the high school level. There are other activities I think I would have done well at - debate, student government, but found my niche in band. It gave me a community and lots of friends. You're competitive within your instrument group, but usually not in a toxic way. But you're friends with everyone else, and during marching season you are all pulling together towards your goal, so there's a great sense of camaraderie and teamwork. The games are fun, competitions and trips are fun. My parents were pretty hands off with the whole thing so I was pretty responsible for getting myself where I needed to be and on time. And while I can't speak to the Madison band in particular, at my high school the band was pretty diverse - racially and socioeconomically. And we had people with very different motivational levels. That can be where leadership comes in - how do you motivate the person who's just there to pass the time to give it their all for the team? I personally think that's different from some other activities where being really competitive is necessary.

The flip side is that I was in band and it takes up a lot of time, so if you're not happy with it that won't be much fun. But I worked it all in - I got good grades, worked part-time, etc. It didn't lead to a scholarship and I didn't have to write a college essay way back then so that was not my motivation.

Good luck to your child!

Thank you for sharing your experience. Very helpful.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first chair in middle school kid didn’t continue on at Madison bc of the commitment and her desire to do other activities.

This is us. I don't like continuing band in JMHS requires being in the marching band - should be two separate activities.

Same. Our Madison kid would've loved to take band classes, but couldn't commit to the marching band extracurricular activities. (Imagine if kids couldn't take drama classes without committing to being involved in every mainstage production...)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first chair in middle school kid didn’t continue on at Madison bc of the commitment and her desire to do other activities.

This is us. I don't like continuing band in JMHS requires being in the marching band - should be two separate activities.

Same. Our Madison kid would've loved to take band classes, but couldn't commit to the marching band extracurricular activities. (Imagine if kids couldn't take drama classes without committing to being involved in every mainstage production...)

Madison is not the only school in the area to have the band/marching band requirement. Not every school (TJ is voluntary as is Oakton). The difference is if it is extracurricular activities, the boosters can mandate a higher contribution whereas if it is cocurricular ( like Madison) boosters, are voluntary contributions. And the activity fee is waved for FARM.

In other words, a program like Madison allows people who can't pay. Other schools may have wavers, but it is not required.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My first chair in middle school kid didn’t continue on at Madison bc of the commitment and her desire to do other activities.

This is us. I don't like continuing band in JMHS requires being in the marching band - should be two separate activities.

Same. Our Madison kid would've loved to take band classes, but couldn't commit to the marching band extracurricular activities. (Imagine if kids couldn't take drama classes without committing to being involved in every mainstage production...)

Madison is not the only school in the area to have the band/marching band requirement. Not every school (TJ is voluntary as is Oakton). The difference is if it is extracurricular activities, the boosters can mandate a higher contribution whereas if it is cocurricular ( like Madison) boosters, are voluntary contributions. And the activity fee is waved for FARM.

In other words, a program like Madison allows people who can't pay. Other schools may have wavers, but it is not required.

Could someone explain the benefits of taking band in high school? If it requires so much time commitment, are you not concerned about your child not keeping up with other classes? My DC is in elementary school and we are weighing the pros and cons doing the band.