APS - Symphonic Band marching band requirement

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:One thing I think everyone is missing... the reason everyone in symphonic is in marching band is because the symphonic band period is used to rehearse for marching band. It's not like the band has a different repertoire they are working on and then the marching band is learning something different. For August-October symphonic band IS marching band. Being in concert band + marching band is actually a bit more challenging because you miss part of rehearsal if you aren't in the symphonic band class period.

Marching band is over at the start of November. So one consideration could be if the kid has any flexibility with her non-school band for the two months of marching band and around band camp in August. That's if she really wants to do band at school, she certainly doesn't have to. Band is definitely very social but my DD's experience (4 years in W-L symphonic/marching band) is that most of the social cohesion is formed around the marching experience which then carries through for the rest of the year.

Depending on the band director's flexibility/demands of the non-school band, the options could be...
1. Do marching band but have to miss one(?) rehearsal per week. If it's more than one, probably a no-go IME
2. See if you can do symphonic in 2nd semester only, calling 1st semester "independent music study" if the counselor agrees?
3. Just do concert band but make it more challenging by learning a new instrument

This is NOT how it is SUPPOSED to be done. And concert band students who are in marching band already face that problem anyway. Nevertheless, it's only learning the music and not marching drill. And if symphonic band period is being used to learn the marching band music, concert band period(s) could be working on the same thing.

[Anonymous]

OP, DD was in Beginning Band one year. Symphonic Band the next year. The reason? She tried a new instrument. She had entered with 9 years of piano. Mastered the new, wind instrument and with her musical knowledge skipped the other levels. She had a wonderful time in Beginning Band! I was so proud of her for signing up (for her humility. Don't discount the character value of humility) Happened to be a great group, which of course you never know. A favorite class.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. I agree having more advanced band students does help the overall band. This year my DC taught the other students playing her instrument various counting techniques that she has learned through private instruction and summer music programs, so it bums me out that she may not continue with school band since I think she gets something out of that too. Unfortunately DC plays a brass instrument and switching to another instrument in school could mess with her embouchure (or at least that is what her private teacher fears, I know nothing about music). I guess she could do percussion, but she doesn't really like percussion. It is pretty late to start violin (which of course would avoid the marching band problem). She has expressed an interest in piano, but that also does not really help with school band. I guess we will talk to the band director but not holding out much hope.

IMO, this is a ludicrous thing for a professional music teacher to say. The more you explain about the music teacher's concerns and comments, the less I think the teacher has your daughter's best interests at heart. I would not be keen on a music teacher who actively discourages the learning of a second instrument. Yes, embouchures differ with instruments; but most professional musicians - certainly music teachers - play/have played more than one instrument. And it's for 3 months WHILE she's also continuing to play her primary instrument!!!

More and more, I'm liking the idea of taking concert band, if she can't do marching band, and taking the opportunity to learn a new instrument. Brass to brass isn't a huge obstacle. Brass to woodwind would be more challenging; but going to flute isn't nearly as big a stretch as say, oboe or bassoon.

What does your DAUGHTER want to do? Would she find it interesting to learn a little of another instrument? Depending on her career goals, knowledge of/ability on multiple instruments would be an advantage. I wouldn't be surprised if Julliard even encouraged her to try SOMEthing other than her immediate primary instrument?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP, DD was in Beginning Band one year. Symphonic Band the next year. The reason? She tried a new instrument. She had entered with 9 years of piano. Mastered the new, wind instrument and with her musical knowledge skipped the other levels. She had a wonderful time in Beginning Band! I was so proud of her for signing up (for her humility. Don't discount the character value of humility) Happened to be a great group, which of course you never know. A favorite class.

Awesome!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here again. I agree having more advanced band students does help the overall band. This year my DC taught the other students playing her instrument various counting techniques that she has learned through private instruction and summer music programs, so it bums me out that she may not continue with school band since I think she gets something out of that too. Unfortunately DC plays a brass instrument and switching to another instrument in school could mess with her embouchure (or at least that is what her private teacher fears, I know nothing about music). I guess she could do percussion, but she doesn't really like percussion. It is pretty late to start violin (which of course would avoid the marching band problem). She has expressed an interest in piano, but that also does not really help with school band. I guess we will talk to the band director but not holding out much hope.

IMO, this is a ludicrous thing for a professional music teacher to say. The more you explain about the music teacher's concerns and comments, the less I think the teacher has your daughter's best interests at heart. I would not be keen on a music teacher who actively discourages the learning of a second instrument. Yes, embouchures differ with instruments; but most professional musicians - certainly music teachers - play/have played more than one instrument. And it's for 3 months WHILE she's also continuing to play her primary instrument!!!

More and more, I'm liking the idea of taking concert band, if she can't do marching band, and taking the opportunity to learn a new instrument. Brass to brass isn't a huge obstacle. Brass to woodwind would be more challenging; but going to flute isn't nearly as big a stretch as say, oboe or bassoon.

What does your DAUGHTER want to do? Would she find it interesting to learn a little of another instrument? Depending on her career goals, knowledge of/ability on multiple instruments would be an advantage. I wouldn't be surprised if Julliard even encouraged her to try SOMEthing other than her immediate primary instrument?

DD just wants to play french horn and learn new concertos. Maybe there are other instruments that would be OK, teacher definitely had concerns with trumpet which is DD's current second instrument (but maybe that is because they are too similar?). DD definitely can't miss 4 rehearsals in the fall for either her local youth orchestra or the Julliard program so I'll just reach out to band director. DD won't be upset if she can't do band through school, she wants to do it if she can but realizes she can't do marching band and is willing to let the chips fall where they may.

[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.

I'm not sure what you mean by "around here" but in LCPS where we are, marching band is highly encouraged but not required. My DD does advanced band and has never been in marching band. She has another demanding (non-music related) extracurricular so marching band would be impossible. I will say though that most kids in her class ARE in marching band. If she were forced to do marching band, she would have to quit band altogether, which is I think why the teacher does not require it.

[Anonymous]

My older sister played clarinet in one band in HS and French horn in another band in HS - I don’t think either messed up her embouchure for the other.
It’s also not the end of the world to not play in HS band

(That said, I think marching band should be voluntary. And I say this as someone who marched. Our symphonic band practiced marching band music in the fall, but didn’t require people to march.)

[Anonymous]

That's just bizarre for her teacher to say she shouldn't learn a second instrument.
All of the serious/professional musicians I know play multiple instruments.

[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.

I'm not sure what you mean by "around here" but in LCPS where we are, marching band is highly encouraged but not required. My DD does advanced band and has never been in marching band. She has another demanding (non-music related) extracurricular so marching band would be impossible. I will say though that most kids in her class ARE in marching band. If she were forced to do marching band, she would have to quit band altogether, which is I think why the teacher does not require it.

"Around here" is Arlington.
You know we're self-centered in Arlington and obviously everything is about Arlington, right?!

[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.

I'm not sure what you mean by "around here" but in LCPS where we are, marching band is highly encouraged but not required. My DD does advanced band and has never been in marching band. She has another demanding (non-music related) extracurricular so marching band would be impossible. I will say though that most kids in her class ARE in marching band. If she were forced to do marching band, she would have to quit band altogether, which is I think why the teacher does not require it.

"Around here" is Arlington.
You know we're self-centered in Arlington and obviously everything is about Arlington, right?!

Around here is Arlington and Fairfax, fwiw.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm not sure what you mean by "around here" but in LCPS where we are, marching band is highly encouraged but not required. My DD does advanced band and has never been in marching band. She has another demanding (non-music related) extracurricular so marching band would be impossible. I will say though that most kids in her class ARE in marching band. If she were forced to do marching band, she would have to quit band altogether, which is I think why the teacher does not require it.

"Around here" is Arlington.
You know we're self-centered in Arlington and obviously everything is about Arlington, right?!

Around here is Arlington and Fairfax, fwiw.

Fairfax City? 'cause Fairfax Co has its own DCUM page.

[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.

Do they make football players? Also join track and field?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tough titties to those of you who balk at your kid having to do marching band.

It is a way to ensure that kids are committed to both bands. Many kids think band is something they can skip out on. If you're serious about symphonic band, you would do marching band.

Marching band is treated like a varsity sport. It requires mandatory commitment.

I think what the previous WL band director did was brilliant! Win-win because both bands were great!

BS. I agree it’s a huge commitment like a varsity sport, but zero upside. There no Ivy college recruiters for marching band and no allocated slots for admissions like the squash and lacrosse teams. Maybe at Texas A&M… but not widespread

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Tough titties to those of you who balk at your kid having to do marching band.

It is a way to ensure that kids are committed to both bands. Many kids think band is something they can skip out on. If you're serious about symphonic band, you would do marching band.

Marching band is treated like a varsity sport. It requires mandatory commitment.

I think what the previous WL band director did was brilliant! Win-win because both bands were great!

BS. I agree it’s a huge commitment like a varsity sport, but zero upside. There no Ivy college recruiters for marching band and no allocated slots for admissions like the squash and lacrosse teams. Maybe at Texas A&M… but not widespread

Yeah if kids are choosing this over a varsity sport, it is hurting their college admissions chances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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.

I'm not sure what you mean by "around here" but in LCPS where we are, marching band is highly encouraged but not required. My DD does advanced band and has never been in marching band. She has another demanding (non-music related) extracurricular so marching band would be impossible. I will say though that most kids in her class ARE in marching band. If she were forced to do marching band, she would have to quit band altogether, which is I think why the teacher does not require it.

"Around here" is Arlington.
You know we're self-centered in Arlington and obviously everything is about Arlington, right?!

Around here is Arlington and Fairfax, fwiw.

Fairfax City? 'cause Fairfax Co has its own DCUM page.

Fairfax County. Y'all kicked them out of this forum but they didn't disappear. Matching band is required for all but concert band there, just like here.