APS - Symphonic Band marching band requirement

[Anonymous]

My school band had this rule in PA, but our band just played at the football games, no marching/uniforms etc. A lot of us probably would not have joined if marching was required.

[Anonymous]

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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.

DP here. Funny, we're in Loudoun but I read the FCPS forum because this forum is now only Arlington posters, which has way less in common with us than Fairfax does.

[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!

Except we don't do this for anything else. Kids can take AP calculus without being on the math team, AP physics without being on the robotics team, why this major extracurricular requirement for advanced band when there is nothing analogous for anything else? What is worst that could happen -- school wouldn't have a marching band? If not enough kids want to do it, maybe that is a fine outcome.

[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!

Except we don't do this for anything else. Kids can take AP calculus without being on the math team, AP physics without being on the robotics team, why this major extracurricular requirement for advanced band when there is nothing analogous for anything else? What is worst that could happen -- school wouldn't have a marching band? If not enough kids want to do it, maybe that is a fine outcome.

Exactly.

[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!

Except we don't do this for anything else. Kids can take AP calculus without being on the math team, AP physics without being on the robotics team, why this major extracurricular requirement for advanced band when there is nothing analogous for anything else? What is worst that could happen -- school wouldn't have a marching band? If not enough kids want to do it, maybe that is a fine outcome.

Highest level school orchestras can have similar requirements, in that they meet outside of school hours. The time commitment is not nearly the same, however.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Except we don't do this for anything else. Kids can take AP calculus without being on the math team, AP physics without being on the robotics team, why this major extracurricular requirement for advanced band when there is nothing analogous for anything else? What is worst that could happen -- school wouldn't have a marching band? If not enough kids want to do it, maybe that is a fine outcome.

Highest level school orchestras can have similar requirements, in that they meet outside of school hours. The time commitment is not nearly the same, however.

Exactly it is not nearly the same. Why ask more of band kids? It seems arbitrary.

[Anonymous]

NP. I grew up in Texas where they take marching band very seriously. Yes, it was required for everyone except for those in the lowest band. Practice and games were required, just like the for football team, drill team, and cheer, as well as competitions and parades.

The low priority that schools and families place on the arts here is still surprising to me. Football isn't as big here, which isn't surprising. But neither are orchestra or band, which is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:NP. I grew up in Texas where they take marching band very seriously. Yes, it was required for everyone except for those in the lowest band. Practice and games were required, just like the for football team, drill team, and cheer, as well as competitions and parades.

The low priority that schools and families place on the arts here is still surprising to me. Football isn't as big here, which isn't surprising. But neither are orchestra or band, which is.

I grew up in an old artists colony town in New England with several Broadway performers had the children of several famous singers in my high school. There was a huge emphasis on theater and the arts (including chorus, orchestra and band). I took a theater class but was not required to be in the school play (although I was). But there was no requirement that anyone participate in marching band. Some kids participated because they wanted to but it was not a big thing. The emphasis was much more on theater and classical music. I think some of this emphasis on marching band is regional - but it seems odd to force it on kids who are talented musically but may be more interested in traditional classical music or just have other outside commitments. For example, what do they do if a kid's family goes to shabbat services on Saturdays?

[Anonymous]

I was forced into marching band in high school because I wanted to do symphonic band. This was in NJ. I remember kids could get waivers to be exempt if they were

1-on the football team
2-in the cheerleading squad
3-regular students at weekend arts classes at Juilliard or Manhattan School of Music

Kids who occasionally had to miss for a cross country tournament or something were not exempt.

We complained about having to do it, but looking back it was a good thing to do. Lots of camaraderie.

[Anonymous]

This was the rule at my FCPS high school in the 90s. So yeah, seems it’s culture?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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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?

Can't you at least find an actual simile to use to make your point?

[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

Because admission to elite colleges are the only reason to do sports, right?
You do realize some people make careers out of music? That schools do offer music scholarships? That there are very competitive and prestigious conservatories and music programs across the country? That there is life and success outside of Ivy League?

Not to mention that sports and band and marching band are tremendous social facilitators, discipline builders, skill developers, teachers of the value of hardwork and the importance of teamwork, and just plain fun. But yeah, no upsides.

[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!

Except we don't do this for anything else. Kids can take AP calculus without being on the math team, AP physics without being on the robotics team, why this major extracurricular requirement for advanced band when there is nothing analogous for anything else? What is worst that could happen -- school wouldn't have a marching band? If not enough kids want to do it, maybe that is a fine outcome.

You don't get academic credit for math or robotics teams, or any other extracurricular activity. Marching band is one academic credit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Except we don't do this for anything else. Kids can take AP calculus without being on the math team, AP physics without being on the robotics team, why this major extracurricular requirement for advanced band when there is nothing analogous for anything else? What is worst that could happen -- school wouldn't have a marching band? If not enough kids want to do it, maybe that is a fine outcome.

Highest level school orchestras can have similar requirements, in that they meet outside of school hours. The time commitment is not nearly the same, however.

Exactly it is not nearly the same. Why ask more of band kids? It seems arbitrary.

Extra concert/symphonic band/symphony practices are akin to homework for other classes. Marching band is one credit hour and has many benefits, whether anti-banders believe it or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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!

Except we don't do this for anything else. Kids can take AP calculus without being on the math team, AP physics without being on the robotics team, why this major extracurricular requirement for advanced band when there is nothing analogous for anything else? What is worst that could happen -- school wouldn't have a marching band? If not enough kids want to do it, maybe that is a fine outcome.

Highest level school orchestras can have similar requirements, in that they meet outside of school hours. The time commitment is not nearly the same, however.

Exactly it is not nearly the same. Why ask more of band kids? It seems arbitrary.

Extra concert/symphonic band/symphony practices are akin to homework for other classes. Marching band is one credit hour and has many benefits, whether anti-banders believe it or not.

OP here, the issue isn't that marching band has benefits - I am sure it does. The issue is that DC is already part of a regional orchestra that also has benefits and doesn't want to give that up (it is 4 hours of practice each Saturday) so now she can't participate in the appropriate level of school band. I talked to her again, she is just going to skip school band altogether. She may decide to add another instrument at some point but she would prefer to do that via private lessons and independent practice instead of a lower-level school band where she is stuck playing music she doesn't like.