Marching Band required?

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05/19/2026 14:55

Subject: Marching Band required?

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Anonymous

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Anonymous wrote:FCPS highest level of band requires participation in marching band. It's been this way since I was in high school back in the 90s. You can like it or not like it, but it's not new.

FCPS also offers bands that do no require marching band -- generally concert band.

You can talk to the band instructor to see if there's a way to balance music and sport. I've heard some students were able to to do marching band and cheerleading.

That's really unfortunate, and it's actually quite discriminatory. If a kid is a gifted musician who is of the top-band caliber, but they are unable to participate in marching band for a variety of reasons, they are relegated to a lower band? That sounds like a lawsuit waiting to happen.

For example:

Many children with physical disabilities such as CP, spina bifida, OI, or SMA would struggle to participate in marching band. Refusing them access to the highest band simply because they cannot participate in marching band is discrimination.

Many blind or low-sighted children may find marching band a rather difficult activity. Refusing them access to the highest band simply because they cannot participate in marching band is discrimination.

Children with albinism generally cannot participate in most outdoor activities, which marching band is, if there is much sun. Therefore, marching band is probably not an activity for them. Refusing them access to the highest band simply because they cannot participate in marching band is discrimination.

There tend to be exceptions made in those cases, if needed. I know of a kid who didn’t do marching band for religious reasons. Teacher made up another project/assignment for him. He was still allowed in advanced band.

But there are also ways to work it out sometimes. My kid’s band had a color guard member who was legally blind, or nearly so. She still performed with the band. At a band competition, I saw a kid with leg braces stand and play on the side of the field while the others marched. Her dad helped her get to and from her spot. I’ve also seen (at competitions) other similar things.

As for it being unfair, one could make the same argument for other things that conflict… kid is talented at two fall sports, or a spring sport and musical theater, etc.

It's almost like they might make a movie out of such a situation. A Highschool Musical even...

The reality is that there are only two classes I have heard of that require an outside school hours activity as part of an honors class. Biology, which might have to participate in the Science Fair, and Advanced band with marching band. Participation outside of school hours for a grade should not be allowed. Kids shouldn't have to ask for extra assignments or alternative assignments or give up some other activty after school so they can take a class in school. I don't care if that is the way it has always been.

It sounds to me that they made this a requirement in order to be able to continue having a marching band or having competitive marching bands because the number of kids participating was smaller then they wanted. They turned an extra curricular activity into a grade. Athletes don't get to use their sport as fufilling a PE requirement, which would actually make sense, why do musicians get a grade bump because they participate in marching band?

I know that our Scout Troop sees a large drop off in attendence because of marching band in the fall. Kids have to prioritize band over everything else. It has 100% prevented some kids from completing their Eagle rank. They lose out on the ability to hold a leadership position during that time period, because they can't make meetings. They lose out on camping opportunities, they lose out on getting to know other Scouts. Other kids have to drop a sport that they enjoy or excel in or drop music. I don't think that is the intent but it is the consequence.

All music classes require participation outside of school hours for a grade at all levels not just honors. Chorus, Band and Orchestra all require concerts and district assessments which are graded for participation. Some schools have writing classes that require participation at a local writing conference. It's not that unusual to have a class require something outside of school hours. It is typically communicated well in advance of registering for the class and in the event of unusual circumstances, alternative assignments can be requested. It's really not that big of a deal.

At the high school level, kids may have to make choices about the activities that they participate in and how they spend their time. It's a good lesson to learn that they can't do everything all the time.

It causes kids to drop band and choir. I know kids who dropped band in MS when they saw the participation requirements, which is a shame because it means that we are turning kids off of the performing arts because they want to have a balance of activities in their lives.

I was in band inthe 80's and 90's. Our school did not have any requirements for out of school practices and performances. Those were offered if kids wanted to participate but they were extra curricular and not part of the graded class. This allowed kids who wanted to be in band or choir to participate and enjoy the program. The kids who wanted more, participated by choice after school. We paid for our Teachers time through fund raising and/or parents writing a check. The school concert band was larger. The kids who chose to participate in jazz band and in the marching band and competition band did so as an after school activity. They travelled to competitions and had a great experience, I was in that group, but the kids who enjoyed band and wanted to do other activities had that opportunity.

FCPS is losing students who want to be in band or choir with all that adds to the schedule and classes. the fact that people cannot see that is crazy to me. But ok, let the programs continue to shrink because kids have to chose between band and the extras that interfere with participating in clubs or sports and the like.

So true. It's especially frustrating since it seems not all FCPS high schools have the marching band requirement. I guess band directors and/or principals only care about getting winning competitions. Many parents including myself steer their kids away from band instruments in elementary school because of this. Many students who actually enjoy playing band instruement quit in high school for this reason also.