MS and HS Band
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Anonymous
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Is marching band a requirement for band in all FCPS HS?
Do any HS offer alternatives to marching band? Is marching band a bigger commitment than a MS local travel sport? Are there individual competitions like for orchestra? My strings kid was planning to go to one in 6th grade before covid hit (forget the name). I was not into music classes in school, but my kids are. Turns out my lazy horn player has some talent and skills, and is getting attention from teachers and classmates. His band teacher wants him to tryout for something that he fails to remember, so I have no idea what it is. I’m dubious about getting him more involved in a group outside of school. He doesn’t have a passion for it, but likes his Zoom lessons with his grandfather. He was going to play in school just the first year of MS, but now he’s getting this attention. He’s also a social kid, so if he has or makes good friends with band, he’ll probably want to continue in school. Meanwhile I’m trying to mentally prepare for what kind of student and family commitment may be involved. He already plays a sport, not travel like his sibling, but still participates in it two seasons a year along with other activities. I’m getting the sense that marching people are a bit like soccer and lacrosse people in their … intensity(???). (I was basketball player — totally different kind of culture than what I’ve seen of those two sports). Can you skip marching band and just play in orchestra pits for school plays? Are there school/district jazz bands? Just looking for possible alternatives to marching band that I can plant in his ear. |
Anonymous
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1. No, not all HSs require marching band. It depends on the HS. My band kid was a TJ and it was voluntary. You could March without band class (many kids had to take a year off to meet TJ diploma requirements), take band without marching. That said, the kids who do band tend absolutely love it, find their people, and stick with it for 4 years.
DC was pupil placed for IB before getting into HS and they required marching for I think the first 1-2 years, then it was voluntary? Or only for the top band? It’s been a few years. But there was a way to do band without marching all 4 years. DC2 is at our base school and it is not required, but the band is primarily pep band football games, only competes once a year and just isn’t that strong. Band director dependent. 2. I’m not sure what you mean by alternatives. All HSs have a broad range of ECs, musical and not 3. I’ve never had a travel sports kid so I can’t compare, but marching band for DS was all consuming, 8/1 to about 11/1. 2 weeks of 8-5 home camp in August, 9 days of away camp, 12-14 hours of practice (3 nights a week), home football games, all day Saturday or Sunday practices early in the season, 4-5 full day weekend competitions, some 6am to midnight and some overnight. But, TJ and Madison have the strongest marching band programs in the county. Some schools put in less time and compete less often. 4. Like orchestra, there is Senior Regional Band, All District, All State, Solo and ensemble (all optional) and Full band district assessment, which is not. You can access other competitions through your private teacher or talking to your band director. 5. Yes, you can show up and do pit orchestra, at least in my kids HSs. It isn’t that competitive. 6. DS did jazz band in MS. Jazz band was a competitive entry EC that played in the community and a curricular class option in HS for DS. In both cases, they only took certain instruments. His instrument qualified in MS and it was a great (not very time consuming) activity. His instrument did not qualify for jazz band in HS. You can also do all state jazz band. Personally, I wouldn’t discourage marching band, because it’s a community/peer group of great kids, hard work, exercise and considered a significant EC by colleges. Many kids who do it think it’s the best part of HS. Strategically, taking 4 years of band in HS is great. It shows dedication to colleges while also giving kids a down period to relax and do something completely different and an easy A. If you name your HS, I’m sure someone can tell you whether marching is required and how strong the band program is. I will say my other kid just started senior year in orchestra. And even though she has played in the highest ensemble, it is significantly time, energy, effort than band. |
Anonymous
| ^^^ orchestra is significantly less time, energy, etc than band. |
Anonymous
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I have the exact same questions and was going to email the HS band director this morning to ask, actually. My DD's private teacher thinks it's all or nothing -- you either march or you don't do band -- but I've heard that it can be school dependent so I didn't see the harm in asking the question.
What school? Maybe someone here can chime in. |
Anonymous
| Pretty much alllll of your questions are school dependent. Let us know the school and we can help out a bit more. |
Anonymous
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If your child is in the middle school band, I would talk with the middle school band director who would know the high school program the school feeds and could give you a solid explanation of what to expect in HS. You can also call the HS band director if you feel comfortable with that.
There are a number of youth wind ensembles and orchestras outside of school that a number of students play in, and that is probably what your son's teacher is talking about (AYPO, northern virginia youth winds, virginia winds academy, etc). Those are one night a week groups selected through audition but not necessary, but most require you play in your school band as well. If your child is not overly passionate as of yet, I would suggest not investing in those at this point. |
Anonymous
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My Marching Band experience was in the 1990's but I suspect it is similar to kids experiences today. My school was a more competitive band, we competed in 6 competitions a season and then the regional finals. We started in the summer and had summer band practice so that we had the music and formations down before school started. We had practice after school and competitions on the weekend, although none of our competitions were over night. It was more intense then the varsity sports that I played. Far more intense then my sports. We also won a lot more.
Loved my marching band experience. I was bummed when we moved and my new schools band was all parade marching, which is boring as all hell and gone. I did not participate in that band. My first school was also competitive in orchestra, band, jazz band, and choir. We travelled for competitions including a competition in Montreal. It was awesome! It was very much director dependent. Shortly after we moved, the band director and music chair changed and the band and choir stopped with the competitions and the like. I felt sorry for the music kids because it was a great program and we had a bunch of kids attending some of the better music based University program. It really was a special experience. Oh, and I sucked. Like I was not musically gifted and had to work my butt off but I learned a ton. We did not cut people from marching band, choir or orchestra. We had select bands and choirs as well that I never had a chance of making. |
Anonymous
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Thanks for the all the info. I’m exhausted already just hearing about everything that goes on from August to November. I’m woefully under prepared if he goes this route, especially if his sibling continues to play his spring sport in HS. They will overlap 3 years and will never have time off in the summer.
Our HS is Herndon BTW. |
Anonymous
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Most of the info you want is on HHS Band page. It looks like at a Herndon, you have to March in order to play in the top band (which usually also comes with other additional opportunities). Anyway, if you poke around the band website, most of the information is there. Here’s the new member info sheet:
https://www.herndonband.org/newstudents |
Anonymous
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https://19db967d-2008-4ef9-90bf-17bc50859285.filesusr.com/ugd/82e38f_d9cebdfc14324f579ec5bdf2dbfcb29a.pdf
Here’s the band calendar. They actually only practice 7 hours a week. It looks like less of a commitment than Madison, TJ, etc would be. |
Anonymous
| Thanks again. We have some time to help him sort out what he wants to do, but HS seems to be fast approaching. |
Anonymous
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I copied this text from McLean HS' band page, which is what I thought. Marching Band is only REQUIRED if you are in symphomic band. Lower bands, it's optional.
Fairfax County Public Schools mandates that marching band is required for Symphonic Band students only. It is optional (but encouraged) for Wind Ensemble and Concert Band students. |
Anonymous
Oooh! Concert Band might be a better option if he sticks with it into high school. There must be other kids who choose it (eg, if they play a fall sport) over Symphonic Band, right? Right now I don’t see him wanting to put in the time for symphonic / marching band, but things could change. Right now it’s a way to connect with out of state grandpa over Zoom. |
Anonymous
That is not how it works at LBSS. It's mandatory for the top 3 bands, not the one bottom band. They had camp starting on August 2nd for some people, August 4th or 5th for newbies (IIRC) and August 9 for everyone else. It was every day, all day until school started. Then T/Th afternoons. All home football games and up to three weekend competitions depending on COVID restrictions. Seems like a lot to me, unless you love band. And there's usually some sort of optional (but encouraged) band camp in June. I hope you don't like summer. |
Anonymous
| Marching required at Madison regardless of level. And the Director is not a nice person. |