<p>Is anyone planning to join marching band/pep bands at their new colleges. Any experiences regarding balancing course load, or just general comments appreciated. Thanks</p>
<p>Unless you are a music major, I would think academics would come first and marching band / pep band would only be done if time allowed. Balancing course loads sounds like a person might take fewer classes to allow time for band, and this seems like it would defeat the point of being in college.</p>
<p>litlefalls boy is this timely. D is playing for her college sports band. She just returned from Providence Saturday night and is headed to Houston on Wed for the Sweet 16. At least at her college and up until the tournament she has had no trouble balancing. She is a bio major and even with the rigorous course load she has been able to keep up. She is speaking to her professors today about what she will be missing but with the internet and blackboard etc. the only thing she had to make up in class was a chem lab. I expect that her professors will all work with her and the other band kids as the whole school is beyond excited.</p>
<p>Her school has no football so sports band only plays for home basketball games and the tournaments. I am sure it is one of the lower key sports band out there but that has been her experience.</p>
<p>I could not be happier that she chose this college and this EC as without either she would not have had this experience.</p>
<p>My son plans on trying out for the Blue Band at Penn State. A good marching band program was a key component of his college search process. He actually eliminated several schools because they didn’t have good bands.</p>
<p>Most college bands are composed of primarily non-music majors, so the bands and the academic departments work together to try to make things easier for the students. And a lot of schools have scholarships for non-music band majors. </p>
<p>Yes, balancing the workload and the band practices can be tough - but from what I have seen of my son’s high school band (a well respected, very competitive band) - time management is something those kids learn early on. It isn’t easy for the juniors and seniors to juggle practices, football games, marching competitions and several AP classes - but they do it! Because if they don’t have passing grades - they don’t march! </p>
<p>historymom - what a great opportunity for your daughter. My DH is still kicking himself (over 30 years later) for not trying out for the Duke pep band! And we’re in Houston, so if you have any questions - just let me know!</p>
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<p>Like all things, it would depend on the student. I went to the University of Texas, which has a huge marching band. I had a lot of friends in the band and the majority of them were not music majors. The band basically becomes their core peer group and these guys had a whole lot of fun, yet were able to take normal class loads and do just fine. Now, they probably didn’t join fraternities and sororities or join other social groups which required a lot of time spent in them, but I always secretly envied the band guys and girls. They were a really close knit group and got to do lots of fun activities together.</p>
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<p>This is very true! </p>
<p>UT does have a great band and my son has several friends in it. They LOVE the band, but HATE the uniforms! :)</p>
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<p>My son had a great experience in the college band. And his grades held up just fine even though he was an engineering major. Turns out that Engineering is the most popular major among band members! He got to play in the pep band at the NCAA Final Four games, travelled with the football team all over to bowl games, and had a great time participating in pep rallies and homecoming parades. It was a real kick to see him on TV every time they scored a touchdown, the TV cameras always show the band whooping it up. And great fun for parents at the home games, as we got free season tickets.</p>
<p>^^^^UCLA Band Mom, a lot of my friends in the UT band were engineering majors. Funny coincidence!</p>
<p>Son has been in pep bands at all three of his schools so far!</p>
<p>In his case, it has been a paying gig, although not for large sums.
I don’t know if everyone is paid or only if they need your instrument.</p>
<p>I had some friends in the University of Minnesota Marching Band and they really loved it.</p>
<p><<turns out=“” that=“” engineering=“” is=“” the=“” most=“” popular=“” major=“” among=“” band=“” members=“”>></turns></p>
<p>Yup - my son will also be an ENGR major!</p>
<p>Had a friend in the U of Illinois marching band throughout college, plus was in a demanding major (accounting). Did very well in school while also having a blast being in the band, traveling to football bowl games, etc. A unique part of this experience is that it’s life-long – once a band member, always a band member, so you get invited back to perform at homecoming and the like. If you are wavering, I’d say – go for it; I’ve always been a little jealous of how the band members had a wonderful time while in school, and then years later seem to be welcomed back with open arms!</p>
<p>UCLA has the best pep band unis 
Love the Hawaiian shirts!</p>
<p>Grcxx3: It is an amazing experience for her and for the rest us who get to enjoy it that much more knowing that she is there having the time of her life!</p>
<p>bigtrees I think that part of the point of being in college is to seize hold of opportunities that you would not otherwise have. For my kid her involvement over the last three weeks of basketball has been a study a time management and responsibility. Yes it is crazy but it is crazy good and potentially a once in a lifetime thing.</p>
<p>Auspicious a good number of the kids in D’s band are Alum.</p>
<p>S1 was in the Blue Band at PSU and counts that as his most enjoyable experience. He was not a music major but did take several music classes. He did not do it his first year because he was concerned about the time commitment, a decision he later regretted. The time was something that could be worked out. The friendships and close knit community were invaluable and he would have benefited more starting as a freshman.</p>
<p>Singersmom07 - what instrument did/does you son play?</p>
<p>I agree college is the time to try new things that you don’t normally have the opportunity to. I played saxophone in the wind ensemble at my university for 3 years while at college.</p>
<p>What I said was academics should come first. If there aren’t enough hours in the day for everything, the marching band will need to be cut before classes are dropped (in my opinion). </p>
<p>Half of incoming freshman don’t graduate from college. For many this is because they got too distracted with things not related to studying and focusing on classes. Hopefully your kids will be the half that graduate.</p>
<p>bigtrees - Of course academics come first. No one is saying otherwise. </p>
<p>But I would hate to think that my son went thru 4 years of college and never did anything but study. There have to be other outlets - band, fraternities, sports, drama, clubs, student govt, etc. In my son’s case - the only “extra” activity he is interested in is band. And while marching band is the most time-intensive, it is only during the fall. Spring pep bands don’t have as intense a time commitment.</p>
<p>Thanks for the great feedback everyone. My s is also engineering…I would think it would be a great way to meet and feel part of the group from the onset. He is going to U of Michigan a great big 10…which could be made smaller by being a part of the band…just like it did at his large high school. Band kids rule… keep the thread going!!</p>
<p>Count my kid in as a college band member! After 4 years of HS band, it’s hard to give it up!</p>
<p>littlefalls - our sons can “wave” at each other if they both make the bands - since PSU is also part of the Big 10!</p>