<p>I'm a freshman in high school wanting about to register for classes for my sophomore year. I am rather serious about playing my instrument and am first chair in the middle band at my school. I am wondering whether it is worth it to continue to playing in school because I also participate in some of the more elite youth orchestras in my area, but I cannot get into district or all state band without remaining in band as a class. It is not a weighted class and I heard that some colleges discredit nonacademic classes when looking at your college app. I would like to be taking some AP science classes with the period that I am in band, and it would really help if anyone had any advice on remaining in the program or dropping it, thanks! I do love playing in the band but it's really a blowoff class everyday...</p>
<p>Why is this in the UPenn forum?
Take the class if you really want to get into the district band.
Can you take private lessons?</p>
<p>Is Penn one of the schools that discredit the nonacademic classes? I was in regular band for my freshman and sophomore year and now I’m in the honors. does that count for anything?</p>
<p>I’m in my school band and it didn’t hurt me, so just stay in if you like it.</p>
<p>I stayed in band all throughout middle school and high school and it was one of my primary extracurricular activities. I think that helped my application because I showed a lot of committment to music by staying in band, and like you said, had the chance to make district band, audition for All-States, etc.</p>
<p>Yeah, that’s the key—show dedication. Don’t just be in the band. Try to strive for first chair, compete (and win) at a district or state level, make the All-State band, etc. It won’t help you just to be in the school band; it will help you if you can show your dedication (through aforementioned examples).</p>
<p>I took wind ensemble for four years, jazz band for three years, and AP Music Theory for a year. I got into M&T with two classes dedicated to music each year.</p>
<p>It really doesn’t matter.</p>