Hi, I’m a first year student in HS and I have a question.
I really enjoy my band activities but it’s cutting a lot into my schedule with sectionals and regular class schedule.
Do most people continue band for all four years? will it give me edge for college application and how much of it?
I’ve been going to private lessons too and I play really at a good level. I’m a section leader for my grade (9th) and been to all-state etc.
but my high school only requires me to take 1 credit for Fine Arts - in other words I will be taking band course for three more years with no apparent benefit toward graduation.
But I do enjoy being in the band … it helps me discipline myself.
Let’s say if I do really well in solo festival etc. but I’m not considering of going to music major, then will it all be worth it?
What classes does it cut into? I quit band because it was so boring ( I was third out of 21, so no I wasnt too bad lol), and I needed a study hall during soccer season. Do you have a way to get PE credits? Marching Band waives you from PE, which is the only reason I would take it. It’s showed dedication and commitment to music, but I don’t really think its a big deal. You’ll forget how to play it 15 years later
Hmm, I’m not sure, but I can definitely use the time to go visit study help or eat lunch. I’ll have to look into that - what classes are offered during the band period (3rd).
Has anybody stayed in band for four years and got into their first-choice schools?
I have study hall instead. My grades are doing a lot better since then, just depends on if you truly make use of the period (most people play on phones, I do in Friday haha). Band wouldn’t make the difference for those very prestigious schools unless you are getting some really great recognitions/awards, which would only help your achievements or whatever, not like its a hook or something to really make you stand out
You shouldn’t quit if you really love it and you can make your schedule work. Not because of how it will affect college admission, but because it adds something to your life and high school experience that can’t be experienced in other types of classes. Being able to make music is something special even if you don’t plan to major in it.
I’m in band (a sophomore). But if you enjoy it, you should do it. Everyone has to make sacrifices. I know people who have been accepted into the big schools (MIT, Stanford, etc.) even when they took band over an AP science class or so due to scheduling. If rest of your classes are good, and you like doing band, you should continue to do it.
Not to mention, there are possibilities of scholarships for marching band and/or being in an ensemble in college, which can be big if you are out of state
I think I would stick with band. 4 years of the same school activity such as band for all 4 years shows commitment and will look good on college applications. My daughter does band as well. It does cut into some other classes she would like to take but she really enjoys Marching season and concert band.
Music can really help in your application, especially if you are talented and love it. The awards that come with it and dedication are well recognized by colleges.
Hi! I’m a junior. I was in marching band for two years (9th + 10th) and this is my third and last year in concert band. I play clarinet and really loved it. I took private lessons, made county-wide, region-wide, and state-wide honor ensembles. I truly had a passion for clarinet, but my band director is probably one of the worst people I’ve ever met. I could rant on and on, but to keep it brief, the way he taught us students was absolutely horrible and he made miserable, and consequently I lost so much interest in band that I’m quitting clarinet all together at the end of the school year. (I may try to pick it up again in college.) Anyways, I was able to join a lot more activites this year and try out things I would’ve never done before since band took up so much time! For example, I’m apart of a half marathon training group, something I couldn’t have done because band took up all my time on Saturdays.
As far as quitting band, don’t be afraid to. A girl from my school was in concert band in 9th and 10th grade. She quit after those two years and she was REALLY good. She quit because it was bringing her GPA down. But she was also apart of a very prestigious auditions-only youth orchestra unaffiliated with our school. So even though she wasn’t in band in school, she was still active in music in a way that was not too time consuming. And she’s currently attending Harvard btw.
So quitting band is certainly not jeopardizing your college application, and imo marching band is really only noteworthy on an application if you’re in leadership. So it’s alright to quit if you feel the need to, because you can always find an alternative activity to do, be it a youth orchestra or even something that’s not related to music. Good luck and don’t stress out too much over this!
Anyway, I’m just a freshman, but I LOVE band! Honestly, it is literally the last class I would give up. But if you don’t enjoy it very much, then it’s fine to quit. It would be a bonus if you took it for all four years, but it won’t hurt you at all if you drop it. If you really like band, then don’t quit. But if you don’t enjoy it, then there’s nothing wrong with quitting! good luck!
@ILikePlants My good friend that graduated got into her #1 school (UF) because of band. She’s really talented & go into all state like 3 times, and won a ton of stuff. She was about #80 in her class, only took about 5 AP’s (a small amount for our school), and got a fair amount of B’s. She was accepted over the #12 person in class who took 14 AP’s, had a 4.9 weighted GPA, got mostly A’s, and was in NHS. So yes, people definitely get into colleges because of 4 years of band AND achievements in band. It shows that you’re committed. If you have another sport/activity that you do well in though, then that will be good too
Wow, @skieurope, the video was amazing. I totally feel what he was saying. He may not have become valedictorian but he was still the top 3. Down with the college admissions and the system who do not value personal growth and learning in favor of a list of awards, GPAs and test scores. I’m not super great in band but I enjoy being the band member so I think I will continue to be in the band.
@skieurope She still continued with music outside of school that was a lot more productive than taking band class imo. She was very talented and not challenged in band class, so I think it worked out for her. I’m sure there were more reasons for her quitting than I am aware of.
Good luck and don’t stress out too much over this!