Band Program at Cornell?

<p>Hello,</p>

<p>I was wondering how Cornell's band (and orchestra) program is... what level of music is typical for their top groups? I play clarinet, and I am coming from one of the best high school band programs in the country (William Mason from Mason, OH), and we went to the Midwest Clinic and the National Concert Band Festival last year. Therefore, it would be a big disappointment if the college band I join isn't really good.</p>

<p>For those in the band:
Is there a big emphasis on intonation?
Do you feel like most people are challenged by the music?
Do a lot of people continue with it throughout undergrad, or do many quit?</p>

<p>Thanks!</p>

<p>~Britt</p>

<p>Hi,
Do they have Color guard also together with Marching Band?</p>

<p>yay for colorguard!!! if there is one.</p>

<p>they have a marching band, orchestra, ridiculously good jazz ensembles and combos, and a very impressive music facility overall. I'm not playing in any of the bands right now, but I can and do go practice on a steinway grand at 3 AM whenever I want because of the facilities and their accessibility.</p>

<p>Hi Sparticus800,
I am currently the captain of my school guard team. I perform in fall and winter guard competitions. Does Cornell have color guard?.</p>

<p>I don't know...they don't make them march on the ice at hockey games though...</p>

<p>That's good to hear. I'd love to be able to practice piano whenever I want. Definitely a big plus!!</p>

<p>On the topic, I am also in the band and also play clarinet, for one of the worst high school band programs in the country. :D Do we have to try out because I think I'd get cut in a second. But I hear the Cornell band is sweet.</p>

<p>I'm guessing all of you sent in CDs, too?
Weird, a lot of clarinetists here! I'm one of them, too.<br>
Continuing to participate in orchestra or band (or even marching band? Drum majoring?) would be amazing</p>

<p>Same here, except I think it would take up too much time and Cornell's not known for having slack courses.</p>

<p>Are you a drum major too, danielsjang??? Because I am!!! I love meeting other drum majors... that's so cool!</p>

<p>I havent posted on here in a real long time basically since I got into cornell (im a freshman now) but I ran into this thread after some friends from back home sent me some links on here about questions they have and I figured I could really help out here with this topic. I'm in marching band, pep band and symphonic band and I play the drums. </p>

<p>Just a few of the thigns addressed already:
Yes there is a colorguard (pretty small tho so they are always looking for new people)
There are tryouts for marching band, symphonic band and wind ensemble but the only one that really matters is wind ensemble (which I didn't audition for). Marching band isn't really auditions at all and symphonic band will take you if you want to do it.</p>

<p>So if any one else has questions about music, I'll be glad to help out</p>

<p>Hello pokeraddiction
Thank you for answering my question about colorguard. I have great passion for colorguard. I hope I will get accepted next year. I am a junior now.</p>

<p>thelarson; yep i'm a DM, too.</p>

<p>pokeraddiction; Do you know much about the symphonic orchestra there? Any chance that a clarinetist could be in a symphonic orchestra? I'm guessing it's very competitive, especially for a woodwind instrument. Are they mostly music majors?
Thanks!</p>

<p>i don't know much about the symphonic orchestra other than that there is one. I was interested in the pure band stuff but knowing some of the people in symphonic orchestra that one sounds pretty competitive and I'm pretty sure they have a full range of instruments on top of the strings but don't quote me on that. And for the music majors question, most people are not music majors in the music programs.</p>

<p>being in a bad band doesn't mean your bad. it means you play with bad people. have some confidence...unless you actually are bad...</p>

<p>similarly, be warned that being in a good band doesn't necessarily make you awesome. ;)</p>

<p>Responding to an above post: I am a drum major also...</p>

<p>I guess I missed out on a few of thelarsons questions:</p>

<p>I can only speak for the symphonic band for the bulk of this but I have heard the Wind Ensemble and they are really good. As for symphonic band there is a range of difficulty of music but there is a good deal of challenging music we do play. And the stuff we have played that is easier technically, we spend a great deal of time on with the intonation and balance and things. And the bands are pretty evenly split between from freshmen to seniors so a lot of people do stick with it.</p>

<p>how much time is spent per week on rehearsal?</p>

<p>give or take about 3-4 hours</p>

<p>im also a clarinet player~ well anyway
pokeraddiction: do you get paid for being in pep band/marching band? playing at games? I heard that my band teacher's son gets paid for being in pep band at a state university and like $30 per game...so yea ... i dunno i might be wrong.... anyway. thanks in advance</p>