If you are doing band, is it any good for college application if you don’t show any leadership in it? Such as just going to band for an easy class.
I think that most universities appreciate band students because they have ensembles, orchestras and marching bands to fill. They also acknowledge students to be a team player. You don’t need to be a leader in your school band. However, some particular instruments maybe help more.
Continue Band at high school if you like enjoying playing music with your friends at some degree. It can be easy “A” but is sure time consuming sometimes.
Band isn’t a core course and won’t add to academic rigor. But no student has (nor should have) eight core AP courses on a schedule. Having other interests are important, and most schools would prefer to see a music, choir, art, etc. class mixed in to show a rounded person.
To me, band is at the upper end of value of these courses. You need to work with others in a collaborative effort, and music has fundamental math underpinning it, whether you realize it or not.
Don’t enroll in band for the first time as a senior thinking it will be impressive. But if you’ve been in band, and it interests you/you enjoy it, absolutely continue.