<p>Hey guys, I am a sophomore, and I am currently been in marching band for two years (three when next year starts). I am just wondering is marching band worth all the time? It is extremely time-consuming. I don't play to go into a music major, but I am doing marching band for college app and the hell of it (meeting people and socialize), so is it worth my time being?</p>
<p>I LOVED marching band. I hated the practices, but the competitions and the people way made up for it.
It’s a personal preference, I suppose. Depends how much you enjoy it. It was difficult to balance schoolwork and band at times, but it was way worth it for me.</p>
<p>Worth it? Heck yeah! If you do it right (punctual, attend all rehearsals, etc) it pays off.
I am a band person who didn’t continue band after high school, played since third grade (no I wasn’t phenomenal lol). I’m a college freshman, soon sophomore, and I didn’t have the funds to even join our pep band at Davis. But let me tell you, all that I learned in band projects into real life. Life lessons. Especially if your band is competitive. You learn many, many skills. Even memory skills, competitive yet classy, the need to be early. Oh so much that’s not direct , as well. It also is a great EC if you dedicate yourself. Its very time consuming. But you can learn how to manage your time.
Plus, its fun!</p>
<p>It’s only worth it of you really care about it- if you’re just going through the motions to list it as an activity, then I’m not so sure that this helps you, especially if you’re not that enthused with it to begin with.</p>
<p>YES! It’s worth it. It’s a fun activity. Competitions, even some practices, are where memories are made–memories that you will keep with you for a long time. It is absolutely worth it. What you learn in band translates into the rest of your life as RubyGirl14 said; it’s not a coincidence that every year at my school, at least 5 of the top 10 ranked seniors are in band. You get incredibly close to the friends in band, especially those in your section, as I’m sure you know. It’s a great experience. Continuing it is worth it.</p>
<p>I really enjoy being in band, but my parents want to pull me out.</p>
<p>My parents think that I can use all those time spent on marching band to be used on doing something else instead, like studying or do some EC’s.</p>
<p>Marching band is an EC though…</p>
<p>It’s only worth it if you’re good. You don’t want to be that guy who always throws of the form and forget their set.</p>
<p>It depends. I was good at marching, and I played 1st clarinet in marching band, as well as orchestra, but it was so difficult, I couldn’t find myself enjoying it. Not difficult, it’s just that our band director is in the army band, so are all of his helpers, and they are all guys, so it’s tough on us. I quit after 2 years, I was happy, even though I miss the clarinet.</p>
<p>@FastNeutrino I meant like other EC’s, like volunteering, internships, etc.</p>
<p>If you really love being in marching band, then I think you should stay. If you’re passionate about being in band, then there is a possibility of using your experience for one of your college essays. I was doing an EC that was totally unrelated to my intended major and I managed to incorporate it in my college essays. :)</p>
<p>I really enjoyed the band. But I decided from junior year I won’t do band, because I have more things I want to do. Priorities! I will still play outside the school.</p>
<p>In my kid’s high school, marching band is by far the most demanding, time consuming activity. Not exaggerating, it is like having a part time job.<br>
Is it worth it, especially if you are not a music major?
I would say it depends on what you are getting from it and how much involved you are. Band offers A LOT of opportunity apart from music excellence. My kid (not a music major) is the band’s web designers, the band’s flyer, poster etc designer, the back stage helper for events they organize and a band officer. He told me that by being a band officer he learned how to run a small organization: Manage conflict, Fund raise, manage events, outreach, local politics (for town funding) etc etc…
At one point they were in a “spy” mission to a neighboring high school’s band… He had a blast!</p>
<p>But just doing it so you can put it in your app? I do not think so.</p>
<p>Yea; marching band is extremely time-consuming. I am wondering if I should’ve used all those time spent on marching band on something else, like volunteering or doing something productive.</p>