<p>Do most people store their instruments in their rooms until their third day of orientation or is there storage elsewhere? I just don't want to be the only guy taking up space in the room with his trumpet.</p>
<p>BTW, how competitive is the Michigan Marching Band? I'm kind of thinking I'd like to participate in something less physically taxing and competitive. Looks like a lot of fun though. How do they compare to other bands such as UW-Madison's? If I don't do it my freshman year, can I audition other years?</p>
<p>Coming from Illinois it was a bit of a dissapointment compared to U of I, or even some of the top high school marching bands. I've often been nearly attacked for being honest about this though. Damn engineers ;)</p>
<p>Hey, I'm in marching band, so I'll be happy to talk to you all about it. As for what you have already asked, you can audition any years, and it is fairly competitive, but well worth it :)</p>
<p>Sam, how is it a disappointment, UMich has to be pretty active in their marching band?</p>
<p>Twirler, I assume you are an auxillary member? But how are the musicians in the band, should I stress over the audition or so my high level solo?</p>
<p>From what I saw last year, an alarmingly high percentage of the show involved little or no movement. The drills were neither impressive or difficult. I also didn't enjoy the music, though this was personal taste more than anything.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/finearts/band/IMG_1235.JPG%5B/url%5D">http://www.argo217.k12.il.us/departs/finearts/band/IMG_1235.JPG</a></p>
<p>Actually the drills varied in difficulty. Yes, there were some easier ones, but the majority were quite difficult. If you ever go out and watch us on Elbel practicing, you will see that P. Nix has us do the same 10 second parts dozens of times to nail them down, which is perhaps why the show ends up looking so easy :) If you know anything about marching bands you will see that ours is one of the best in the country. Oh, and yes, I am one of the baton twirlers, the new one this past year lol. And, it is a TON of work. As for the musicians, everyone is good - they wouldn't be in band, or better yet, make performance block if they weren't. As a first year band member though, you are going to have to work hard to make it into the shows at challenges every week, but trust me it is well worth it (though my solo audition for Nix and Bersaglia and then in front of the whole band was a bit more stressful b/c it was solo haha) Please feel free to IM me at egoobere to discuss - I can also answer any other questions that you may have about the school in general.</p>
<p>Well, I learned at orientation that if you're in UROP, you pretty much can't be in marching band due to the Wednesday night seminar. So that solves that decision.</p>
<p>Wait what?!?! My boyfriend is in UROP and is an alto sax. Band goes 4:45-6:15 five days a week - is this something new? Lots of people in band are in UROP</p>
<p>Unless you are in the school of Art and Design on North Campus, being in band is rarely an issue. It is one for those students b/c they have classes till after four every day on North which blows as my friend wants to do band who starts next year and it isn't looking so good for him.</p>
<p>Really? At the UROP meeting they said it was a general rule that UROP students weren't allowed to participate in marching band. Maybe its a first year student rule so we don't overload ourselves.</p>
<p>My friends were 1st years, not including those who weren't of course. I'll ask them today when I talk to them for you. Did you end up not auditioning then btw?</p>
<p>I decided not to audition not only because of UROP, but because I wanted to fit certain classes in my schedule. Overall I didn't want to try to pack too much into my first semester. I think I would rather audition for one of the pep bands or concert bands. BTW, when are those auditions and what are the time commitments? I just want some way to continue playing my trumpet, but without a huge physical and time commitment.</p>
<p>Good call, band does take a HUGE time and physical commitment, which I noticed second semester when I was like....soooo what to do what to do, I have a life outside of band? Anyways, I highly recommend campus bands, all the MMB does those second semester to stay in shape, plus its only a one night a week commitment with a performance at the end. Those auditions are held in January and there are three bands. As for pep and concert bands, I believe they will be having a meeting for all interested in those in September or so, as I remember that happening this past year, so don't worry too much about it. All of these bands are very laid back compared to MMB (Band members will usually do MMB plus one of these), and being in hockey band and some of the other bands also includes getting paid - not a bad deal. Unless you are in the Fanfare band which is a big big deal and requires a audition and is difficult to be in, you should have no problem being part of one of these bands. Best of luck and you better go to the football games and watch us (and the fb of course haha). If you have any other school questions I would be glad to help you as well.</p>
<p>Do you think marching band would be manageable with, say, Club tennis, a service club, job, and studying?</p>
<p>"If you ever go out and watch us on Elbel practicing, you will see that P. Nix has us do the same 10 second parts dozens of times to nail them down, which is perhaps why the show ends up looking so easy"</p>
<p>Oh please, there is a difference between making difficult drill look easy and marching easy drill. Maybe my opinion is absurd, but I don't find that standing still while playing for large chunks of the show is very difficult, for one.</p>
<p>"If you know anything about marching bands you will see that ours is one of the best in the country."</p>
<p>So what other university marching bands have you seen?</p>
