Is anyone part of the marching band at Umich that can tell me what their experience was like in it? I’ve been religiously involved with the music program at my school (specifically the marching band) and I’m highly considering auditioning for umich’s band if I get admitted. I know it’s very time consuming and the band is very intense but I don’t want to give up musical performance completely as it is one of my favorite hobbies! Any advice?
Thank you!
I’m not in the marching band - but I was in the marching band at a comparable college (large public university, with a well-respected marching band, and a nationally ranked football team), and I can tell you that it was the BEST decision I EVER made. Unlike you, I didn’t love marching band in HS, but I decided to give it a try in college, and I LOVED IT. I made lifelong friends (we still get together for reunions constantly), and it was a great way to fit in on campus.
My daughter is a music major at UMich - voice, though - but several kids from her HS are in the UM Marching Band, and they rave about it. I’ve even spoken to one, and we discussed how it sounds like he’s having a similar experience to what I wrote in my first paragraph. One interesting thing that many of us have noticed is that we tend to make better grades during Fall semester than winter…and I think it’s because we have to learn how to budget our time in the fall in order to participate in marching band and make good grades. So, in short, DO IT! You won’t regret it…and if you do, then you don’t have to return your sophomore year…but I bet you will!!
My D’s friend is in marching band. I remember they got early move in date as they start before the semester.
I’m in the MMB! I love being in the program, I have met so many people that I would have never met otherwise (who ended up becoming my very best friends), and coming out of the tunnel every Saturday is an incredible experience! Joining the MMB has been the best decision I have made since coming to UM. If you decide not to join marching band, you can participate in athletic bands (hockey, basketball, volleyball), there’s a lot of overlap with the music in the athletic bands and the MMB. There are also concert bands that you can join.