<p>hey kfc4u, I'm pretty sure I'm going to join the marching band, but how hard is it to get into? I know you have to addition by playing 4 incredibly easy scales and a piece of music. I play the bari sax and I know UCLA doesn't march them, so I guess I would have to march alto or tenor. I'm leaning towards alto. I hope it's not that hard to be in that section. but then again, don't they try to recruit people? So don't they take what they can get as long as you know what you're doing? Also, is band really time consuming? Like in high school we have to show up at 4am on Saturdays and we don't get back until midnight. definitely can't be that bad, at least I hope. I read on the band's website that you guys only practice 3 times a week, that's not bad. I also don't want to buy my own sax. Do they loan them out? I just don't want to commit myself to band and end up not liking it.</p>
<p>Yeah it's pretty easy to get into the marching band as a walk-on, it's just those 4 scales and a piece of your choice!! no marching audition.</p>
<p>Hmm... my section leader is actually a bari sax player, but because we don't march those at UCLA, he switched to Tuba. but anyway, here's my story:</p>
<p>I'm a bassoon player who marched baritone in high school. And I was in your situation, I didn't know what to march for college band. Trombone? Tuba? I eventually decided on tuba, learned how to play it over the summer, and sent in my audition (my parents didn't want to drive me all the way to UCLA to do the live audition). My audition was... decent maybe? wasn't that great... but maybe because tuba is more high demand it was easier for me? But the only instruments we have surplus in are flute and clarinet, so you should be okay. The only section that is really tough to make it into is the Percussion section. so as for audition, I think you're okay.</p>
<p>as for time commitment, yea i had the same question too when i was contemplating joining band... here's a typical week during the school year (after band camp, which is entire 12 hour days for 2 weeks before school starts):
2 hours on tuesday night 5-7pm
2 hours on thursday evening 4-6pm
2 hours on friday afternoon 3-5pm
saturday depends on when the football game is, but earliest is around 8am, and if we start on a late day, then latest we come back around 8 or 9pm. usually a football game lasts around... 8 hours? we practice beforehand, have lunch, then we perform in the parking lot, play at pre-game, the game, halftime, then do a post-game mini-concert. </p>
<p>there's some additional stuff: bay area trip (stanford next season) that will take your entire weekend (friday-sunday), and about 2 hours for homecoming parade. i dont think many of the section leaders host sectionals. besides that, there was nothing additional. the reason?</p>
<p>we're SUPER PRODUCTIVE during rehearsal. there are several people who've never marched in a marching band before, they struggled earlier on, but its manageable for them. but yeah, we move very quickly and efficiently. a lot of stuff is learned during band camp too, so its easier during the school year. </p>
<p>i actually felt that college marching band was less time consuming than high school marching band... and a lot more efficient. </p>
<p>as for loaning out a sax, i'm not sure on this. what i suggest you do is when you fill your statement of intent to register, check that you're interested in joining marching band, and a recruiter will call you. you can ask the recruiter that question. </p>
<p>just a few thoughts:
- they seemed to WANT more people to join marching band
- people start at difference experience levels... not everyone had a chance to march in a good high school band, so yeah, its understandable
- you get to move in earlier than everyone else!!!! beat the traffic!!
- band counts as 2 units of A's... great GPA booster!</p>
<p>btw newpswahine, are you from hawaii?</p>
<p>Do marching bands in general accept those with no experience? I'd really like to join, but I can only play the piano. I learn quickly though so I'd probably be able to pick up a woodwind instrument and play it decently.</p>
<p>marching bands accept those with no experience assuming that you will learn how to march and play like everyone else by the end of 2 weeks of band camp. yup. no marching experience is okay i guess, because every college has a different marching style, and they'll want to teach you that marching style starting with the basics, and it doesnt matter whether or not you're a beginner or if you've marched drum corps. they want to make sure we all march the same. as for music, keep practicing, it will help you at least play decently. but when it comes to field show, marching is more important than music, because people can see you make a mistake on the field, but people probably can't hear you make a mistake or fake your playing if you're being covered up by 250 others. </p>
<p>picking a woodwind instrument might help... at least for UCLA marching band, there are more flutes and clarinets than we need, so they might be alternates or they might switch off with someone for every other field show. woodwinds aren't heard as much so that will help give u a cover too haha. </p>
<p>i think marching band is part of the experience of college life. i really recommend you try it, even if its just for one year. it will, however, take up most of your extracurricular time during fall quarter, and you might not be able to have time to do things like pledge a frat or join 5 other clubs, but you also get to meet some friends from marching band to start off with, so that's a good thing. nevertheless, there is nothing like putting on a college marching band uniform and performing your show at the ROSE BOWL (or any other big stadium). it's really fun!</p>
<p>"woodwinds aren't heard as much so that will help give u a cover too haha." </p>
<p>LOL! Okay, woodwind it is then. I'd really love to give it a try. I'm really clumsy though, so I'll probably trip, create a domino effect, and embarrass my school on national television.</p>
<p>Woohoo, thanks for the encouragement!</p>
<p>yea give it a try! it's definately worth it for the once-in-a-lifetime experience. </p>
<p>although i do have to point out, our director's really good at picking out people who aren't in their correct spots on the field, and surprisingly, he can probably name your first name (even though you might think he has no idea who you are). but don't take it personally, he's just really efficient in making sure all the details are finetuned so that everything looks good in front of tens of thousands of people.</p>
<p>kfc, i love how helpful you are! You are a necessity to the UCLA forum.</p>
<p>haha thanks skybaker =)</p>