<p>Hi all,
I love playing the clarinet, and I was thinking of playing it in college. The practice is 2 hours, 3 times a week, then when the games are, one must stay for 8 hours. Honestly, my academics are much more important (I plan on going to dental or law school with a major in biology). I know it's important to be involved and do what you love, but do you think this is too much of a commitment?</p>
<p>Also, if you're in any university-related bands, please share some of your experiences.</p>
<p>My daughter is in the band at Tennessee. It’s a big time commitment but she’s had some great experiences traveling to away games and a bowl game two years ago.</p>
<p>That’s awesome. :D</p>
<p>Does she feel it has inhibited her academics?</p>
<p>Not at all but she’s a music ed major so you have to take that in to consideration. She does miss class when they travel but they have a letter from the band director that excuses them from class and allows them to make up any missed work, exams, etc.</p>
<p>Also, at UT Marching Band is a 1 credit class once classes start all practice except on game day is done during class time.</p>
<p>The son of a close friend of mine is in the band at Clemson. I’m not sure how it works there though where practice is concerned.</p>
<p>I was in the Michigan State University marching band this past year. MSU’s band is a very intense, very traditional, very old school Big Ten band. I had the time of my life. We had 2 hour practices Monday through Friday, with morning practices at 7:30 AM on game days. We also had “preseason” (band camp) the week before classes started, which went from around 8AM to 10PM for freshmen.</p>
<p>Overall, it was a fantastic experience. The people were awesome and traveling to Orlando for the Capital One Bowl was pretty sweet too. I’m an electrical engineering major and I didn’t have too much trouble with academics once I figured out how to manage my time.</p>
<p>Wow! I’m in the same situation as you. I would love to continue playing but I’m worried about the time commitment. Because I have all these core freshmen classes and I am not a music major, I really can’t afford to do marching band as an actual class like most can (at least I think that’s how it works). I am also a biology major as of now, and I am hoping to tackle the pre-med route (eeeeek!) so I want to make sure that I have enough time for labs and all that too…</p>
<p>The band schedule at my school is three practices a week that last two hours, and then there are games. Apparently there are mini-practices before games, and I have no idea how long those last (assuming at least three hours for games, more if traveling). It works well if people are taking band as a class because I think the practices happen during their class. It would be something extra for me. </p>
<p>I don’t know what to do!!! Any advice? =)</p>