<p>I just got accepted to cornell ED (very excited!!!) and i absolutely love marching band. However, i was looking at the schedule and it seems very demanding during the fall. is this a bad idea to join the marching band freshmen year cause of the demanding course work? i was drum major this year for my hs band and it seems like soooo much fun at cornell but im afraid that itll be too much to deal with. what should i do??</p>
<p>The great thing about pep and marching band at Cornell is that attendance is purely voluntary. If you’ve got a big project you have to work on one night, and there’s also a big game, you can skip the game and no one will mind too much. I know there’s a ton of freshmen in marching band, so don’t be intimidated too much.</p>
<p>thats good to kno–but isnt band camp mandatory? i thought that that was like the first monday, tuesday and wednesday from 9-4…then wouldnt u end up missing orientation?</p>
<p>I haven’t heard anything about band camp before… The only thing I can think of is unofficial auditions for marching band, which take place during orientation. I’m not in marching band though, so I don’t know much about them. I only know that you just go in once, and they make sure you can actually play whatever instrument, it’s not like they’re selective. Maybe someone in marching band can offer more insight.</p>
<p>thank you sooo much! would you happen to know anything about the wind ensemble or symphonic band? from the website it looks EXTREMELY selective…im an allstate flutist but i highly doubt id actually get in as a freshman…
i cant wait to leave high school and go to cornell!</p>
<p>I’m in the wind ensemble and I have to say, it is one of the best groups I have ever played in and has been a defining experience during my time at Cornell. Almost everybody gets put in a group but the exception is, unfortunately, for flutes. I’m sure if you are at an all-state level you have a chance. If you come to visit at all in the spring, bring your flute and you can sit in on a rehearsal! The director is really wonderful and was a reason why I came to Cornell.</p>
<p>The thing about marching band is that since it is voluntary, it is really not that serious. It is essentially a social club with not the biggest focus on actually being high quality marchers. that been said, the people I know in it have a blast…it’s kind of a cult. It’s also possible to do both marching band and a regular band.</p>
<p>thank you so much for your insight! do people usually get in as a freshman for the wind ensemble? i looked on the website and it has 3 flutes…but i guess a little competition must come if you play an instrument as common as the flute!</p>
<p>yeah, the marching band didnt look that serious, but i thought it might be fun to get to kno a few more people during my first year that way. and from experience, any marching band is practically a cult–with weird and wacky traditions, but thats why we’re called band geeks right?</p>
<p>the only concern that i had was band camp fell on the first three days during orientation week, and im afraid that ill miss out on things to do if im at band camp from 9-4…theres just so much to choose from at cornell, i dont want to miss anything!</p>
<p>again, thanks so much! whenever i went on the tours it was impossible to find someone who was actually musical and who was involved in these programs. is there anything else that a lot of freshmen do/join during their first year?</p>