<p>I'm pretty much set on attending Berkeley next year! Very thrilling, but I'm curious as to just <em>how</em> stressful and time consuming being a MCB major will be . . ? I was hoping to join the marching band and everything because I love it, but will I have time? Do they take many trips and are rehearsals/games going to wreak havoc on my study time? Please, if anyone is doing both (MCB major and Band), could they provide a little insight? =]</p>
<p>If you learn to balance your time and have good time management, it won't be that big a problem. This year's schedule is actually very nice. Travel time is rare for newmen, so you won't have to worry about that for now; the one big trip that the full band makes every year is to SoCal (it'll be against U$C this year). Big Game is at home this year, so there's no travel involved either. Keep in mind that Big Game Week is a WHIRLWIND of activities, and band will be playing all around the Bay Area at many events. A lot of bandsmen don't go to class. Also, our Big Game mantra is "No sleep till Big Game."
Also, we'll probably go to a bowl game, but that will be near winter break. I'm still deciding between MCB and IB, but it's not too bad, since you have no band obligations during the spring, only the fall. Rehearsals during marching season do take up a lot of time though - 2 hours a day, and if it's a game week, your ENTIRE Saturday is pretty much gone (call time for morning rehearsal on Sat is usually 7am or something). Again, it's all about learning good time management. If I may ask, what instrument do you play?</p>
<p>If you can pull it off (which is definitely doable), then you will have an awesome time with lots of chances to make lasting friends and memories!</p>
<p>thanks, tastyb and unlimited =]
now i know there's hope, yay
'cause band and music was pretty much my life in high school and i couldn't bear to give it up yet
so 'newmen'? would that be me?
and my time management is pretty good. maybe. </p>
<p>and for me,
symphonic band - oboe
marching - mellophone (used to be flute)
[=</p>
<p>Yep, you're a newman, newman. Get used to being called that for the first few weeks before we start remembering your names.</p>
<p>"Cal Band Great!"</p>
<p>Woooooooo! (stupid 10char lim)</p>
<p>hey tastyb, are you premed as well?</p>
<p>Yes I am. Did you come to Cal Day yesterday? If you did, I hope you caught one of our two performances to see just how much fun it is to be in band.</p>
<p>CalDay convinced me to join band. I thought I was going to withstand it too... </p>
<p>Oh well, are auditions hard?</p>
<p>Auditions aren't really that hard, but just because you get in during music auditions does not necessarily mean you'll get to stay in band. At the end of our 8-day Fall Training Program the week before school starts, we will make cuts. Very few people got cut last year (only 4, I think), but the number may be bigger this year because we seem to be getting more recruits. Make sure you do the best you can during FTP - show that you can march well, that you can keep in time, that you can learn commands quickly, and that you can keep good form.</p>
<p>Another fact you might be interested in is that more MCB students join Cal Band than any other major (according to the site).</p>