<p>My first thought was weird. They did ask if he could get an electric cello. My concern is time. He has to have his music memorized and prescreens ready hopefully way ahead of time by October. They did say he didn't have to do early morning practices but will have to do all the performances and he will be the only one sitting.lol. One side of me thinks, this would be interesting to do musically and then I think that's crazy, he has auditions. Any thoughts? Or if he does do it, what concessions should I ask for. Marching band directors are not flexible. Any flexibility or concessions I think he will need will have to be asked for before committing. Any ideas? I guess one concession that comes to mind is that he can't miss his other music commitments for marching band. And 3 hour rehearsals in the summer seem a little long. And that is a concession. Instead of 12 hour days, he'll get to come in at 5 p.m. for 3 hours. Too bad this wasn't last year or his sophomore year.</p>
<p>One concession I was thinking of would be to have two cellists to cut back on workload.</p>
<p>My question is why would he want to do this? Is this something he is interested in? I am not sure how the cello parts could be musically interesting. I say better to find a string 4tet to play in unless he already has one if he wants something else to do that is musically interesting and could help him in future. Unless he is applying for music ed and is also a player of a band instrument then this experience might be of value. </p>
<p>We are not a musical family, but D had two good friends in marching band in hs. Both families were heavily involved in all aspects of the band. It’s not just concession stand duty, but helping to get all the band instruments to and from the games, loading and unloading. And all the accessories needed on the field, it is the parents who are lugging it all. It is a huge time and energy commitment for the whole family. The friends who were involved loved it, did it for all 4 years of hs, and the band families get to be really close. Not sure how a student coming in for just senior year might feel, walking into an established “family”. </p>
<p>You don’t see how playing the cello in marching band would be interesting, really? Hes played chamber music for years. I’m sure it would be interesting to play an electric cello for marching band. </p>
<p>Good point powercropper. We as a family have no interest in committing to any volunteering. We have 3 kids 7 and under besides a senior. We would not participate at all. Wed see a show or two, but would not travel all over to see all the performances. Its just not possible. I’d tell the director. My son has two concerto competitions this fall as well. I just don’t see how this can logistically work. That’s why I suggested using more than one cellist.</p>
<p>I know nada about playing the cello, but lots about marching band. My wind players would not trade marching band for anything. It’s about friends, social life, travelling with friends, working hard to accomplish a common goal. </p>
<p>Your original post can be interpreted a few ways: YOUR SON is asking you if he can do marching band? Or Your HIGH SCHOOL is asking your son to participate in marching band? I get that it is the second one. </p>
<p>What does your son think? </p>
<p>My experience is that Band Directors ARE flexible, especially when working with kids that have first priority elsewhere, yet they contribute an integral part of the show. </p>
<p>My guess is that your Band Directors saw something at state finals where string instruments were featured in a solo or ensemble part of the show - and that is what they are wanting to create.</p>
<p>To contribute in this way, your son would not have to be at all the marching rehearsals, but he would have to be at all the weekend competitions, usually month of October into early November if you go to state marching. And all the Friday night football games are the dress rehearsals for the competitions. </p>
<p>My son plays the cello, and wanted to be in marching band so he taught himself how to play the keyboard over the summer, and ended up playing the marimba in the pit and carrying the banner in parades. It’ll work if his band director is willing to make it. I will admit I do not have a warm fuzzy spot in my heart for marching band,it is a big time commitment.</p>
<p>Yes, the highschool has asked my son to participate and yes my son is interested. And in my experience in marching band, the directors are not flexible at all. And this one here isn’t either unless we asked and submitted our schedule ahead of time. These people are serious. They rehearse many more hours than we did in highschool. Its like having a full time job without any pay. </p>
<p>RunsWScissors. lol. I do not have warm feelings towards marching band either. I did it for 3 years in highschool. ugh. I nearly froze to death on the field…yuck</p>
<p>For those with experience with marching band. Any suggestions with ideas to compromise on? I’m trying not to say a blatant no to my son. But I could maybe come up with alternative scenarios if the director will agree to it. </p>
<p>What does cello teacher think?</p>
<p>Some band directors are flexible, some are very much not. What, exactly, do they expect him to do? My best guess is that he will sit and play on the sidelines while the other kids march on the field. He will also not be able to participate in parades unless he plays another instrument (like cymbals, perhaps). If he’s just being used to beef up the sound while they play in the stands, or even on the field, he shouldn’t have to attend any marching practices, because he’s not really going to march. I guess I should ask: do they march formations on the field at football games, or is this just a pep band (the long summer rehearsals makes me think they march)?</p>
<p>I will say, also, that when I was in college there was a guy who did march with a cello. He had a little wheel fitted to the spike. But this was an Ivy League “scatter” band that wasn’t serious.</p>
<p>The cello teacher wouldn’t care. He believes in autonomy as a musician. His chamber orchestra conductor would have an opinion.
That’s interesting Hunt. But no way in heck would I let my son take his expensive cello on the field. Maybe a cheap rental from the school but not his cello. He isn’t marching. I suppose at rehearsals he would playing on the field sitting, and they would be marching and playing. Hmmm. The temperature extremes wouldn’t work for our cello. If we get an electric cello, does temperature affect it? That would be an easy no. </p>
<p>MB is a time suck, and I mean that in the nicest way.
You can ask concessions but when season starts, the Show comes first.
That may mean extra practices, longer sessions, broken promises to you and your son. </p>
<p>Your son’s focus should be his auditions for college.
Your son is flattered the BD reached out to him but he should say no.</p>
<p>They can find another cello player who has more flexibility of time than your son.
IMHO</p>
<p>In the Woody Allen movie Take the Money and Run Woody Allen plays cello in a marching band. <a href=“- YouTube”>- YouTube;
<p>As I suggested above, they may make some concessions based on what his role in the show will be. Another question: would this be an extracurricular, or a class for a grade? If it’s an EC, if there are broken promises he can quit.</p>
<p>The antipathy towards marching band here is astounding. </p>
<p>There’s nothing wrong with marching band. It can create real problems, though, for somebody who is a prospective music major in their senior year of high school, because of schedule conflicts. There have been threads about this before.</p>
<p>LOL. Thanks glassharmonica. I think its an EC. You’re allowed to do marching band without signing up. </p>
<p>bodangles. Some of the antipathy is from the new rehearsal schedule compared to when we went through. Now, they rehearse all summer. Have SPAT camp and then rehearse all day long for two weeks in August plus early morning rehearsals during the school year. I don’t know how kids keep their grades up or when they sleep with that schedule. My son played saxophone and did not do marching band. I was relieved. He didn’t have the time and actually quit saxophone because it wasn’t his favorite genre of music compared to classical. There is a bit of snobbery towards marching band, but tbh, the quality of playing that’s expected out of a saxophone player as a freshman compared to a cellist is substantial. At least for my son it was.</p>