<p>I'm probably going to bring my alto saxophone to Penn so I can continue playing music, and before I graduate I want to partake in one of these bands: Wind Ensemble, Jazz Band (Jazz combos), Samba Ensemble, Marching Band. I know enough about the marching band, but I'm just wondering, how difficult it is to get into one of these bands and what is it like? To those who are non-music majors, was it easy to manage time for this?</p>
<p>bump 10char</p>
<p>I’m confident that the vast majority of people in these groups are NOT music majors. Remember that Penn’s Music Department is academic (theory, musicology, etc.), and not performance-oriented.</p>
<p>I can guarantee you there are plenty of musical non-music majors at penn :)</p>
<p>Oh no, I know that there are many musical, non-music majors at Penn. I suppose I’m asking what music life in Penn is like and how good are the ensembles.</p>
<p>I was supposed to try out for wind, but I got sick on my audition date. OOPS. It shouldn’t be impossible to make.</p>
<p>Marching band (just called Penn Band) is very easy to make. All you have to do is say you want to join, and you’re in. They don’t sound very good, but they travel to the away football games and seem to have a lot of fun.</p>
<p>I’m in Glee Club, which is a very musical group for both singers and instrumentalists. It’s decently selective, though. There’s also Mask and Wig, the all-male comedy troupe. Their band is EXTREMELY selective, and for good reason; they practice something like 30 hours per week (and many more during hell week - the week before a show).</p>
<p>No idea about the other groups you brought up.</p>
<p>In terms of time management, Glee hasn’t at all cut into my academics. Mask and Wig, on the other hand, does. They’re purported to have very low GPAs because they practice so much.</p>
<p>Wow, good stuff. Can’t believe I didn’t notice this before, but thanks so much Keasbey Nights!</p>
<p>I’m still looking for info about jazz at Penn. I’ve played classical sax all my life but I’ve been so inspired to play jazz that I want to learn at Penn after learning some of the basics at home. Anyone know what jazz life is like?</p>
<p>Excavalier - sax is actually my main instrument. As far as I know, there’s not a huge jazz scene at Penn. Come to think of it, I tried out for the jazz band and didn’t make it (not a big deal). There are also a few jazz combos, as far as I know. Assuming I remember to do so once school is back in session, I can ask my friends at the music department about Penn’s jazz scene.</p>
<p>Hmm, good stuff. Thanks again :]</p>
<p>If you can get into the Mask and Wig band you will have an amazing college experience! Yes they do practice a lot but it’s doable and worth it…the bad is top notch and they have fun on top of it. My S is a freshman in the Cast and will start head back from Christmas early (1/2) to rehearse the spring show before classes start 1/11…the shows runs every weekend from 1/27-3/30. He got in to the other 2 groups he auditioned for…Glee and Penn Singers…M&W were his 1st choice. He’s in Wharton and pulled decent grades for a 1st semester in college and away from home. M&W has been a big factor in his success. Ok…so they will rehearse 10-12 hrs a day next week and 4+ hrs till the show opens…but they are a very tight group and probably the best on campus…after seeing Fam PAN in Oct it was obvious. Granted…Glee wasn’t performing because they had their show the same weekend. Anyway…they rehearse a lot before a show runs but then it levels off. Check out some of their stuff at maskandwig.com or searching mask and wig on youtube.com.</p>