<p>Another question to think about is whether the student wants to do marching band because he’s serious about it, or just because he thinks it’s really fun. If it’s the latter, there are schools that have “scatter” bands or pep bands that are lots of fun, but don’t require too much time commitment. I was in one of these in college, and there were serious and non-serious musicians in it, just for fun. At that time, the commitment was one rehearsal during the week, and then the morning before the football game, followed by the game itself. Occasional pep band type performances the rest of the year.
As for schools that have this, most of the Ivies do (although I think most don’t have performance majors), and I think Rice and Stanford. UVa’s scatter band was kicked out of major sports and replaced with a “real” marching band, but I think it still exists. There may be others.</p>
<p>Somehow I doubt a school like Rice is going to have its performers majors be a part of the Marching Billygoats or whatever they are. This is a school with kids prepping to audition for major orchestras, this isn’t a joke :-</p>
<p>Contrary to what you may think, not all music majors are joyless grinds. Some like to have fun. Obviously, playing in a marching band like those at Rice and the Ivies is not really part of a music major’s strategy to get into major orchestras, but since they don’t take up a lot of time, they may be an enjoyable extracurricular for some of these students.</p>
<p>I do not know for sure, but I think that the Marching Band at James Madison University in VA (where I teach) does include music majors… not sure if they are performance majors, or music education, or music industry. I know that many are non-majors. If anyone is interested, please feel free to PM me. I have a few students in my acting class this semester who are in the marching band (non-majors). I can check to see if they know for certain. From what I understand the Marching Royal Dukes at JMU are very good (they sound good when I hear them practicing :)), and well respected on campus. [JMU</a> School of Music: Ensembles: Marching Royal Dukes](<a href=“Marching Royal Dukes - JMU”>Marching Royal Dukes - JMU)</p>
<p>This year they are going to be in the Macy’s Parade… which I think is pretty exciting…</p>
<p>Everyone I know has fun being good musicians and playing Beethoven and Adams :-</p>
<p>My musician son has a close friend who was a music major and hoped to teach at the college level. He played in the large university marching band where he received his undergraduate degree. He also enjoyed playing jazz. After graduation he started his graduate studies at another major university. He was then asked to audition for an orchestra. </p>
<p>He now has had to delay his graduate studies because he had a successful audition and signed to play in the Vienna Philharmonic for a few years. So there is at least one example of someone who studied classically but played in the marching band, and wound up doing OK.</p>
<p>I also have a daughter who did not play in any marching bands and is now a clarinetist in the New York Philharmonic.</p>
<p>Interesting. In his or her other postings, gms5287 claims to be a 3rd year BM Composition student at Florida State looking for grad schools. Also, the current clarinet section of the NY Phil is Stanley Drucker, Mark Nuccio, Pascual Forteza and Stephen Freeman, none of whom are female.</p>
<p>Look…marching band is a personal choice. Some kids love it and will figure out how to make it work regardless of their major. Other kids hate it and will figure out a way to get out of it regardless of their major. </p>
<p>My only caveat here is I would be very leary of a music performance program on the college level that REQUIRES participation in a marching band. But that’s just my opinion.</p>
<p>I have two kids who wouldn’t walk across the street to be in a marching band. For one, it didn’t matter (there’s no marching band music for oboes). For the other, a trumpet player, it was always an issue. Luckily, his high school doesn’t have a football team and the marching they do is restricted to a festival or two and a parade or two…not a weekly event. But even that was something my kid hated. When he was looking for colleges, he didn’t want to have to deal with a marching band at all. BUT he had friends who were in marching bands at various schools (their choice) and they loved it.</p>
<p>Different strokes for different folks.</p>
<p>The reality is that for most an undergrad path in a performance field and participation in a collegiate marching band are mutually exclusive.</p>
<p>There are some students, notably brass players and some percussioinists who participate in undergrad and do grad level work in performance.</p>
<p>henrob’s example is not typical, but again it just shows that anything is possible.</p>
<p>gms5287’s claim is unverified, and I, like BassDad did check the background and current NY Phil roster and scratched my head. That neither proves or disproves anything, as subs and contract players are not listed on the roster, but only credited on individual performance programs. Again, anything is possible.</p>
<p>As thumper said,
</p>
<p>There are more ways than one to skin a cat, but the reality is the competition for spots is so uncertain that even those with the “top” mainstream credentials are often frustrated in attaining a suitable position.</p>
<p>Thanksgiving break and a chance to catch up in conversation with my marching band member son. Here is his class schedule during the fall and how he spends a weekday. See for yourself whether there is time to be a performance major and a marching band participant. This post in no way attempts to credit or disprove if the actual playing of an instrument during marching band is a positive/negative to talent improvement. It could be argued that the aerobic activity of practice and game day are beneficial to the body’s physical development.</p>
<p>His university is on quarters; 3 quarters=2 semesters. Fall quarter he had 20 credit hours. Four hours of German (intermediate level), 4 hours of dictation and sight singing, 4 hours of trombone, 2 hours of 2nd year piano, 2 hours marching band, 2 hours wind ensemble, 1 hour jazz band and 1 hour of trombone choir. Additionally at least 1 hour of non-credit attendance at other students recitals or visiting performances is required weekly. Most of the classes/ensembles met 2-3 times weekly.</p>
<p>He received a “B” in German and a “B-” in piano. He said that he simply did not want to dedicate enough time to either of these to get an “A” because doing so would have taken away from the 4 hour daily practice routine on the trombone. Marching band took up at least 2 hours 5 days per week and a complete Saturday on game day or much more when they traveled to performances. The band made four trips including a trip to NYC to perform for the NFL Giants, two of the trips required overnights.</p>
<p>So being in the marching band for him requires sacrifices during the fall quarter. Playing as a visitor at the Ohio State “Shoe” and 101,000 spectators and marching through the arch onto the field was a thrill he’ll always remember. A season end indoor band show at the Palace Theatre in Columbus to a near sold out audience of high school students that treat the band like they are rock stars is another highlight. They’ll find out by 12/10 if they get the opportunity to represent Ohio at the Presidential Inauguration on 1/20 to crowds expected to reach 4 million at the parade. In 2010 they will march in the Tournament of Roses Parade. So with the added time of marching band participation comes other experiences that don’t necessary lead to performance development but which adds to the overall college experience.</p>
<p>The Ohio State University Marching Band is remarkable. Back in the day (when the dinos roamed…) either Michigan or OSU represented the Big Ten in the Rose Bowl annually. The rule was that a team could not go two years in a row. SO…actually it was OSU, UMich, OSU, UMich…for years. I know kids who actually deferred graduation from OSU (and UMich) so that they could travel to the Rose Bowl to play with the band. They all said it was a fabulous experience. None were music majors (not saying that there weren’t music majors IN those bands…but my friends were not).</p>
<p>“Different strokes for different folks.”</p>
<p>Well said. I would also have second thoughts about a performance major curriculum at the college level that requires participation in a marching band. Apropos of strokes and marching bands, I am reminded of the classic opening scene of “Take The Money And Run” in which Woody Allen plays cello in the marching band.</p>
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<p>If you haven’t seen this movie…rent it if you can find it. This scene alone is worth the cost of the rental. I think it is one of the top 3 funniest scenes in ANY movie ever produced…absolutely hilarious!!</p>
<p>Of course I don’t have a daughter in the NY Phil :-p</p>
<p>I was simply making a point that anyone can get on the internet and say anything.</p>
<p>GMS5287, feel free to look up the 1st year players in the Vienna Orchestra, find any American sounding names and do some research. You will find my posting is accurate, and please don’t get in the habit of disputing postings unless you what you are talking about. That is offensive.</p>
<p>“Also, the current clarinet section of the NY Phil is Stanley Drucker, Mark Nuccio, Pascual Forteza and Stephen Freeman, none of whom are female.”</p>
<p>How do you know one of them hasn’t had an operation? Leave your judgements at home please.</p>
<p>this is getting ridiculous…</p>
<p>Yes it is getting ridiculous, but I made no judgments. I simply pointed out some facts. I never stated that one of these people was not gms5287’s daughter. You can estimate for yourself the probability of a college junior having a daughter who plays clarinet in the NY Phil after having had a sex change operation. By the way, why would you still call him a daughter rather than a son afterwards? I have never before considered the etiquette of such a situation but it seems to me that it could be seen as judgmental to continue to call that person “daughter” rather than “son”, almost as if the parent were trying to deny that the operation ever happened.</p>
<p>Anyone want to up the ante to ludicrous?</p>