<p>i'll be a freshman engineering student next year, and i am planning to do marching band b/c it sounds so fun. </p>
<p>However, i really enjoy symphonic music, and from what i hear, marching band is really time consuming. If i could, i would like to play in both marching band and one of the wind groups or symphonic band. </p>
<p>Do you think it would be an impossible time commitment being an engineering major, or in general, being a non-music major?</p>
<p>I'm in marching band. I know at least 15 people who are engineering majors... to tell you the truth, the time commitment is not that bad. The band has been an amazing experience for me and I wouldn't give it up for anything. I'm a double major and involved in a lot of clubs as well, and I tend to party a lot, so I can genuinely say that it hasn't bee a problem. And you have to understand that marching band is only fall quarter. What I always do is make my fall quarters a little lighter in terms of credit load. </p>
<p>Essentially, after band camp which starts 1 1/2 weeks before the first day of classes, it's 6 hours a week of rehearsals, plus all day saturday for football games. We're going to NOTRE DAME this year... we're staying in Chicago... so that's a free trip to Chicago. Also going to Cal which is another free weekend trip the following week. And they give you spending money in addition to the hotel room. For Winter Quarter you can do basketball games (which are optional but, with our bball team... pretty amazing). </p>
<p>What I do is: Marching band fall quarter, Symphonic Band Winter + Spring, +Basketball Games Winter. It's great, you will love band.</p>
<p>P.S. What instrument do you play?</p>
<p>hey, thanks for the help !</p>
<p>I play trumpet.<br>
Ahh, so even if i dont do symphonic band in the fall, i can do it in winter/spring, that sounds pretty awesome. Although i might try to take on both during fall anyways haha =]</p>
<p>And Notre Dame! yes! that sounds so fun</p>
<p>jhype17, do you know how many people they take each year, and how easy it is to get in? I've been in my high school's orchestra and wind ensemble before, but I've never been in marching band. Do they choose people with more experience? I play flute btw.</p>
<p>You can definitely do both Symphonic and Marching during fall, but keep in mind that Symphonic band rehearsals are only on tuesdays 3-5, and then marching band is from 5-7 on Tuesdays, so you'll have a solid four hour block on tuesdays of band. </p>
<p>Getting in is truly an unfair system. For cjdoor it should be fairly easy to get in because the band director is in love with trumpets/trombones. Flute is unfortunately likely the hardest instrument to get in on. I believe there were 3 freshman flutes this year, and all of them were at least in all-state honor band type things, etc. Especially with woodwinds they tend to choose those with more experience, although I have three clarinet friends who are my year that had 0 marching experience. What ends up happening, if you make it in as a woodwind, is because you don't have marching experience, they'll make you an "alternate," which means that you'll share a spot with someone else and alternate, for example you will perform pre-game at a game while the other person will perform at half-time. I, thankfully, was not an alternate, but I know that all 3 of our freshman tenor saxes were alternates. If you can switch to a brass instrument or have experience on one, I would switch. But if you are a good enough player, you will get in. This is by no means me discouraging you, I think you should try out, but do realize that, especially with the Notre Dame trip this year there are going to be more returning members---> less room for freshmen --> less freshmen getting in. </p>
<p>The director hates woodwinds, which blows, but band is awesome if you choose to do it.</p>
<p>I should pick up a trumpet and try learning that instead, huh? haha. </p>
<p>I guess I'll just send in an audition tape and see what happens. But on the marching band site, they only ask you to send in an audition tape. How do they know how much experience you have?</p>
<p>I would encourage you maybe to write a note or something detailing that you have experience. Seriously my year I'm pretty sure they accepted everyone that tried out for Tenor sax, but I do know a few did not get in last year... it just varies year to year. I didn't mean to scare or discourage anyone. Seriously, if you are proficient at an instrument you'll be likely to get in... this isn't Santa Clara Vanguard or [insert favorite drum corps group here]. My recommendation is that you send in your tape early on so that they know you're interested... I didn't send mine in til early September and that was cutting it close.</p>
<p>ok, thanks for all your info/help :)</p>
<p>does the colorguard tend to fill up quickly? does anyone know how many flags there typically are, and how many are returning next year? i've twirled for 3 years in high school and plan to send in my tape before july, have i got a good shot? i <3 twirling and would be seriously bummed if i couldn't join. thanks!</p>
<p>if we send in our tapes now, do you still think there is room to get in? thanks</p>
<p>Yeah I'd definitely send in your tape as early as possible... although I sent mine in early September and still got a spot. But the earlier, the better. </p>
<p>About the colorguard: There are usually 10-16 flags I would say, but I don't know how many are returning. I think you have a good shot... a lot of flags were woodwinds that the director made change to flag. I'm sure there's a demand for flags.</p>