<p>VADAWG - son wants to study composition so marching is completely irrelevant</p>
<p>Hunt - this band starts before school and continues through the first hour, then marching is 2.5 hours after school every day. So we are talking about 4 hours a day in the Fall plus football Friday nights and competitions every Saturday in Oct!</p>
<p>I think you have to have a private meeting witht the director and lay it on the line–nicely. “Johnny just can’t do marching band this fall–there are too many conflicts with his other musical activities. It’s just not possible. He’d like to continue to participate and support the band during concert season, if that will work.” If your son is a good player, he may work with you.</p>
<p>Especially if the band director is difficult, Hunt’s suggestion is excellent, especially having the parent be the decision-maker. That way, in the band director’s eyes, the parent is the bad guy, won’t let the student play in band. The student can remain in the good graces of the school music department. And, just in case the band director has some heretofore unknown connection/influence at a music program somewhere, no bridges have been burned.</p>
<p>Good idea’s you guys, he can cast all blame on me, I’m an adult and don’t have to live with him for another year.</p>
<p>This is a tough decision and obviously one answer doesn’t “fit all”. My S was in a very busy and large marching band all three years and had a wonderful experience. The trips, bonding with some great kids and the leadership skills/work ethic he learned in marching band gave him things he will use the rest of his life. He is going to college to major in music performance and has known that is what he wanted to do for a couple of years; he was able to balance marching band with three years of youth orchestra and making all-state all three years - the only reason I mention that is to say that it CAN be done, but under the right circumstances, of course. We are thankful for all the experiences he was able to have in high school but again, all directors and programs are different and it’s a decision that you all will have to make for what is right for YOU! Good luck. :)</p>
<p>We have a Nazi for a Band Director who discourages the children from participating in music festivals not relating to her band. My daughter got into Aspen as a junior and she dismissed it saying that it was more important to play in community orchestras rather than top notch music festivals. Why do band directors (not all) stymie the musical aspirations of their students? My D wants to drop school band but since she is 5 time ‘All State’ participant she wants to go one last time in her senior year . Ms BD makes it very hard for her to juggle band festivals, youth orchestra practice and other music related activities. She is so mean spirited that she mentions all the other kids who were accepted into ALL State in school concerts but leaves out my Ds names. I would think Band directors would be excited to send children to college to pursue music. I would if I were in her place!</p>
<p>As a string player, my son never was a band participant, but found similar conflict between hs activity and “higher” level pursuits.</p>
<p>Only his was the other way around, he insisted on doing pit orchestra every year to the dismay and consternation of his chamber coach. (It was a non-issue with his private instructor.)</p>
<p>Bless her scary Russian heart, I would have to fight her every year and put my foot down. It got so bad one year I threatened to put weed killer on her garden beets. She then realized I was serious. You have to know the Russian soul. ;)</p>
<p>The production level was top notch, and while not a performing arts high school, it was a very well supported program that staged a professional level production every spring. For the past twenty years, there were usually 3-6 students annually entering conservatory level programs in voice, instrument or musical theater.</p>
<p>Son gained much of his sense of professionalism from the hs department chair, and considered his participation payback for the support, encouragement, and opportunities the hs program had afforded him. </p>
<p>As I said, you play the hand you’re dealt, and hopefully draw the cards that give you a winning hand. And decide if you can trust the dealer.</p>
<p>Wow, I don’t know where your guys’ band directors came from. My band directors helped my sister through a really bad illness and are really great mentors to me as well.</p>
<p>One thing I’ve noticed across bands is the * incredible *amount of politics. If you want to be drum major/band president, no matter how much talent, if you haven’t done three years of marching and pep band there’s no chance. Sports and the other fine arts are the same as well at my school, but any academic-related activity isn’t at all. Go figure!</p>
<p>Fire:</p>
<p>I don’t know if I would refer to giving the most heavily participated kids the spot of drum major as politics. I think it’s as well deserved as it gets, and it’s sort of like moving up in the military. I was the drum major this year at my school,and although I had participated in everything, I would like to think I was also deserving.</p>
<p>The longer you work somewhere, the more respect you garner. It’s that sort of thing. However, that’s just my opinion.</p>
<p>With relation to this thread:</p>
<p>Don’t let anything hold you back.</p>